U Sports men's ice hockey championship
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox sports league The U Sports Men's Ice Hockey Championship, is a Canadian university ice hockey tournament conducted by U Sports, and determines the men's national champion. The tournament involves the champions from each of Canada's four regional sports conferences. The David Johnston University Cup is awarded to the winners.
The Ottawa Gee-Gees are the current champions for the 2024–25 season. The Alberta Golden Bears hold the record of 16 championship wins, as well as the record of 24 championship final appearances. The Toronto Varsity Blues hold the record of 5 consecutive championship trophy wins, from 1969 through 1973, but have not returned to the tournament since 1993, when they suffered the second most lopsided loss in a UCup final, 12–1. Alternatively, during their power years, winning 9 UCups in the 1960s and 1970s, the Blues were the victors in the overall most lopsided final, winning 16–2 in 1967. In the seven years from 2013 through 2019, only the Alberta Golden Bears (3 wins) or the UNB Reds (4 wins) won the championship. The currently dominant UNB Reds have won four of the last seven UCups.
History
The trophy was presented to U Sports, then known as the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union (CIAU), for presentation to a national champion starting with the 1962–63 season, by Queen's University and the Royal Military College of Canada. These two schools, located in Kingston, Ontario, had been the participants in the first organized interuniversity hockey game, played in Kingston in 1885.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The cup is meant to recognize the overall contribution made to the game of hockey by outstanding university players.
The CIAU changed its name to Canadian Interuniversity Sport (renaming the trophy the CIS University Cup) in 2001, and again in October 2016 to U Sports (renaming the trophy the U Sports University Cup).
The original University Cup is located at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto and does not travel publicly. A replica was created with a less ornate cup in 2006. Between 2006 and 2015, the trophy has been modified after several repairs - the metal bowl is now of simpler design, and mounts more flush to the main wooden portion. The two handles that used to be attached to the bowl, and frequently broke off, were removed. An additional black wooden ring was added to the bottom of the trophy in order to incorporate more school shields, as an engraved metal shield, with diagonal stripes in the winning school's colours, is added to the trophy every year.
On March 13, 2018, U Sports renamed the cup the David Johnston University Cup in honour of David Johnston, former Governor General of Canada.<ref name="theglobeandmail.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The 2020 championship was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic after two quarter-final games had already been played.<ref name="2020Cancelled">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On October 15, 2020, the 2021 inception was also cancelled.<ref name="2021Cancelled">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
With the completion of the 2023–24 championship, 27 different teams have played in the national championship final (however Sir George Williams University merged with Loyola College in 1974 to create Concordia University, so it could be described as 26 different teams). In all, 17 different teams have won the national championship.
The winningest coaches are Tom Watt and former UNB coach Gardiner MacDougall, whom, at the helm of the Toronto Varsity Blues and Reds respectively, won nine University Cup championships between 1966 and 1977 and 2007 and 2024. Clare Drake sits second, coaching the Alberta Golden Bears to six University Cup championships between 1964 and 1986.
Format
1963–1971
When the tournament was inaugurated in 1963, the only teams invited were conference champions. At the time, not every conference held a postseason tournament, nor was every conference champion invited. The only participating teams were the champions of the four leagues thought of to be playing senior college hockey. Not all teams were satisfied with this arrangement. The OIAA applies for its champion to receive an entry into the 1964 tournament but their application was denied. In protest, the conference immediately dissolved and forced the CIAU committee to reconsider over the summer.<ref name="MHKY Record Book PDF">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> At the same time, Toronto, declined their invitation in 1964.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The very next season, with the OIAA now included in the tournament field, all four teams that qualified for the QOAA tournament announced that they would not accept an invitation to the 1965 University Cup.
