UNB Saint John Athletics
Home of the Seawolves

Seawolves Varsity badminton has achieved remarkable success, earning the team's first Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) medal in two decades. UNB Saint John's mixed doubles team of Vaibhav Bhatta and Sydney Arseneault won silver at badminton nationals after beating the top teams from across Canada.  

Held at Seneca Polytechnic—King Campus in King City, Ontario, the tournament saw men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles and mixed doubles teams from each conference competing for gold. This includes the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA), the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC), and the Ontario Collegiate Athletic Association (OCAA). 

After a 16-year hiatus varsity badminton at UNB Saint John has made a huge comeback and head coach Matthew Nicolle is excited to be a part of it.  

” I am proud of what the team has accomplished and all the hard work that has been done to pave the way for a bright future for varsity badminton in Saint John, said Nicolle. “UNB Saint John students will now have a complete student experience combining athletics with academics,” he said. 

The final mixed doubles match was a nail-biter against Alberta's mixed doubles team of Mahdi Ahmadi and Khushi Vaniya, 21-18 and 21-18, with the King's Eagles coming away with the win.  

As a first-year nursing student and someone who has played badminton since a very young age, Sydney Arseneault is happy to see that badminton is getting the spotlight it deserves.  

“I think it’s great that UNB badminton got this exposure, especially on our first year back," said Arseneault.   

Vaibhav Bhatta was happy to achieve the win with Arseneault as they’ve both been recognized in the ACAA for their outstanding accomplishments in this past year.  

 “Going from ACAA Rookies of the Year to silver medalist at nationals is truly incredible,” said Bhatta.  

Bringing home silver, a historic win, marks the highest medal in UNB Saint John history and the first CCAA medal for varsity badminton since 2001 in men’s singles.