For the second straight year, Richardson Stadium hosted the 59th Vanier Cup on Nov. 23.

The start of the 2024-25 year brought with it many memorable moments for the Gaels. From the ice to the field, this edition of Aidan’s Angle will present my top five sporting moments and performances of the fall semester.

The Queen’s Men’s rugby team tied their highest place finish at the Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship this year, defeating the provincial champions the Guelph Gryphons 38-28, and the dominant Victoria Vikes 26-24 on their way to National silver.

The OUA basketball season is well underway. With the Gaels gearing up for a busy few weeks before the winter break, The Journal sat down with the Head Coaches of the Queen’s Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams, Stephan Barrie and Claire Meadows.

Entering this year as two-time OUA champions, with a streak of four consecutive national podiums, the expectations for the Queen’s Women’s Rugby team were naturally sky-high.

Queen’s Women’s and Men’s Volleyball teams sent the undefeated Windsor Lancers home from the ARC last weekend with their first losses of the OUA season.

The U SPORTS Cross Country Championships in Kelowna, B.C., brought together the top cross country teams from across the nation on Nov. 9.

Queen’s students battle on the court and unite off of it, raising crucial funds for childhood cancer research in the process.

While unfortunate, student-athletes do suffer injuries—sometimes serious ones—while competing under the Queen’s Gaels crest. Luckily, for both varsity athletes and members of the Kingston community, Q Sports Medicine is Queen’s reliable athletic therapy program.

After narrowly failing to reclaim their OUA title against the Guelph Gryphons, the Gaels shifted their focus to the National tournament, determined to end their season on a high note.

Through the first 10 games of the 2024-25 OUA regular season, the Gaels have recorded an impressive eight wins and only two losses, defeating divisional rivals such as the Western Mustangs and Laurier Golden Hawks during this stretch.

In dominating fashion, the Queen’s Men’s Rugby team has punched their ticket to the OUA Championship and secured a berth at the Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship (CUMRC).

Queen’s Women’s and Men’s Volleyball teams delivered intense back-to-back matches against the Brock Badgers this past weekend Nov.1 to 2, showcasing resilience and grit. The Women’s team, now 3-1, split their doubleheader, while the Men’s team continued their unbeaten streak at 4-0.

Nixon Field was packed on Oct. 25, with fans of both Queen’s and Guelph filling the stands and lining the sidelines to watch the two OUA juggernauts, the Gaels and Gryphons, face off in their historic rivalry for the OUA Gold.

The Gaels had an impressive and promising preseason, recording wins in six of eight games with room for grow. With the regular season now underway, and the Gaels having defeated the Guelph Gryphons 97-81 on Oct. 26 in Guelph, it’s the perfect time to predict how this season might unfold.

The Queen’s Men’s Rugby team welcomed the Brock Badgers to Nixon Field on Oct. 26, where a dominant performance on both offense and defence secured the Gaels a spot in the semi-final game on Nov. 2.

After finishing the regular season with a 5-3 record, Queen’s as the fifth seed, poised to play the fourth-seeded Windsor Lancers in the quarterfinals on Oct. 26.

The Gaels met the Waterloo Warriors at Richardson Stadium for their annual homecoming game and the last game of the regular season.

Entering the playoffs after another undefeated season for the Women’s Rugby program, the Gaels looked to mount the Western Mustangs during their matchup at Nixon field.