U Sports men's ice hockey is the highest level of play of men's

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice hock ...

at the

university A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...

level under the auspices of

U Sports U Sports (stylized as U SPORTS) is the national sport governing body of university sport in Canada, comprising the majority of degree-granting universities in the country. Its equivalent body for organized sports at colleges in Canada is the Ca ...

, Canada's governing body for university sports. As these players compete at the university level, they are obligated to follow the rule of standard eligibility of five years. University hockey teams in Canada compete in leagues as part of U Sports, the national governing body for Canadian university athletics. (In Canadian English, the term "college" is reserved for schools that would be called "junior", "community", or "technical" colleges in the U.S. Such schools' athletics programs are overseen by the

Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) is the national governing body for organized sports at the College (Canada), collegiate level in Canada. Its name in Canadian French, French is l'Association canadienne du sport collégial (ACSC ...

.) U Sports sponsors both men's and women's hockey. Like in the United States, teams compete in athletic conferences based on geographical locations of the schools. Individual conferences hold postseason tournaments, followed by the round-robin U Sports Championship tournament in late March.

History

The Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union was established in 1961 by Major W.J. McLeod, Athletic Director of the

Royal Military College of Canada '') , established = 1876 , type = Military academy , chancellor = Anita Anand ('' la, ex officio, label=none'' as Defence Minister) , principal = Harry Kowal , head_label ...

. By the 1962-63 season, the CIAU had created a National Championship for their

playoffs: the

David Johnston University Cup The David Johnston University Cup is a national collegiate sports award, presented annually to the champion of a season-ending tournament played by U Sports men's ice hockey teams in Canada. The UQTR Patriotes are the current champions for the 2 ...

. The first ever national championship was competed for in

Kingston, Ontario Kingston is a city in Ontario, Canada. It is located on the north-eastern end of Lake Ontario, at the beginning of the St. Lawrence River and at the mouth of the Cataraqui River (south end of the Rideau Canal). The city is midway between Toro ...

between the

UBC Thunderbirds The UBC Thunderbirds are the athletic teams that represent the University of British Columbia in the University Endowment Lands just outside the city limits of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. In Canadian intercollegiate competition, the Thun ...

and the

McMaster Marlins The McMaster Marauders are the athletic teams that represent McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Athletics at McMaster is currently managed by the university's student affairs, under their athletics & recreation department. The unive ...

. The Marlins won the game 3-2. The CIAU had competition in Canadian post-secondary varsity hockey at a national level, but rivalries only existed on an exhibition basis. The Canadian Colleges Athletic Association, now

, held national championships between 1975 and 2001. At one time, seven conferences in the CCAA sanctioned hockey, but only two do today — the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference and the

Quebec Student Sport Federation Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirteen p ...

(now known by its French initialism of RSEQ). In 1978, the governing body of the league changed its name to the Canadian Interuniversity Athletics Union. The body's name was changed in 2001 to Canadian Interuniversity Sport, and most recently in 2016, to the current U Sports. The most successful team in U Sports history is the

Alberta Golden Bears The Alberta Golden Bears and Pandas are the sports teams that represent the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Alberta athletics teams have won a total of 93 national championships, including 79 U Sports sanctioned sports, making ...

with 16

titles, winning 28% of all championships awarded to date. This is followed by the

Toronto Varsity Blues The Toronto Varsity Blues is the intercollegiate sports program at the University of Toronto. Its 43 athletic teams regularly participate in competitions held by Ontario University Athletics and U Sports. The Varsity Blues traces its founding to ...

with 10 (last in 1984) and the

UNB Reds The UNB Reds are the athletic teams that represent the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. The Reds compete in the following sports: men's and women's basketball, men's and women's hockey, men's and women's soccer ...

with 8 (last in 2019). The reigning champions are the

, who defeated the

4-2 in Lethbridge, Alberta in March 2019. On April 4, 2016, St. Thomas University announced the discontinuation of their men's hockey program, reducing the teams participating in the

Atlantic University Sport Atlantic University Sport (AUS; french: Sport universitaire de l'Atlantique) is a regional membership association for universities in Atlantic Canada which assists in co-ordinating competition between their university level athletic programs and pr ...