While these disagreements could have dealt a debilitating blow to the tournament, all parties were eventually able to come to an agreement by 1966. The champions of the five conferences would now be invited to participate with the conferences that reached the final the previous season automatically being placed in the semifinals. Unfortunately, this new arrangement meant that whichever team lost the quarterfinal round would only play a single game. Previously, thanks to the consolation match, all teams were guaranteed at least two matches. In order to address this minor wrinkle, a consolation bracket was introduced in 1967. For several years afterwards, teams that lost in either the quarterfinal or semifinal rounds would play one another to determine the final three places in the tournament. This format remained largely intact for the next several years until a large conference realignment took place in 1971.
1971–1975
The early 1970s saw three leagues in the middle of the country dissolve with all associated teams resorted into two provincial conferences for Ontario and Quebec. As a result, the tournament entrants were reduced back to four teams and allowed the University Cup to eliminate both the quarterfinal round and the consolation bracket in 1972. However, one year later, the WCIAU was split in two as a way to help the western teams cut down on operating costs.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> An arrangement was made with the two new conferences (Canada West and GPAC) to allow the champions of both leagues entry into the University Cup, however, rather than play individual league championships, the two would send their regular season champions to the tournament site to play a quarterfinal match during the same time that the other three conference were holding their respective playoffs. This de facto conference championship was only held between the two western leagues. Additionally, instead of bringing the consolation bracket back, both the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds were converted into best of three series, guaranteeing that all participating teams would play at least two games.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This format was used only for three seasons with a slight modification in 1975; that season saw the championship round being a best-of-three for the
1976
In 1976, the University Cup format was radically altered. First, the team that agreed to serve as host (Toronto) was given an automatic qualifier for the first time. Because this could result in one conference having six teams participate for the first time, the CIAU decided to invite two teams from each of the five conference. This resulted in the largest field that tournament had ever seen (as of 2024). The secondary teams were selected based upon their performance in the respective conference tournaments. The two finalists from four of the leagues would automatically qualify four the tournament while, for the host team, if they were to win their tournament the final bid would go to the runner-up otherwise it would go to their conference champion. The qualifying teams were then sorted into three separate groups: East, West and Host. The conference that served as host (OUAA) would have both of their qualifiers advanced to the semifinal round while the remaining eight teams were placed into regional semifinal brackets. Due to the expanded nature of the tournament, the regional rounds were held at the home venue of one of the qualifying teams.
One team from each region (East and West) would advance to the semifinal round, however, seeding was not determined ahead of time. Instead, the bracket was arranged so that the East and West champion would play one of the two host conference teams in a semifinal first round. The winners of the first round game would then advance to the second round of the semifinals and play the losing team of the opposite first round match. It was only the winners of the semifinal second round that would advance to the championship game. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this convoluted format survived for only one tournament.
1977–1985
While many of the advents of the 1976 tournament were discarded, one was retained; the tournament host would continue to receive an automatic berth until 1987. With the field now set at six teams, the format was changed to a round-robin style. The participants were sorted into two three-team groups. Within each group, the teams would play one another once and the team with the best record would advance to the final. Ties were allowed in pool play, however, in case there was a tie in the standings, the team with the better goal differential would be advanced. This format remained unchanged until 1984, when the round-robin was dropped in favor of a quarterfinal round.
For two tournaments in the mid-80s, the conference that served as host would have both of its qualifying teams advance to the semifinals (much as they had in 1976). However, instead of a regional bracket, the remaining league champions were placed into East and West quarterfinals. The quarterfinal rounds were best-of-three while the semifinals were two-game total goal series.
1986–1987
The collapse of the GPAC in 1985 resulted in a reduction of senior conferences down to four. Because the tournament host was still being offered an automatic bid, this left the field at 5 entrants. Instead of using one of the previous formats, the University Cup was expanded to seven teams. The qualifying schools were selected by one of three ways: The Host (Alberta) was seeded first and received a bye into the semifinal round. The champions of the four leagues were then sorted two through five based upon their overall records and placed in the quarterfinals accordingly. The final two wild-card spots would then go to the runners-up from the AUAA and OUAA and arranged so that there would not be intra-conference matches in the quarterfinal round. The QUAA was the only conference not to receive a second bye due to the fact that the league had been pared down to just five schools at the time.
