Ilyas Kurbanov

Sports Writing

The Signal •

‘Second mom’ basketball coach set to retire from Tigers

When Anna Stammberger steps down as head coach of Dalhousie University’s women’s basketball team, she’s leaving more than basketball behind.

“You are not coaching the game of basketball,” Stammberger told The Signal. “You are coaching young women, and that’s what really is most important.”

With the Tigers, Stammberger was named Atlantic University Sport 2015-16 Coach of the Year. She led the team to multiple playoff appearances, but most importantly, she was able to educate, empower, and care
The Signal •

AUS cancels winter sports season

Atlantic University Sport has cancelled conference-sanctioned sports competition and championship play this coming winter season.

AUS announced the decision Wednesday, a day after a meeting with the 11 member universities.

“We had hoped to be able to get to a place where we could see some semblance of a regular season and postseason take place for our winter sport student-athletes,” Phil Currie, AUS executive director, said in a news release.

“Unfortunately given the current realities in many
The Signal •

Nova Scotia’s Nate Darling makes the jump to the NBA

Nate Darling has signed a two-way deal with the Charlotte Hornets after going undrafted in the National Basketball Association (NBA) draft.

The two-way deal will allow the Nova Scotian to play with Charlotte and the NBA G League’s Greensboro Swarm, the Hornets’ affiliate team. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news on Twitter early Thursday morning following the NBA draft Wednesday night.

According to Darling’s trainer, it was his hard work and dedication that put him in that position.

“I n
The Signal •

Diversity and inclusion survey offers advice for Hockey Nova Scotia

Hockey Nova Scotia’s diversity and inclusion task force is hearing finances, scheduling and sense of belonging are the main issues faced by underrepresented groups.

Hockey Nova Scotia, the governing body of amateur hockey in the province, launched a survey to solicit opinions from people in Indigenous, African-Nova Scotia, LGBTQ2+ and other underrepresented communities.

“The work so far has been to go to the first voice; they will have the answers as to how do we address racism and discriminat
Dalhousie Gazette •

From Tigers to Stingers and back

Xavier Ochu represented Dalhousie University in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) this past summer.


Ochu, a fourth-year guard from Milton, Ont., was drafted by the Edmonton Stingers in the third round (18th overall) of the CEBL U Sports Draft. His longtime Dal teammate Sascha Kappos was also picked by Edmonton, going in the first round (fourth overall).


Ochu played against strong competition in U Sports, but the CEBL was another level to experience. He wasn’t able to get much tim...
Dalhousie Gazette •

Through thick and thin

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced Atlantic University Sport (AUS) and U Sports to cancel all fall activities and jeopardizes upcoming winter ones.


At the moment, winter competition is set to start in early January 2021. This remains subject to change. All the updates on sports action later this year will correspond with the presence of the virus.


However, preparation for the Dalhousie University Tigers men’s basketball team’s upcoming season has begun.


A successful 2019-2020 season saw t...
Dalhousie Gazette •

Tigers bring home national medal

The Dalhousie University Tigers men’s basketball team made history this season when they won a U Sports silver medal to cap off the 2019-20 season. 


The Tigers finished up the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) season at the top of the standings, finishing the regular season with a record of 19 wins and one loss (19-1). 


They went on to win the AUS conference championship and were one of the favourites to win the national Final 8 tournament in Ottawa, Ont. 


The Tigers narrowly won their qu...
Dalhousie Gazette •

One last ride

Courtney Baker and Victoria Haworth stepped on the court for one last regular season home game on Feb. 15. The two fifth-years on the Dalhousie University Tigers women’s volleyball team have been integral to the team’s success.

“It’s bittersweet,” said Baker, a setter. “I’m really grateful for the last five years that I had here, but I’m also excited for the future with volleyball and everything else my life brings to me.”

The seniors still have regular season games, the Atlantic University Sp
Dalhousie Gazette •

The other end of the court

Playing his first game at the Saint Mary’s University Homburg Centre this season created a strange mix of emotions for Brent Martindale. He was back in his old home gym, but this time wearing a different uniform. 


