Sweden’s under-20 national junior team travelled more than 6,626 kilometres and spent nearly 10 hours in an airplane, coupled with a two-hour bus ride from Montreal to Ottawa, within a span of less than 48 hours just to play the Carleton men’s varsity hockey team Nov. 3.

Why would this team, comprised of 18 NHL draft picks, go through so much trouble to play against a Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) team?

The answer is simple.

Sweden is tired of coming second place at the World Junior Championships, and after feeling the pain of losing to Canada in the previous two tournaments, they’re willing to do whatever it takes this time around to bring home gold.

Ontario students are now forking over more money for post-secondary education than students in any other province, according to a Statistics Canada report released Oct. 20.
 
In 2009-10, undergraduate and graduate students in Ontario paid $5,951 and $8,642 on average, respectively, exceeding the national average by more than $1,000 and $2,600.
 
Dan Moulton, the president of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance, said the Ontario tuition figures are very concerning. The province should be number one in education quality, accessibility and affordability, not setting new records for tuition levels in Canada, he said.
 
“I think the Statistics Canada report indicates what [the Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA)] has been saying for a very long time,” said Erik Halliwell, the president of CUSA. “Winning the prize for highest tuition fees across the country isn’t something Ontario should be seeking.”