For the 1987 tournament, the format reverted to a round-robin arrangement. Still with four conference champions, the tournament offered one wild-card spot to the runner-up of the OUAA tournament. This was done primarily due to the fact that the OUAA was by far the largest conference. However, this format lasted just one season before the OUAA absorbed QUAA, leaving just three active senior collegiate leagues.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1988–1997
1988 began a new era for the tournament. Toronto agreed to serve as tournament host for ten years. This allowed the CIAU to eliminate the automatic qualifier for the host team as an incentive. The tournament field was reduced to four entrants: Atlantic, Ontario, Quebec and West. The Atlantic and West spots would go to the AUAA and Canada West champions respectively. The OUAA would receive both the Ontario and Quebec bids which would go to the two tournament finalists. This format remained in place for the entire time that Toronto served as host. In later years, the championship game was held at Maple Leaf Gardens.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1998–2014
Starting in 1998, the CIS changed the format of the University Cup tournament to a six-team/two-pool tournament that would be hosted by a CIS member institution/team rather than in Toronto at Varsity Arena. The host would automatically be included in the tournament leaving five spots for regional representatives. The three conference champions and OUA Queen's Cup Runner-up would automatically be included with the fifth spot as a rotating 'wild-card' team. The University of Saskatchewan Huskies won the bid to host the first three (3) tournaments: 1998, 1999 and 2000.
The wild-card selection was initially chosen based on a static rotation through each conference starting with the AUS in 1998 followed by the OUA and CW, repeating on a tri-year cycle. Due to the random nature of the host bidding process, some tournaments saw more local teams then expected when the host advanced as a conference champion. It was possible for CW or AUS hosts to have 3 teams from their conference or 4 teams in the case of an OUA host who was also a champion. To reduce the local bias, the rotation selection rule was changed prior to the 2009 season - the wild-card would now only come from a non-host conference while maintaining the rotation. In 2009 the OUA was the host conference (Lakehead University) and should have also been the original wild-card conference, instead the AUS provided the wild-card. This rule remained in effect until the format changed in 2015 to 8 teams.
2015–present
Starting in 2015, the tournament expanded from six to eight teams and moved from a two-pool format to a single-elimination competition (quarter-finals, semifinals and gold-medal final plus a bronze-medal game).
The eight teams competing include the four regional conference champions: AUS, Canada West, OUA West and OUA East (where the three men's hockey teams from the RSEQ compete). The remaining four teams are: the host, the Canada West runner-up, the AUS runner-up and the OUA 3rd-place finisher (bronze medalist). The 'natural' conference champions are seeded 1–3; AUS, CW and OUA Queen's Cup Champion (in ranked order). The OUA Queen's Cup Finalist is always seed Template:Abbr 4. The remaining teams are seeded 5–7, all based on the pre-tournament Top 10 Ranking Poll with the expectation that the host is likely 8th.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
A joint bid from St. Francis Xavier University and Saint Mary's University was selected to host the first two events using this format; 2015 (St. FX as the host) and 2016 (SMU as the host). U Sports evaluated those two events and continues to use this tournament format.
