OCAA MEN'S RUGBY CHAMPIONS TO BE CROWNED

The final medals of 2024 will be awarded by the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) on two fronts on Saturday as the medal matches are played in men's rugby.

The two top teams in the West Division are set to battle for the OCAA's top prize as the undefeated Humber Hawks play host to the Conestoga Condors at the Brampton Rugby Club. The bronze medal will be awarded in Kingston as the East Division champion St. Lawrence Surge host the Georgian Grizzlies. Both contests are rematches from the regular season.

Conestoga (2-2-1, 2nd West) at Humber (5-0, 1st West)

Saturday, Nov. 9 - 1 p.m.

A new men's rugby champion will be crowned after the Hawks declawed the Grizzlies 34-15 in last weekend's semifinal. First-year wing Ivontae Cambronne (Toronto) and third-year hook Seth Kirkham (Mississauga) scored a pair of tries each in the victory.

Humber had the most prolific offence during the regular season, scoring a total of 289 points, an average of 57.8 per match. OCAA scoring champion Prince Ndukwe (Scarborough) was responsible for many of these points leading the OCAA with 77, including seven tries and 21 converts.

The Conestoga Condors are the Cinderella story of 2024, playing in their first-ever OCAA gold medal match after returning to OCAA men's rugby just last season. OCAA Athlete of the Week Stefan Van Niekirk (Oakville) came up with massive tackles at key moments of last week's 31-12 semifinal upset over the Surge. Second-year player Hudson Young (Etobicoke), who was third in league scoring during the regular season, scored two tries and added three converts for the Condors.

Conestoga gave Humber its strongest test of the regular season in a 29-24 outcome on Sept. 27. Third-year flank Declan Forgie (Pickering) scored a pair of tries for the Hawks, while Young scored two tries and two converts in a losing effort.

Georgian (2-2-1, 3rd West) at St. Lawrence (4-1, 1st East)

Saturday, Nov. 9 - 1 p.m.

Two programs that met in the OCAA final in 2021 will fight for bronze this year.

Offensively, the Surge are led by fourth-year centre Zachary Raymond (Kingston) who was second in scoring during the regular season with 73 points on eight tries, 15 converts and one penalty kick. The Surge allowed the fewest points against during the regular season, giving up just 52 (an average of 10.4 per match).

Georgian's run of five straight appearances in the OCAA gold medal match may have come to an end, but the Grizzlies are now focused on extending another streak, having earned an OCAA medal in eight straight seasons.

Statistically, third-year player Rielly Kirk (Wasaga Beach) led the Grizzlies with eight tries in five matches during the regular season.

These teams opened the season against each other back on Sept. 14 with the Surge prevailing 19-14. Raymond scored two tries and a convert in the win, while Kirk scored a try for the Grizzlies.

Both medal matches will be streamed live on OCAA LIVE and YouTube.

- OCAA -

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