Laurentian University beefs up varsity sports

Morning North7:00Laurentian University varsity sports expansion

Laurentian University is adding more sports teams in 2015. It's adding a men's cross-country team and a women's golf team. For more on this renewed focus on varsity sports, we reached Peter Hellstrom, the director of athletics at Laurentian.

Laurentian University in Sudburyis bringing back a men's cross-country and track and field team, and it's adding a women's golf team.

The sports department at Laurentian has been in expansion mode in recent years. It brought back men's hockey in 2013, and added a women's hockey team as well.

The director of athletics and campus recreation said there is a cost associated with varsity teams, but the university believes it's worth it to attract new students.

Student athletes that come to Laurentian on the athletic side enhance the university budgets by them coming to Laurentian University because we are offering athletic programs, Peter Hellstrom said.

If we offer certain varsity programming, it will help enrollment, it will help our brand, [and] increase awareness of Laurentian University.

Laurentian University student Jacob Dupuis Latour, who has made running part of his life during his time as a student, may get the chance to compete as a Laurentian Voyageur.

Next year will be the last year for my program, so I am really excited that I will finally be able to run and represent my university instead of just running for fun, he said.

Hellstrom said there are also plans for a new arena for Laurentian's hockey teams.

The universitys hockey teams play their games off-campus at Countryside Arena. Hellstrom said Laurentian is working on attracting a private partner to make a rink possible on campus.

The two new sports teams at Laurentian will be added in September.