Results
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:Sticky header
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score | Host university | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[McMaster Marauders men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">McMaster Marlins]] (1) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[UBC Thunderbirds men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">British Columbia Thunderbirds]] | 3–2 | Queen's & RMC | Template:Flagicon Kingston, Ontario |
| 1964 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Alberta Golden Bears ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Alberta Golden Bears]] (1) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Concordia Stingers men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Sir George Williams Georgians]] | 9–1 | Queen's & RMC | Template:Flagicon Kingston, Ontario |
| 1965 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Manitoba Bisons men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Manitoba Bisons]] (1) | style="color:white; background:#214478; Template:Box-shadow border" |[[UPEI Panthers men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">St. Dunstan's Saints]] | 9–2 | Manitoba | Template:Flagicon Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| 1966 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Toronto Varsity Blues men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Toronto Varsity Blues]] (1) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Alberta Golden Bears ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Alberta Golden Bears]] | 8–1 | Laurentian | Template:Flagicon Sudbury, Ontario |
| 1967 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Toronto Varsity Blues men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Toronto Varsity Blues]] (2) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Laurentian Voyageurs men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Laurentian Voyageurs]] | 16–2 | Calgary & Alberta | Template:Flagicon Calgary, Alberta |
| 1968 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Alberta Golden Bears ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Alberta Golden Bears]] (2) | [[Concorsia Stingers men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Loyola Warriors]] | 5–4 | Sir George Williams, Loyola & MacDonald |
Template:Flagicon Montreal, Quebec |
| 1969 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Toronto Varsity Blues men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Toronto Varsity Blues]] (3) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Concordia Stingers men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Sir George Williams Georgians]] | 4–2 | Alberta | Template:Flagicon Edmonton, Alberta |
| 1970 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Toronto Varsity Blues men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Toronto Varsity Blues]] (4) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Saint Mary's Huskies men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Saint Mary's Huskies]] | 3–2 | UPEI | Template:Flagicon Charlottetown, PEI |
| 1971 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Toronto Varsity Blues men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Toronto Varsity Blues]] (5) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Saint Mary's Huskies men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Saint Mary's Huskies]] | 5–4 | Laurentian | Template:Flagicon Sudbury, Ontario |
| 1972 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Toronto Varsity Blues men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Toronto Varsity Blues]] (6) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Saint Mary's Huskies men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Saint Mary's Huskies]] | 5–0 | Bishop's & Sherbrooke | Template:Flagicon Sherbrooke, Quebec |
| 1973 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Toronto Varsity Blues men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Toronto Varsity Blues]] (7) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Saint Mary's Huskies men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Saint Mary's Huskies]] | 3–2 | Toronto | Template:Flagicon Toronto, Ontario |
| 1974 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Waterloo Warriors men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Waterloo Warriors]] (1) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Concordia Stingers men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Sir George Williams Georgians]] | 6–5 (OT) | Toronto | Template:Flagicon Toronto, Ontario |
| 1975 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Alberta Golden Bears ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Alberta Golden Bears]] (3) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Toronto Varsity Blues men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Toronto Varsity Blues]] | 2–1 † | Alberta | Template:Flagicon Edmonton, Alberta |
| 1976 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Toronto Varsity Blues men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Toronto Varsity Blues]] (8) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Guelph Gryphons men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Guelph Gryphons]] | 7–2 | Toronto | Template:Flagicon Toronto, Ontario |
| 1977 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Toronto Varsity Blues men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Toronto Varsity Blues]] (9) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Alberta Golden Bears ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Alberta Golden Bears]] | 4–1 | Alberta | Template:Flagicon Edmonton, Alberta |
| 1978 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Alberta Golden Bears ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Alberta Golden Bears]] (4) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Toronto Varsity Blues men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Toronto Varsity Blues]] | 6–5 | Moncton | Template:Flagicon Moncton, New Brunswick |
| 1979 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Alberta Golden Bears ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Alberta Golden Bears]] (5) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Dalhousie Tigers men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Dalhousie Tigers]] | 5–1 | Concordia | Template:Flagicon Montreal, Quebec |