(AUS) conference to seven. On August 12, 2016,

Kori Cheverie Kori Cheverie (born June 18, 1987) is a Canadian retired ice hockey player, currently serving as assistant coach of the Canadian national women's ice hockey team and of the Ryerson Rams men's ice hockey team. She was the first woman to be hired ...

was announced as an assistant coach for the

Ryerson Rams TMU Bold (known as the Ryerson Rams prior to August 2022) are the varsity athletic teams that represent Toronto Metropolitan University (previously known as Ryerson University) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Toronto Metropolitan University operates ...

men’s ice hockey team, making her the first female full-time assistant coach in U Sports men’s hockey history. The

MacEwan Griffins The MacEwan Griffins are the athletic teams that represent MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. In Canadian intercollegiate competition, teams compete in U Sports. USPORTS associations oversee the Canada West Universities Athletic Associ ...

and

Trinity Western Spartans The Trinity Western Spartans are the athletic teams that represent Trinity Western University in Langley, British Columbia. The university's teams are members of U Sports, and compete in the Canada West Universities Athletics Association, and ...

joined the Canada West conference beginning with the 2020-21 season. However, the

Lethbridge Pronghorns The Lethbridge Pronghorns, are the athletic teams that represent the University of Lethbridge in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. They have men's and women's teams that compete in U Sports basketball, rugby union, soccer, swimming, and track and f ...

announced the discontinuation of their hockey programs following the 2019-20 season due to budgetary constraints. Furthermore, following the cancellation of the 2020–21 season, the

Laurentian Voyageurs Laurentian (French: ''Laurentides'' or ''Laurentien'') may refer to: *Relation to Saint Lawrence Geography North America *Laurentide Ice Sheet, the continental glacier covering much of North America during the Pleistocene Epoch *Relating to the Sa ...

discontinued their men's ice hockey program in 2021 leaving U Sports with 35 men's ice hockey teams.

Teams

Atlantic University Sport

Acadia Axemen The Acadia Axemen and Axewomen are the men's and women's athletic teams that represent Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada. The on-campus sports facilities used by Axemen teams include Raymond Field for various field sports and An ...

Dalhousie Tigers The Dalhousie Tigers are the men's and women's athletic teams that represent Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The Tigers field 14 varsity teams with seven men's teams and seven women's teams that primarily compete in the Atlan ...

Moncton Aigles Bleus The Moncton Aigles Bleus and Moncton Aigles Bleues (French language, French for: ''Moncton Blue Eagles'') are the athletic teams that represent Université de Moncton in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. They play in U Sports, which encompasses uni ...

St. Francis Xavier X-Men The St. Francis Xavier X-Men and X-Women are the men's and women's athletic teams that represent St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada. Their primary home turf is Oland Stadium located at the University's campus. Hist ...

Saint Mary's Huskies The Saint Mary's Huskies are the men's and women's athletic teams that represent Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Their primary home turf is Huskies Stadium located in the centre of the University's campus. In September 2 ...

UPEI Panthers The UPEI Panthers are the men's and women's athletic teams that represent the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. The UPEI Panthers have teams playing in the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) conferen ...

Canada West Universities Athletic Association

Calgary Dinos The Calgary Dinos are the athletic teams that represent the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. They were known as the "Dinosaurs" but usually referred to as the "Dinos" until 1999, when the name was officially shortened. Some of its venue ...

Manitoba Bisons The Manitoba Bisons are the athletic teams that represent the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The football team plays their games at Investors Group Field. The soccer team play their home games at the University of Manitoba ...

Mount Royal Cougars The Mount Royal Cougars are the men's and women's athletic teams that represent Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Cougars field eight varsity teams with four men's teams and four women's teams that compete in the Canada West ...

Regina Cougars The Regina Cougars are the athletic teams that represent the University of Regina in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. The Cougars compete in all sports except football; the university's football team is known as the Regina Rams. A number of the R ...

Saskatchewan Huskies The University of Saskatchewan began in 1907 and has operated teams that compete with others since 1911. The term Huskie Athletics is defined as those student athletes from the University of Saskatchewan that compete in elite interuniversity ...

Ontario University Athletics

''East'' *

Carleton Ravens The Carleton Ravens are the athletic teams that represent Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario. The most notable sports team for Carleton is the men's basketball team. In men's basketball, the Ravens have won 16 of the last 19 national men's ...

Concordia Stingers The Concordia Stingers are the athletic teams that represent Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They compete with other schools in Canadian Interuniversity Sport, and more specifically in Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSE ...

McGill Redbirds The McGill Redbirds (formerly the McGill Redmen) and McGill Martlets are the varsity athletic teams that represent McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Team name According to Suzanne Morton, a professor of history at McGill, the name ...

