Laurier Golden Hawks triumph over Western Mustangs to claim Yates Cup victory
In a thrilling showdown on home turf, the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks defeated the Western University Mustangs in the Ontario University Athletics football championship, claiming the Yates Cup and marking a significant victory in Ontario university football.
With University Stadium packed to capacity and an electric atmosphere driving the players, the Golden Hawks delivered an impressive performance, defeating the powerhouse Mustangs and securing their first Yates Cup title since 2016.
“I'm feeling so excited. Golden Hawks are in a good spot,” said one Laurier student. “Our quarterback Taylor, I mean he's just an absolute dog. [He’s a] dual threat quarterback, just a huge man [that] gets up and down the field.”
Saturday’s back-and-forth game ended with the Golden Hawks leading 51-31, concluding the Mustangs’ 2024 season.
The win is especially significant for Laurier, who hosted the Yates Cup final in front of a sold-out crowd. Fans in purple, white and gold erupted as the final whistle blew, celebrating the hard-fought victory over a formidable opponent.
“I just love to see our schools showing up, supporting, walking into the game today, people cheering in the streets” said a Golden Hawks fan.
The Golden Hawks will now head out east to take on either St. Mary's University or Bishop's University in the Uteck Bowl on November 16.
With momentum on their side, Laurier fans are hopeful that this Yates Cup win is just the beginning of an unforgettable postseason run.
“Let’s go straight to glory; it’s a great day to be a Golden Hawk,” said a Laurier student.
Laurier has won eight Yates Cups in its program history. Western has won 35, including last year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Updated advisory urges Canadians to avoid all travel to Syria, leave if possible
Ottawa is urging Canadians to avoid all travel to Syria and to consider leaving the country if it's safe to do so.
Trump calls for 'immediate ceasefire' in Ukraine after meeting Zelenskyy in Paris
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump on Sunday called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, shortly after a meeting in Paris with French and Ukrainian leaders, claiming Kyiv 'would like to make a deal' to end the more than 1,000-day war.
Baby found dead in south Edmonton parking lot: police
Police are investigating the death of an infant in south Edmonton.
Digging themselves out: With Santa Claus parade cancelled, Londoners make best of snowy situation
Londoners continue to dig themselves out from this week’s massive snowstorm.
Quebec Premier meets with Trump, Zelenskyy and Musk during Paris trip
Quebec Premier François Legault met up with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. president-elect Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk while visiting Paris this weekend.
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly focused on re-election, doesn’t explicitly rule out future Liberal leadership bid
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly insisted she supports Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and is focused on her own re-election, but wouldn't explicitly rule out a future Liberal leadership bid, in an interview on CTV's Question Period airing Sunday.
Jubilation and gunfire as Syrians celebrate the end of the Assad family's half-century rule
Syrians poured into streets echoing with celebratory gunfire on Sunday after a stunning rebel advance reached the capital, putting an end to the Assad family's 50 years of iron rule but raising questions about the future of the country and the wider region.
Superior Court authorizes class action against junior hockey league over abuse of minors
The Quebec Superior Court authorized the institution of a class action aimed at compensating all minors who suffered abuse while playing in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).
Longer careers in hockey are linked to greater risk of CTE: study
The largest study ever done on the brains of male hockey players has found the odds of getting a neurodegenerative disease caused by repeated traumatic brain injuries increases with each year played.