| 1980 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Alberta Golden Bears ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Alberta Golden Bears]] (6) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Regina Cougars men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Regina Cougars]] | 7–3 | Regina | Template:Flagicon Regina, Saskatchewan |
| 1981 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Moncton Aigles Bleus men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Moncton Aigles Bleus]] (1) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Saskatchewan Huskies men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Saskatchewan Huskies]] | 4–2 | Calgary | Template:Flagicon Calgary, Alberta |
| 1982 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Moncton Aigles Bleus men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Moncton Aigles Bleus]] (2) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Saskatchewan Huskies men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Saskatchewan Huskies]] | 3–2 | Moncton | Template:Flagicon Moncton, New Brunswick |
| 1983 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Saskatchewan Huskies men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Saskatchewan Huskies]] (1) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Concordia Stingers men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Concordia Stingers]] | 6–2 | Moncton | Template:Flagicon Moncton, New Brunswick |
| 1984 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Toronto Varsity Blues men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Toronto Varsity Blues]] (10) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Concordia Stingers men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Concordia Stingers]] | 9–1 | UQTR | Template:Flagicon Trois-Rivières, Quebec |
| 1985 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[York Lions men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">York Yeomen]] (1) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Alberta Golden Bears ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Alberta Golden Bears]] | 3–2 | Toronto | Template:Flagicon Toronto, Ontario |
| 1986 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Alberta Golden Bears ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Alberta Golden Bears]] (7) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[UQTR Patriotes men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Quebec–Trois-Rivières Patriotes]] | 5–2 | Alberta | Template:Flagicon Edmonton, Alberta |
| 1987 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[UQTR Patriotes men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Quebec–Trois-Rivières Patriotes]] (1) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Saskatchewan Huskies men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Saskatchewan Huskies]] | 6–3 | Alberta | Template:Flagicon Edmonton, Alberta |
| 1988 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[York Lions men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">York Yeomen]] (2) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Western Mustangs men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Western Ontario Mustangs]] | 5–3 | Toronto | Template:Flagicon Toronto, Ontario |
| 1989 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[York Lions men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">York Yeomen]] (3) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Laurier Golden Hawks men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks]] | 5–2 | Toronto | Template:Flagicon Toronto, Ontario |
| 1990 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Moncton Aigles Bleus men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Moncton Aigles Bleus]] (3) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Laurier Golden Hawks men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks]] | 2–1 | Toronto | Template:Flagicon Toronto, Ontario |
| 1991 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[UQTR Patriotes men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Quebec–Trois-Rivières Patriotes]] (2) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Alberta Golden Bears ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Alberta Golden Bears]] | 7–2 | Toronto | Template:Flagicon Toronto, Ontario |
| 1992 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Alberta Golden Bears ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Alberta Golden Bears]] (8) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Acadia Axemen ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Acadia Axemen]] | 5–2 | Toronto | Template:Flagicon Toronto, Ontario |
| 1993 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Acadia Axemen ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Acadia Axemen]] (1) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Toronto Varsity Blues men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Toronto Varsity Blues]] | 12–1 | Toronto | Template:Flagicon Toronto, Ontario |
| 1994 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Lethbridge Pronghorns men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Lethbridge Pronghorns]] (1) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Guelph Gryphons men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Guelph Gryphons]] | 5–2 | Toronto | Template:Flagicon Toronto, Ontario |
| 1995 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Moncton Aigles Bleus men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Moncton Aigles Bleus]] (4) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Guelph Gryphons men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Guelph Gryphons]] | 5–1 | Toronto | Template:Flagicon Toronto, Ontario |
| 1996 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Acadia Axemen ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Acadia Axemen]] (2) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Waterloo Warriors men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Waterloo Warriors]] | 3–2 | Toronto | Template:Flagicon Toronto, Ontario |
| 1997 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Guelph Gryphons men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Guelph Gryphons]] (1) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[UNB Reds men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">New Brunswick Varsity Reds]] | 4–3 | Toronto | Template:Flagicon Toronto, Ontario |
