ESPORTS | Fall 2023
In the Fall 2023 semester, the 5 SAIT Trojans Esports teams competed in the Fall 2023 National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) Starleague, Battle of Alberta 2023 Charity Tournament, and the Canadian Esports Nationals. The 5 SAIT Trojans Esports teams are the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (SSBU) Varsity, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (SSBU) Academy, League of Legends (LoL) Varsity, League of Legends (LoL) Academy, Rocket League, and Chess. A temporary SAIT Trojans Valorant team was made for the first time to compete in both Battle of Alberta 2023 Charity Tournament and the Canadian Esports Nationals.
SAIT Trojans Esports Fall 2023 Competitive Semester Recap:
In the Fall 2023 semester, the 5 SAIT Trojans Esports teams competed in the Fall 2023 National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) Starleague, Battle of Alberta 2023 Charity Tournament, and the Canadian Esports Nationals. The 5 SAIT Trojans Esports teams are the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (SSBU) Varsity, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (SSBU) Academy, League of Legends (LoL) Varsity, League of Legends (LoL) Academy, Rocket League, and Chess. A temporary SAIT Trojans Valorant team was made for the first time to compete in both Battle of Alberta 2023 Charity Tournament and the Canadian Esports Nationals.
The 5 SAIT Trojans Esports teams saw success in the Fall 2023 NACE Starleague as all 5 teams made playoffs in their respective NACE Varsity Plus Western Conference. SAIT Trojans SSBU Varsity went undefeated without dropping a single set in a best of 3 series during both the regular season games and playoff games. SAIT Trojans SSBU Varsity ended their regular season 7-0 finding victories against schools like George Fox University, and University of Idaho. During the NACE Varsity Plus Western Conference Championship Final, the SAIT Trojans SSBU Varsity team found themselves going up against the University of Idaho Vandals. The SAIT Trojans SSBU Varsity clenched a 2-0 victory against the Vandals, making them the NACE Varsity Plus Western Conference Champion.
Both SAIT Trojans LoL Academy, and SAIT Trojans Chess teams achieved the silver medal in their respective NACE conference championships. The SAIT Trojans LoL Academy team went 1-2 against Warner Pacific University, and the SAIT Trojans Chess team lost against Texas A&M in their Championship Finals. SAIT Trojans LoL Varsity, and SAIT Trojans Rocket League ended their season 4th, with SAIT Trojans SSBU Academy in 8th.
During the Battle of Alberta 2023 Charity Tournament, the SAIT Trojans fielded three Esports Teams: SAIT Trojans Rocket League, SAIT Trojans League of Legends, and SAIT Trojans Valorant. Both the SAIT Trojans Rocket League and League of Legends teams placed 3rd with a win against the Lethbridge College Kodiaks and a loss against the University of Calgary Esports Club. The temporary SAIT Trojans Valorant team took Alberta by surprise with a win against the 1st seed NAIT in their debut game. An unfortunate 1-2 loss against University of Alberta placed the SAIT Trojans Valorant team in second placed.
The SAIT Trojans Rocket League, and Valorant teams struggled during the Canadian Esports Nationals, as they both couldn’t make it out of groups.
As the Fall 2023 season ends, the Winter 2024 season will start again in the last week of January. The Winter 2024 season will also include the addition of Valorant teams into the SAIT Trojans Esports program. For more information about Esports, email Andrew Tran the Esports Coordinator at trojans.esports@sait.ca