Saints Gaming gives high-level feel

By Sanjay Maru

Saints Gaming is one of Canada’s first varsity esports teams and they are making it extremely easy for the general public to join in on the fun.

With an array of televisions and consoles, premier quality gaming chairs, and even a live commentary team for online streaming, Saints Gaming has done everything to replicate the feel of high-level virtual competition.

Currently, Lambton College and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology are the only other colleges in Canada treating esports as a varsity sport. While teams from many post-secondary institutions in Canada participate in esports tournaments, these teams are often student-organized clubs rather than school-sponsored teams.

Smash 4 Wii is a twice-weekly event where varsity players have the ability to put their skills to the test against fellow teammates and the general public.

There is an entry fee of $5. All entry costs go into the final prize pool in which a cut is awarded to the first, second and third-place tournament winners.

Rocket League team coach Ethan Sinclair adds that persons of all age groups should feel comfortable to participate in tournaments.

“It can literally be anybody. It can be somebody from Grade 5 [to] someone in their late 30s or 40s. It doesn’t matter,” said Sinclair.

Sam Nguyen is a first-year student in the Mechanical Technician program. Nguyen looks at Saints Gaming as less of a competitive venture and more as a way to unwind from studies.

“It [Mechanical Technician] is a fast-track program so it was really hammering me. … esports is still a side thing. It’s not something I’d like to make a career out of.”

Saints Gaming also boasts an Alienware Gaming Lab on the St. Clair College campus, where any student can stop in and participate in esports for free. Mentors are left on standby to teach new players how to master a variety of different esports, such as Overwatch, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and League of Legends.