| 1998 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[UNB Reds men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">New Brunswick Varsity Reds]] (1) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Acadia Axemen ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Acadia Axemen]] | 6–3 | Saskatchewan | Template:Flagicon Saskatoon, Saskatchewan |
| 1999 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Alberta Golden Bears ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Alberta Golden Bears]] (9) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Moncton Aigles Bleus men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Moncton Aigles Bleus]] | 6–2 | Saskatchewan | Template:Flagicon Saskatoon, Saskatchewan |
| 2000 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Alberta Golden Bears ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Alberta Golden Bears]] (10) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[UNB Reds men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">New Brunswick Varsity Reds]] | 5–4 (2OT) | Saskatchewan | Template:Flagicon Saskatoon, Saskatchewan |
| 2001 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[UQTR Patriotes men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Quebec–Trois-Rivières Patriotes]] (3) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[St. Francis Xavier X-Men ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">St. Francis Xavier X-Men]] | 5–4 | Guelph, Laurier & Waterloo | Template:Flagicon Waterloo, Ontario |
| 2002 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Western Mustangs men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Western Ontario Mustangs]] (1) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[UQTR Patriotes men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Quebec–Trois-Rivières Patriotes]] | 4–3 (3OT) | Guelph, Laurier & Waterloo | Template:Flagicon Waterloo, Ontario |
| 2003 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[UQTR Patriotes men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Quebec–Trois-Rivières Patriotes]] (4) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[St. Francis Xavier X-Men ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">St. Francis Xavier X-Men]] | 3–0 | UNB | Template:Flagicon Fredericton, New Brunswick |
| 2004 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[St. Francis Xavier X-Men ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">St. Francis Xavier X-Men]] (1) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[UNB Reds men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">New Brunswick Varsity Reds]] | 3–2 (2OT) | UNB | Template:Flagicon Fredericton, New Brunswick |
| 2005 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Alberta Golden Bears ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Alberta Golden Bears]] (11) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Saskatchewan Huskies men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Saskatchewan Huskies]] | 4–3 (OT) | Alberta | Template:Flagicon Edmonton, Alberta |
| 2006 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Alberta Golden Bears ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Alberta Golden Bears]] (12) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Lakehead Thunderwolves men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:black">Lakehead Thunderwolves]] | 3–2 | Alberta | Template:Flagicon Edmonton, Alberta |
| 2007 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[UNB Reds men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">New Brunswick Varsity Reds]] (2) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Moncton Aigles Bleus men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Moncton Aigles Bleus]] | 3–2 (2OT) | Moncton | Template:Flagicon Moncton, New Brunswick |
| 2008 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Alberta Golden Bears ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Alberta Golden Bears]] (13) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[UNB Reds men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">New Brunswick Varsity Reds]] | 3–2 | Moncton | Template:Flagicon Moncton, New Brunswick |
| 2009 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[UNB Reds men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">New Brunswick Varsity Reds]] (3) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Western Mustangs men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Western Ontario Mustangs]] | 4–2 | Lakehead | Template:Flagicon Thunder Bay, Ontario |
| 2010 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Saint Mary's Huskies men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Saint Mary's Huskies]] (1) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Alberta Golden Bears ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Alberta Golden Bears]] | 3–2 (OT) | Lakehead | Template:Flagicon Thunder Bay, Ontario |
| 2011 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[UNB Reds men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">New Brunswick Varsity Reds]] (4) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[McGill Redbirds ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">McGill Redmen]] | 4–0 | UNB | Template:Flagicon Fredericton, New Brunswick |
| 2012 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[McGill Redbirds ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">McGill Redmen]] (1) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Western Mustangs men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Western Ontario Mustangs]] | 4–3 (OT) | UNB | Template:Flagicon Fredericton, New Brunswick |
| 2013 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[UNB Reds men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">New Brunswick Varsity Reds]] (5) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Saint Mary's Huskies men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Saint Mary's Huskies]] | 2–0 | Saskatchewan | Template:Flagicon Saskatoon, Saskatchewan |
| 2014 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Alberta Golden Bears ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Alberta Golden Bears]] (14) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Saskatchewan Huskies men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Saskatchewan Huskies]] | 3–1 | Saskatchewan | Template:Flagicon Saskatoon, Saskatchewan |
