The Carleton Ravens figure skating club competed against varsity teams at the Queen’s Invitational Nov. 26 in Kingston, Ont.

“It was a big step for us,” said second-year skater Chelsea Walker. “The Ontario University Athletics (OUA) is only set for varsity teams so it was nice to be included.”

The University of Western Ontario Mustangs captured gold with 71 points overall and although the Ravens finished with only eight points, it was still an improvement from last year, Walker said. The team’s goal was to move up one or two places and they did just that, she added.

Team captain Corey De Jong said the whole team skated well in the competition, although the results themselves didn’t necessarily reflect that. De Jong said the weekend was a personal best for everyone on the team, including Matthew Hawley, who placed second in the men’s open skate on the first day of competition.   

Both Walker and De Jong agreed that competing against varsity teams is beneficial to their club.  

“Our coaches meet with the coaches for the varsity teams and they give us advice about techniques and ways to improve our team,” De Jong said. “It really helps a lot. They go over practice schedules and find good use for competitive time.”

Although it’s more fun to compete against varsity teams, it’s also more challenging, De Jong said.

“We don’t get the resources we need. Little time on and off the ice to practice, no place for equipment and the results reflect that,” De Jong said.  

More ice time and sponsorships would benefit the team greatly, Walker said. Carleton’s team is only has access to the ice four practice times a week, whereas the varsity teams have access to eight slots of ice time, she said.  

“Those extra four slots of ice time could really be beneficial to us,” she said.  

Being the only competitive club in the competition makes the team feel like “outcasts,” De Jong said.

“The other teams turn their noses down at us. They first invited us last year, but you can tell they treat us differently because we are a competitive team. It’s a struggle because we’re smaller than they are,” De Jong said.

Carleton’s team has 21 members, whereas the champion Mustangs counted 35 skaters. 

De Jong said while the team has a lot to improve, they’re looking forward to their next competition.

A winter invitational they were supposed to compete in next term was cancelled, so Carleton’s next competition will be Feb. 17-18 at the OUA championships at the University of Western Ontario.