St. Clair College has been selected to host the Ontario Federation of School Esports Associations (OFSEA) Provincial Rocket League High School Championship on May 13.
The championship finals will be held in St. Clair Esports Nexus, home of the Saints Varsity Esports teams. The Nexus includes 72 gaming PCs, 3 VR spaces, 8 Console gaming stations featuring PS5, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch in addition to the HyperX Competition Stage where tournament games will be played and viewed by the live audience. The event will also be available to stream on the Saints Twitch channel .
"We are extremely excited to be able to offer our Provincial Rocket League Championship in person at St. Clair College this May," said Daniel Rolo, OFSEA co-founder. "This event will bring together high school students from across Ontario in a fun day of competition to determine the best high school esports team in the province. We are super grateful for the leadership that the St. Clair Saints Esports Program has to offer in hosting this event, and we look forward to many more in the future."
More than 400 students across 72 schools participated in OFSEA events last year with representation from 33 school districts, including public, Catholic, French, and private boards.
Registration for the Spring season opens Feb. 21 and closes March 15. The season runs from March 22 to April 26 and will culminate with the in-person finals at St. Clair College in May.
Launched in 2022, OFSEA has grown rapidly with representation from 48% of all school boards in Ontario. OFSEA provides support to schools and teachers getting started in scholastic esports, all for free. This year, OFSEA has leagues and tournaments in Rocket League, League of Legends, Minecraft, VALORANT, and Smash Bros.
"It's increasingly clear that the establishment of esports teams in high schools in Ontario is no longer a matter of if, but rather when," said St. Clair College Esports Director Shaun Byrne. "OFSEA is at the forefront of this movement and we are proud to support their efforts in organizing the inaugural Provincial Championships for high school esports teams.
Completed in Fall 2022, the St. Clair Esports Nexus was designed not only to house the Saints esports teams but specifically for events like the Provincial Rocket League High School Championship.
"It was a crucial part of the overall vision, providing students with the resources necessary to hone their skills and become professionals in the esports industry. Through the championship, they will not only gain valuable hands-on experience but also showcase the skills and knowledge they have acquired," added Byrne.
For more information about the provincial High School Rocket League Championships, visit www.ofsea.org.