| 2015 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Alberta Golden Bears ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Alberta Golden Bears]] (15) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[UNB Reds men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">New Brunswick Varsity Reds]] | 6–3 | St. FX | Template:Flagicon Halifax, Nova Scotia |
| 2016 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[UNB Reds men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">New Brunswick Varsity Reds]] (6) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[St. Francis Xavier X-Men ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">St. Francis Xavier X-Men]] | 3–1 | Saint Mary's | Template:Flagicon Halifax, Nova Scotia |
| 2017 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[UNB Reds men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">New Brunswick Varsity Reds]] (7) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Saskatchewan Huskies men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Saskatchewan Huskies]] | 5–3 | UNB | Template:Flagicon Fredericton, New Brunswick |
| 2018 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Alberta Golden Bears ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Alberta Golden Bears]] (16) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[St. Francis Xavier X-Men ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">St. Francis Xavier X-Men]] | 4–2 | UNB | Template:Flagicon Fredericton, New Brunswick |
| 2019 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[UNB Reds men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">New Brunswick Reds]]Template:Efn (8) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Alberta Golden Bears ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Alberta Golden Bears]] | 4–2 | Lethbridge | Template:Flagicon Lethbridge, Alberta |
| 2020 | Cancelled after first two (of eight) games due to COVID-19 pandemic<ref name=2020Cancelled/> | ||||
| 2021 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic<ref name=2021Cancelled/> | ||||
| 2022 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[UQTR Patriotes men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Quebec–Trois-Rivières Patriotes]] (5) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Alberta Golden Bears ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Alberta Golden Bears]] | 5–4 (2OT) | Acadia | Template:Flagicon Wolfville, Nova Scotia |
| 2023 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[UNB Reds men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">New Brunswick Reds]] (9) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[Alberta Golden Bears ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Alberta Golden Bears]] | 3–0 | UPEI | Template:Flagicon Charlottetown, PEI |
| 2024 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[UNB Reds men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">New Brunswick Reds]] (10) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |[[UQTR Patriotes men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Quebec–Trois-Rivières Patriotes]] | 4–0 | TMU | Template:Flagicon Toronto, Ontario |
| 2025 | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;" | [[Ottawa Gee-Gees men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Ottawa Gee-Gees]] (1) | style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;" | [[Concordia Stingers men's ice hockey|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Concordia Stingers]] | 3–2 | Ottawa | Template:Flagicon Ottawa, Ontario |
| 2026 | Saint Mary’s | Template:Flagicon Halifax, Nova Scotia | |||
| 2027 | UQTR | Template:Flagicon Trois-Rivières, Quebec | |||
| 2028 | UNB | Template:Flagicon Fredericton, New Brunswick | |||
† The championship round was a best-of-three series Template:Notelist
Finals appearances
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} These tables rank appearances in the final championship game.
By team
| Appearances | Team | Wins | Losses | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | Alberta Golden Bears | 16 | 8 | .666 |
| 13 | Toronto Varsity Blues | 10 | 3 | .769 |
| 15 | UNB RedsTemplate:Efn | 10 | 5 | .666 |
| 7 | Saskatchewan Huskies | 1 | 6 | .142 |
| 6 | Moncton Aigles Bleus | 4 | 2 | .666 |
| 8 | UQTR Patriotes | 5 | 3 | .625 |
| 6 | Saint Mary's Huskies | 1 | 5 | .167 |
| 5 | St. Francis Xavier X-Men | 1 | 4 | .200 |
| 4 | Acadia Axemen | 2 | 2 | .500 |
| 4 | Guelph Gryphons | 1 | 3 | .250 |
| 4 | Western Mustangs | 1 | 3 | .250 |
| 3 | York Lions | 3 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 3 | Sir George Williams GeorgiansTemplate:Efn | 0 | 3 | .000 |
| 2 | McGill Redbirds | 1 | 1 | .500 |
| 2 | Waterloo Warriors | 1 | 1 | .500 |
| 2 | Concordia StingersTemplate:Efn | 0 | 2 | .000 |
| 2 | Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks | 0 | 2 | .000 |
| 1 | Lethbridge Pronghorns | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1 | Manitoba Bisons | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1 | McMaster Marauders | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1 | Dalhousie Tigers | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| 1 | Lakehead Thunderwolves | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| 1 | Laurentian Voyageurs | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| 1 | Loyola WarriorsTemplate:Efn | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| 1 | Regina Cougars | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| 1 | St. Dunstan's SaintsTemplate:Efn | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| 1 | UBC Thunderbirds | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| 120 | Total for 27 teams | 60 | 60 |
By team's province
| Appearances | Province | Teams | Wins | Losses | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Ontario | 9 | 17 | 14 | .548 |
| 25 | Alberta | 2 | 17 | 8 | .680 |
| 21 | New Brunswick | 2 | 14 | 7 | .666 |
| 16 | Nova Scotia | 4 | 4 | 12 | .250 |
| 16 | Quebec | 5 | 6 | 10 | .375 |
| 8 | Saskatchewan | 2 | 1 | 7 | .125 |
| 1 | Manitoba | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1 | British Columbia | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| 1 | Prince Edward Island | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| 120 | Total for 9 provinces | 27 | 60 | 60 |
The only province missing from this list, Newfoundland and Labrador, has only one U Sports member, Memorial University of Newfoundland. Memorial dropped their varsity men's hockey team after the 1981–82 season.
