By Hollie Knapp-Fisher, Communications Intern

The Queen’s Quidditch Club (QQC) has grown in popularity since its creation in 2011. The sport was derived from the popular Harry Potter series, where students fly on brooms and try to score points against the opposing team by throwing balls through hoops and catching the Golden Snitch. 

“This sport allows for a lot of different people to work together,” says QCC president Ian Little (Sci’15), who has been part of the club since his first year at Queen’s. “It’s an inclusive environment that encompasses a variety of different skills and builds friendships.”

The Quidditch season starts in early September. Recreational Quidditch is available as a drop-in program every Sunday to all students. Players can compete for a spot on the 21-member competitive team in late September.

The Queen's Quidditch team plays against the team from McGill at the Canadian Quidditch Cup.

The team competed in the Canadian Quidditch Cup in November and finished a respectable fifth place. Lack of funding and poor timing will keep the team from attending the Quidditch World Cup that is taking place this April in Myrtle Beach.

“They are enthusiastic, fun and excited to learn a new game. I’m impressed with how far they’ve come,” says coach Christopher Radojewski, a political studies master’s student at Queen’s.

Quidditch player Andrew Kusters (Sci’15) says that Quidditch is worth giving a try.

“It’s a great way to get active and take your mind off the stress of school. It started as a way to get me out of bed on Saturday mornings – but now I love it.”

QCC was supposed to host the first-ever Queen’s Quidditch Cup at Nixon Field on Saturday, March 22. However, the club had to cancel the event because of circumstances beyond its control, according to a post on its Facebook page.

To get in touch with the team, check out their Facebook page or follow them on Twitter at @queensquidditch.