The 2025 FISU Universaide Games will take place this winter in Torino, Italy with top players from universities across the globe competing. Canada will look to repeat their women's hockey gold from 2023.
The 2025 FISU Universaide Games will take place this winter in Torino, Italy with top players from universities across the globe competing. Canada will look to repeat their women's hockey gold from 2023.
The 2025 Universaide is rapidly approaching, scheduled for January 13-23 in Torino, Italy, and women's ice hockey is again on the docket. Canada will look to repeat their gold medal from the 2023 FISU Games in Lake Placid.
Canada, who composes their team of U Sports standouts, was dominant in 2023 facing teams of University players from the United States, Czechia, Japan, Slovakia, and Great Britain. Canada went 5-0 in the preliminary round outscoring opponents 31-2 before beating Slovakia in the semi-finals, and shutting out Japan 5-0 in the final.
Canada's 2023 roster was captained by 2024 PWHL New York draft pick Emmy Fecteau and included 2023 PWHL Ottawa draft pick Audrey-Anne Veillette as well as PWHL New York reserve Carley Olivier. The roster also included several players who are signed to play professionally in Europe including Shae Demale, Maggy Burbidge, Lea Macleod, Camryn Drever, Hannah Tait, and Marie-Camille Theoret, as well as Rosalie Begin Cyr who was signed to play professionally in the PHF before the league was acquired.
The tournament itself features top players from around the world who are enrolled in university with the 2023 tournament featuring top PWHL Draft pick Daniela Pejsova of Czechia, and Japan's Akane Shiga who played for PWHL Ottawa last season.
Japan's Universaide roster featured several members of their senior national team including Shiga, Kanami Seki, Chihio Suzuki, and Yoshino Enomoto.
USA's team is primarily composed of a mix of NCAA Division I and Division III players. In 2023 their roster also included NCAA DI players like Natalie Tulchinsky and PWHPA member Hayley Lunny.
The 2025 games will take place at PalaTazzoli in Torino, Italy.
Canada's roster will have plenty of interest this season with stars like Waterloo's Leah Herrfort eligible to return from the 2023 roster, and players also looking to use the Games as an opportunity to gain exposure for the PWHL Draft. Last year 35 U Sports athletes declared for the 2024 PWHL Draft.
Younger Canadian U Sports stars including Bishop's Gabrielle Santerre, the reigning U Sports Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, along with Concordia's Émilie Lussier will also be eligible to play this year if selected.