Location
By city
| City | Hosted | Most recent |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Flagicon Toronto, Ontario | 15 | 2024 |
| Template:Flagicon Edmonton, Alberta | 7 | 2006 |
| Template:Flagicon Fredericton, New Brunswick | 6 | 2018 |
| Template:Flagicon Moncton, New Brunswick | 5 | 2008 |
| Template:Flagicon Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | 5 | 2014 |
| Template:Flagicon Halifax, Nova Scotia | 3Template:Efn | 2020 |
| Template:Flagicon Calgary, Alberta | 2 | 1981 |
| Template:Flagicon Kingston, Ontario | 2 | 1964 |
| Template:Flagicon Montreal, Quebec | 2 | 1979 |
| Template:Flagicon Sudbury, Ontario | 2 | 1971 |
| Template:Flagicon Thunder Bay, Ontario | 2 | 2010 |
| Template:Flagicon Waterloo, Ontario | 2 | 2002 |
| Template:Flagicon Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island | 2Template:Efn | 2023 |
| Template:Flagicon Lethbridge, Alberta | 1 | 2019 |
| Template:Flagicon Regina, Saskatchewan | 1 | 1980 |
| Template:Flagicon Sherbrooke, Quebec | 1 | 1972 |
| Template:Flagicon Trois-Rivières, Quebec | 1 | 1984 |
| Template:Flagicon Winnipeg, Manitoba | 1 | 1965 |
| Template:Flagicon Wolfville, Nova Scotia | 1 | 2022 |
| Total for 19 Cities | 61 | 2024 |
By province
| Province | Hosted | Most recent |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Flagicon Ontario | 23 | 2024 |
| Template:Flagicon New Brunswick | 11 | 2018 |
| Template:Flagicon Alberta | 10 | 2019 |
| Template:Flagicon Saskatchewan | 6 | 2014 |
| Template:Flagicon Quebec | 4 | 1984 |
| Template:Flagicon Nova Scotia | 4 | 2022 |
| Template:Flagicon Manitoba | 1 | 1965 |
| Template:Flagicon Prince Edward Island | 2 | 2023 |
| Total for 8 Provinces | 61 | 2024 |
British Columbia is the only province to have a team play in the championship final (UBC Thunderbirds were runners-up in the original 1963 competition, nothing else since then), but to never host the championships. The other province missing from this list, Newfoundland and Labrador, had not yet hosted yet when it withdrew from varsity men's hockey after the 1981–82 season.
Awards
In addition to the University Cup, the Major W.J. "Danny" McLeod Award is presented following the conclusion of the tournament to the individual deemed Most Valuable Player.
Major McLeod was the overall athletic director at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC), was the coach of RMC's ice hockey team, and simultaneously coached two Kingston teams in the Ontario Hockey Association – the Kingston Frontenacs (Junior B) and the Kingston Aces (Senior A).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> McLeod was instrumental in establishing the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union (CIAU) in 1961, operating the CIAU from his office at RMC as the first CIAU Secretary-Treasurer.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He helped create the national university ice hockey championship tournament, which was hosted by RMC for its first two years (1963 and 1964).
See also
References
External links
Template:U Sports championships Template:U Sports men's ice hockey