Since mid-November, UBC and Concordia have held the top two spots in U SPORTS women’s hockey. Both teams lead their conferences with strong, consistent play, setting themselves apart with solid defence, potent offence, and reliable goaltending, making them the teams to beat this season.
Since mid-November, the University of British Columbia and Concordia have held the top two spots in the U SPORTS women’s hockey rankings. While there’s been movement elsewhere in the top five, those two programs have remained steady, building clear separation within their conferences. Here’s why.
UBC
UBC’s 20-2-0 record has created a sixteen-point lead atop Canada West, showing just how tough the Thunderbirds have been to play against. They’ve allowed only 21 goals all season while scoring 68, and remain unbeaten at home. That defensive consistency is supported by strong goaltending depth. Elise Hugens and Mya Lucifora both rank near the top of the league in goals-against average, providing reliable results regardless of who starts in goal.
Up front, Grace Elliott and Annalise Wong have driven the offence. Elliott leads the league in goals, assists, and game-winning goals, with Wong close behind in points. Their production complements a structure that limits chances and keeps games under control.
Concordia
Concordia has been just as steady in the RSEQ. The Stingers are 14-1-0, lead their conference by 6 points, and are currently on a 10-game winning streak. Their recent success is no surprise. They have appeared in three of the last four national championship games, winning two and giving up just one goal across those title wins.
They average 3.27 goals per game, the highest rate among the country’s top teams, and have the most effective power play in U SPORTS, converting at over 33 percent. Much of that offence comes through Jessymaude Drapeau and Emilie Lussier, who both rank near the top of league scoring.
In goal, Belle Mende, a fifth-year and transfer from Cornell, along with Jordyn Verbeek, provide dependable play. Both rank among the league’s top performers in goals-against average and save percentage, giving Concordia a solid one-two punch.
The Best of The Rest
Rounding out the top five in the latest rankings are Laurier, Mount Royal, and StFX. Laurier leads the league in shots per game with 35.4. Mount Royal ranks fifth in goals scored with 55. StFX holds the seventh-best goals-against average at 1.53.
As we enter another weekend of U SPORTS women’s hockey, it remains clear why UBC and Concordia are the teams to beat. They’ve been consistent in their game plans, getting contributions from all areas, and have shown no signs of letting up. Simply put, they’ve been harder to catch than anyone else, and continue to set the tone for the rest of the league.