The Saints Call of Duty team is heading to Columbus, Ohio to take part in the College Call of Duty League’s (CCL) first-ever in-person National Championship event.
Following a 17-3 regular season and a #19 Power Ranking, the Saints entered the 16-team Eastern Conference Playoffs as an underdog despite dispatching the likes of top-ranked schools Barry University (#16) and High Point University (#17) in the Group Stage of Playoffs last week.
In the first round, the Saints took on rival Davenport University (#11) who held a 2-0 record over the Saints this season across multiple events. As expected, the game was tightly-contested with the Saints holding on for the 3-1 series victory. In Round 2, they faced off against Bay State College (#1) where they fell 3-1 and were sent to the lower bracket.
The Saints didn’t let the loss impact them, as they rebounded to take down Rutgers University (#10) in 3-1 fashion followed by a 3-0 sweep over former CCL champion Georgia Southern University. The win advanced them the final qualifying round, where the winner would earn a place in the National Championship Finals.
In the qualifying match, they took on McMaster University (#15). The Marauders had no answers for the Saints Call of Duty squad as they ran through their provincial rival on route to a 3-0 victory, punching their ticket to the National Championship.
”When I think of the individuals on the Call of Duty team here at St. Clair College, hard work and dedication are traits that immediately come to mind,” said Head Coach Dawson Lovell. “We've built a team, almost entirely local, that can compete with the top programs in North America while still ensuring that our student-athletes are focused on their education and moving towards their goal of graduating.”
Since initially forming the Saints Call of Duty team as a club team in 2019, the team has seen tremendous strides year-over-year. In their inaugural CCL season, the Saints finished Top 32, followed by a Top 24 placement last year. This year, they will secure at least a Top 8 finish.
“After a slow start to the year, the ability for my players to bounce back, keep their composure, and win 10-straight matches to qualify for Playoffs as well as go undefeated in our Playoff Group, was astonishing,” added Lovell. “At that point, there was no stopping them.”
The Saints will be the lone Canadian representative at the National Championships, joining Davenport, Bay State and Northwood University (#2) as the top four schools representing the Eastern Conference. The remaining four teams will be decided in the Western Conference Playoffs this weekend.
Saints Call of Duty
Justin “Priestly” Parent, Windsor, ON — Business Administration - Finance
Trent “Sauce” Sovran, Belle River, ON — Advertising & Marketing Communications Management
Brandon “Lastd” Last, Windsor, ON — Computer System Technology - Networking
Frank “Gorilla” Noens, LaSalle, ON — Electrical Techniques
Nathan “CoriousNP“ Perreault, Hamilton, ON — Esports Administration and Entrepreneurship
Head Coach Dawson Lovell, Kingsville, ON — Business Administration - Marketing