“It was really weird, I gotta be honest,” said Martindale, a forward on the Dalhousie University Tigers men’s basketball team. Although it’s his first year donning a Tigers jersey, he’s no stranger to the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) league; he played for the Saint Mary’s Huskies...
Dalhousie Gazette •

Making big strides

Competing for the Dalhousie University Tigers women’s cross-country team for a second year, Jessica Needham has improved to become a valuable racer in the 2019 season. She ran to an eighth place finish at the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) championship on Oct. 26. 


After a 19th place AUS finish last year, she worked in the off-season to become a stronger runner both physically and mentally. 


But her cross-country journey started way before. In high school, she started running in Grade 9....
Dalhousie Gazette •

From the football field to the basketball court

Being a student-athlete requires dedication and good time management skills to be successful in athletics and in the classroom. Add in playing a second sport at a high level, and that adds unique challenges. Those are the challenges Cairo Berry, Michael Clarke and Romarie Johnson face as dual athletes. The trio represents both the University of King’s College Blue Devils men’s basketball team and the Dalhousie University Tigers football team across campus this 2019-20 season.  


Berry, Clarke...
Dalhousie Gazette •

Cross-country runner raises awareness about mental health

Jacob Halloran is a busier university student than most. A co-captain on the Dalhousie University Tigers men’s cross-country team, he is in his last year of studying medical sciences. He is also a part of jack.org, an organization that raises awareness about mental health. 


Halloran’s involvement with the charity started when he was in high school. In his Grade 10 year, a group of students from St. Francis-Xavier University came to his school, Guysborough Academy, and did a presentation about...
Dalhousie Gazette •

Tigers take a trip to Naples

Representing your country is something most athletes dream of for their entire life. This July, that came true for four Dalhousie University Tigers athletes as they were selected to represent Team Canada at the International University Sports Federation (FISU) Summer Universiade 2019 in Naples, Italy. The Summer Universiade is an Olympics-like event for university athletes that is held every two years in a different city.

“It has always been a goal of mine, I mean to play for Canada and have th
Dalhousie Gazette •

Tigers come up short in semifinals

The Dalhousie Tigers men’s basketball team lost a hard fought game against the Carleton Ravens in the U Sports semifinals by a score of 76-65 on March 10.


Going in as the underdogs, the Tigers stayed competitive all game against the top-ranked team in the nation, and a program that’s won 13 out of the past 16 national championships.


“We have a lot to be proud of and I just told (the players) that they have nothing to hang their heads about,” said Tigers’ Head Coach Rick Plato. “We want t
Dalhousie Gazette •

Preparing for the playoffs

The anticipation is over. It’s now playoff time.  


The Atlantic University Sports (AUS) men’s basketball playoffs start on March 1, and a season of preparation for the Dalhousie University Tigers will be put to the test. They’re hosting the U Sports Men’s Final 8 national championships this year- guaranteeing them a spot in the tournament –– but the Tigers wants to prove they deserve to be there.  


“We know we are going to be in the nationals, but we would like to go through the front door...
Dalhousie Gazette •

The Tigers are AUS Champions once again

The Dalhousie Tigers defeated their rivals the Saint Mary’s Huskies 65-55 to claim their fourth AUS men’s basketball championship in five years on Sunday afternoon.


“It feels great to show that we won it and it also shows everyone that we belong in the final 8,” says Sascha Kappos, fourth-year forward for the Tigers.


Kappos was named the Subway Player of the game. He led Dal with 20 points, six rebounds and six blocks in the game.


Dalhousie knew at the beginning of the season that the...
Dalhousie Gazette •

Continuing the family legacy

Mike Shoveller finally got an opportunity to play in the annual Rod and Joan Shoveller Memorial Tournament. The one named after his grandparents.  
The tournament is a men’s university basketball tournament, hosted during the winter break by Dalhousie University. 
Shoveller transferred to Dal last fall for his final year of university basketball; he played in the tournament for the first and only time. 
“To be able to represent your family and have them come watch you play for Dal will be a spec...
Dalhousie Gazette •

Making a comeback

Harrison Callaghan is back and clear to take off.  
Callaghan, a third-year veteran of the men’s volleyball team for Dalhousie University is back in the line up after being forced to sit out the 2017-2018 season due to a back injury.  
He missed the entire season after he hurt his lower back right before the 2017 Canada Summer Games. Callaghan had microtrauma in his back for years leading up to his injury and hurt it while getting dressed.  
Despite the injury, Callaghan went to every practice,...