Nipissing Lakers The Nipissing Lakers are the athletic teams that represent Nipissing University in North Bay, Ontario, Canada that compete in U Sports. The Lakers varsity programs compete in men's and women's basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, soccer, cross c ...

Ottawa Gee-Gees The Ottawa Gee-Gees are the athletic teams that represent the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Ontario. The Gee-Gees won the national football championship, the Vanier Cup, in 1975 and 2000, while also appearing in the game in the 1970, 1980, an ...

Queen's Golden Gaels The Queen's Gaels (also known as the Queen's Golden Gaels) is the Athletics program representing Queen's University at Kingston in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Team colours are blue, red, and gold. The main athletics facilities include Richardson Me ...

RMC Paladins The RMC Paladins are the athletic teams that represent Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Its facilities include the Kingston Military Community Sport Centre (KMCSC) with seating for 3737, the Navy Bay fields with seatin ...

Ontario Tech Ridgebacks The Ontario Tech Ridgebacks are the athletic teams that represent Ontario Tech University in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. The Ridgebacks have been competing in Ontario University Athletics since 2006 and have been a member of U Sports since 2008. T ...

UQTR Patriotes The UQTR Patriotes are the athletic teams that represent the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada. The university features teams in swimming, golf, hockey, soccer, cross-country, volleyball and cheerleading ...

''West''

Brock Badgers The Brock Badgers are the athletics teams that represent Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario. To date, the Badgers have won 41 National Championships and 78 Ontario Championships, and are members of the OUA, U Sports, CUFLA, CURC, OIWFA an ...

Guelph Gryphons The Guelph Gryphons are the athletic teams that represent the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of the U Sports(OUA's), and, where applicable, in ...

Lakehead Thunderwolves The Lakehead Thunderwolves are the U Sports varsity athletic teams that represent Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. Sports activities The Lakehead Thunderwolves are perennial powers in the OUA and U Sports in Nordic Skiing and w ...

Waterloo Warriors The Waterloo Warriors are the athletic teams that represent the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The Warriors have found success over certain spans in football, hockey, rugby, golf and basketball among others, and the Warriors ...

Western Mustangs The Western Mustangs are the athletic teams that represent Western University in London, Ontario, Canada. The school's athletic program supports 46 varsity teams. Their mascot is a Mustang named J.W. and the school colours are purple and white. ...

Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, commonly shortened to Laurier Golden Hawks, is the name used by the varsity sports teams of Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario University ...

Windsor Lancers The Windsor Lancers are the varsity athletic teams that represent the University of Windsor in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The school's varsity program supports 9 different sports. Their mascot is a lancer and the team's colours are blue and gold. ...

York Lions The York Lions is the official name for the athletic varsity teams that represent York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of U Sports and, where applicable, ...

Annual awards

The following are annual U Sports trophies and awards: *

- Awarded annually to the U Sports men's ice hockey champions * Senator Joseph A. Sullivan Trophy – Annual "Player of the Year" awarded to the most outstanding player in U Sports. * U Sports Defenceman of the Year - Awarded annually to the most outstanding defenceman in U Sports. *

U Sports Goaltender of the Year The U Sports Goaltender of the Year is the annual award presented to the U Sports men's ice hockey player who is judged by a committee of the U Sports Men’s Hockey Coaches Association to be the most outstanding goaltender in U Sports. Winners *20 ...

– Awarded annually to the most outstanding goaltender in U Sports. *

Clare Drake Award The Clare Drake Award is the annual "Rookie of the Year" award presented to the U Sports men's ice hockey player who is judged by a committee of the U Sports Men's Hockey Coaches Association to be "the most outstanding first-year player in the U Spo ...

- Annual "Rookie of the Year" award presented to "the most outstanding first-year player in U Sports who has exhibited exemplary skill and leadership". * R.W. Pugh Award – Awarded annually to the most sportsmanlike player in U Sports. * Dr. Randy Gregg Award - Awarded annually to reward excellence in the student-athlete. The player who receives this award has exhibited outstanding achievement in ice hockey, academics, and community involvement. *

Father George Kehoe Memorial Award The Father George Kehoe Memorial Award is awarded annually to the U Sports men's ice hockey Coach of the Year as selected by the U Sports Men’s Hockey Coaches Association. The award is named in honour of the late Rev. George Kehoe, a St. Francis ...

– Coach of the Year award. * U Sports All-Canadian Teams - Each year U Sports names a "First Team", "Second Team", and "All-Rookie Team".

Champions

References

External links

* {{Ontario University Athletics Ice hockey leagues in Canada