2008 Western Ontario

The 2007-08 team from the University of Western Ontario was the strongest from the school in several years, if not ever.

The school entered the season with a low reputation after writing the worst packet of the already-poor VETO. Three players from the 2007 London Central Reach for the Top national champions (Peter Burton, Will Nediger, and Will Pazner) joined the team and represented the school at most tournaments.

The team first competed at the 2007 Ontario Bowl at Toronto, taking 3rd after losing only their first match because they didn't know the format, apparently. At the 2008 NAQT Canadian SCT, Western took third in DII, with Burton leading in individual scoring. Their performance was strong enough for a S-value entry to the ICT.

Team president Shimi Ehrlich ran a mirror of the Ottawa Hybrid Tournament in March, with 6 southwestern Ontario teams attending. Western A and B finished last in the strong field, but Burton was again the top individual scorer.

Western's most impressive result was at the 2008 NAQT ICT in St. Louis. Entering as the third team of a traditionally weak sectional, Western ran the table in the DII preliminaries, hit second overall, won 245-170 in the first of the advantaged final games with Carleton College, before losing the second match 310-170. Western's 2nd place finish is the best ever at any division of an ICT for a Canadian team.