U Sports hockey is set to get fully underway this weekend across the country. Here's a look at the teams and players to watch, and an eye toward the 2025 Universaide.
U Sports hockey is set to get fully underway this weekend across the country. Here's a look at the teams and players to watch, and an eye toward the 2025 Universaide.
U Sports teams across Canada begin play this weekend, with a full schedule of games. Coming off a national title last year, the Concordia Stingers will again be the team to beat. But they'll find stiff competition.
Teams To Watch This Season
The loss of captain Emmy Fecteau, who was selected in the PWHL Draft by the New York Sirens is significant for the Concordia Stingers, but this team just keeps retooling and bringing in talent. Last year's leading scorer Emilie Lussier was a second team All-Canadian as a rookie. She'll again be an offensive driver for the Stingers, but will have plenty of backup including veterans Jessymaude Drapeau and Emilie Lavoie, and the team also features one of the best goaltending tandems in the nation. Across the country, the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds will be a team to watch. Mackenzie Kordic is the key to their team this season, and they should get a major boost from NCAA transfer Kasundra Betinol. Other teams to watch include the Waterloo Warriors, Bishop's University, Nipissing University, and the St. Francis Xavier.
Players To Watch
The aforementioned Kordic, Lussier, and Drapeau are certainly players to keep an eye on, but the talent level in U Sports hockey continues to rise. Playing for Waterloo, the dynamic duo of Tatum James and Leah Herrfort will be tough to stop. Playing for Bishop's, the reigning U Sports Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year Gabrielle Santerre will look to repeat on her spectacular year. Nipissing's Katie Chomiak, Abby Lunney, and Kara den Hoed are players to keep an eye on. On the blueline, New Brunswick's Mackenzie Keenan, who was a First Team All-Canadian last season is one to watch, as are the offensively gifted rookies Jaylyn Morris and Katelyn Scott from British Columbia and New Brunswick respectively.
Team Canada Roster Sports Are On The Line
With the 2025 Universaide on the horizon, roster spots to represent Canada are on the line. Almost the entire 2023 gold medal winning roster are now playing pro hockey in Europe including Camryn Drever, Marie-Camille Théorêt, Maggy Burbidge, Shae Demale, Lea MacLeod, and Hannah Tait. Others including Carley Olivier, a reserve with PWHL New York last season, PWHL draft picks Audrey-Anne Veillette and Emmy Fecteau, and PWHL free agent invite Kelly-Ann Nadeau are all looking at the pro game in North America. Perhaps the only players eligible to return from that roster are Heffort and McGill defender Elizabeth Mura. It's a unique opportunity to play at the Universaide, which in 2023 featured teams from six nations.