Troy Shantz
A Lambton College esports team has posted one of the best records in North America.
The Lions ‘League of Legends’ squad has a 5-0 record this season in the Collegiate Star League, the 200-school league comprised of colleges and universities from Canada and the U.S.
Most recently it defeated Queen’s University Golden Gaels and Sheridan College Esports on Nov. 27.
The five-member team is comprised of LightsFaith (Dylan Ulloa), Mo2 (Tommy Cameron), Skecher (Steven King), Peng (Peng Yue) and Leebrah (Brandon Lee).
“I would just attribute it to a very good team chemistry,” said Lambton Esports co-ordinator Tony Frangis,
“The guys get along great; they’re all friends outside of school. That social connection they have definitely helps them when they sit down to play.”
In league play, teams of four (with a back up) battle in a medieval-steampunk world, with each player controlling a character of unique abilities. The goal is to destroy the opposing team’s nexus, located in the middle of its home base.
Lambton Esports, which also fields teams in Rocket League, Fortnite, Smash Brothers Ultimate, and Hearthstone, had its hands full Dec. 2 at the Border City Battle, a semi-annual tournament against St. Clair College in Windsor.
The Lions posted wins in League of Legends and Rocket League at the Lambton Esports arena. But they fell short in Fortnite, Smash Brothers and Hearthstone, losing to St. Clair for the third year in a row.
“It was the most exciting one we’ve had yet. Unfortunately we came out on the wrong side,” said Frangis. “Saints gaming is a very strong esports program and the fact that we were even able to compete with them was very impressive for us.”
Many of the players on the varsity squads are students in Lambton’s groundbreaking esports entrepreneurship and administration program, Frangis said.
Students in the two-year program learn about the billion-dollar esports industry, which includes planning tournaments and events. In the works for next spring is the first Lambton Esports Open, a public tournament with cash prizes and credit toward tuition, Frangis said.
The program also runs PD day events for elementary school students, and is behind the wildly successful Fortnight Fridays, Frangis said. The weekly event hosts young gamers for an evening of Fortnight matches and pizza, for $30.
Day camps are also planned for next summer.
“Yes, they will get exercise,” Frangis said.
“It’s not as simple as just plopping the kids in front of a computer and turning them into zombies. That’s not what esports is,” he said.
“There’s a lot of communication, there’s a lot of teamwork, it’s very social.”