Toronto Varsity Blues women's ice hockey explained

Team Name:Toronto Varsity Blues
Team Link:
University:University of Toronto
Sex:women's
Conference:Ontario University Athletics
Conference Short:OUA
Governing Body:U Sports
Location:Toronto
Coach:Vicky Sunohara
Coach Year:11th
Coach Wins:203
Coach Losses:96
Coach Ties:31
Arena:Varsity Arena
Capacity:4,116
Color1:Blue
Color2:White
Hex1:072B61
Hex2:FFFFFF
Usportschampion:2001
Usportstourneys:1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2013, 2019, 2020, 2023
Conference Tournament:1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2020, 2023

The Toronto Varsity Blues women's ice hockey program represents the University of Toronto in the Ontario University Athletics conference of U Sports. Three-time Olympic medalist Vicky Sunohara has served as head coach since the 2011–12 season.

History

On December 12, 1922, the Lady Blues joined the Ladies Ontario Hockey Association (LOHA) and paid dues of eleven dollars: six dollars association fee, five dollars one time fee.[1] The Lady Blues were the LOHA Provincial Champions in 1924. In 1925, the Lady Blues withdrew from the LOHA, taking issue with certain unsatisfactory aspects of competition and debate as to the acceptable definition of womanhood.[2]

In 1993, (although the Lady Blues won 13 of the last 15 provincial championships), a task force recommended that the University of Toronto cut the team for financial reasons.[3] Justine Blainey, a member of the team, organized a "Save the Team" night that raised over $8,000. She personally called 100 alumni during a one-week fundraising blitz. Blainey had previously earned national recognition as she endured five different court cases before finally having her case heard by the Supreme Court of Canada in 1986 because the Metro Toronto Hockey League denied her the opportunity to play hockey for them in 1981.[4]

During the 2000–01 regular season, the Lady Blues accumulated an undefeated record with 22 wins and no losses or ties. They outscored all opponents by a 114–14 margin. In the OUA playoffs, the Lady Blues defeated Toronto rival York University by a 4–1 mark and shut out Laurier 5–0 to win the OUA championship.

Heading into the 2001 National Championships, the Lady Blues were seeded Number 1 overall. The Lady Blues first game was a resounding 12–1 victory over the hosting Calgary Dinos. In the semifinal, the Lady Blues would proceed to eliminate the McGill Martlets by a 4–1 tally. The championship game was a closer affair, with the Lady Blues besting the Regina Cougars in a 4–3 triumph. It was the Lady Blues first national championship in CIS women’s hockey. Of note, the Varsity Blues managed to defeat every other top team in the nation that season. The teams that were defeated included Regina, Concordia, Alberta, McGill and Saskatchewan, as the Lady Blues finished with an overall win loss record of 35–0–0.[5]

Notable games

OWIAA league rules indicated that the first five-minute overtime session in a playoff game must be played in its entirety (as a regular period). It was advised that the game would continue after Hefford's goal. York University (known as the Yeowomen at the time) tied the game with 1:47 left in the first overtime. Sari Krooks broke in on the right wing and scored on Keely Brown.

A second overtime period began and this overtime period was classified as sudden death. York skater Shanley White took advantage of a Lady Blues clearing error. She scored on the error and York prevailed by a 3–2 mark in double overtime to claim the OWIAA gold medal. The Lady Blues loss ended the Blues' undefeated season, and gave York its first championship in 10 years.

The two played a scoreless opening period, but the Lady Blues scored ten seconds into the second period when Hefford passed to linemate Laura Schuler, and beat goalie Debra Ferguson. York tied the game 26 seconds into the third period which led into overtime. Despite winning the silver medal, the Lady Blues ended its regular season with a 13–0–2 record. In the semifinal, the Lady Blues defeated the Guelph Gryphons by a 4–1 tally. In that game, Laura Schuler had a hat trick, while Hefford added three assists.[6]

U Sports Tournament results

In Progress

Player awards and honours

University Awards

OUA Awards

OUA All-Stars

OUA Most Sportsmanlike

U Sports Awards

Marion Hilliard Award

The Marion Hilliard Award recognizes excellence in an OUA women's hockey student-athlete in three areas: hockey, academics and community involvement.

All-Canadian honours

First Team

Second Team

U Sports All-Rookie

International

Lady Blues in Olympic hockey

Player Position Event Result
Lesley Reddon[18] Goaltender1998 Winter OlympicsSilver
Lori DupuisForward1998 Winter OlympicsSilver
Lori DupuisForward2002 Winter OlympicsGold
Jayna HeffordForward1998 Winter OlympicsSilver
Jayna HeffordForward2002 Winter OlympicsGold
Jayna HeffordForward2006 Winter OlympicsSilver
Jayna HeffordForward2010 Winter OlympicsGold
Laura SchulerForward1998 Winter OlympicsSilver
Vicky SunoharaForward1998 Winter OlympicsSilver
Vicky SunoharaForward2002 Winter OlympicsGold
Vicky SunoharaForward2006 Winter OlympicsGold

Blues in pro hockey

Player Pos. Team(s)League(s)Titles
Lori Dupuis Brampton ThunderNWHL
CWHL
2008 CWHL championship
Jayna Hefford Brampton Thunder NWHL
CWHL
Gold medal: 2006 Esso Women's Nationals
2008 CWHL championship
Brampton Thunder NWHL
CWHL
Gold medal: 2006 Esso Women's Nationals
2008 CWHL championship
Karolina UrbanCalgary Inferno
Markham Thunder
CWHL2018 Clarkson Cup

[19]

The following players were selected in the 2010 CWHL Draft.[20]

Player Pos. Team Draft Pick
Mary Modeste
  1. 39
Brampton Thunder
  1. 71

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Wong, John Chi-Kit. Coast to Coast: Hockey in Canada to the Second World War. University of Toronto Press. 2009. 9780802095329. Toronto. 137.
  2. Book: Kidd, Bruce. The Struggle for Canadian Sport. University of Toronto Press. 1996. 978-0-8020-7664-9. Toronto. 103. 10.3138/j.ctt2ttg6t.
  3. http://webapps.utsc.utoronto.ca/ose/story.php?id=349<nowiki/>{{Dead link|date=January 2021}}
  4. 1998-08-10. The Justine Blaine Story. Dynamic Chiropractic. 16. 17.
  5. Web site: 2011-01-31. Blues to Honour 10th Anniversary of Perfect Season. 2021-01-04. University of Toronto Athletics. en.
  6. http://www.whockey.com/team/blues/article/The_Varsity_970225.txt
  7. Web site: Women's Hockey Archives. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110706192821/http://oua.ca/sports/hockey/whockey/history/. 2011-07-06. 2010-04-10. Ontario University Athletics.
  8. Web site: August 2000. Saving Grace, The Longest Game in Hockey History. 2010-04-10. York University.
  9. Web site: 2007. 2007 CIS Women's Ice Hockey Championship – Past Winners. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070303020725/http://www.cisport.ca/e/championships/w_hockey/2007/award_winners.cfm. 2007-03-03. 2011-03-27. Canadian Interuniversity Sport.
  10. News: STAFFORD, THOMSON NAMED VARSITY BLUES ATHLETES OF THE YEAR. varsityblues.ca/. 2020-04-08. 2021-07-12. en.
  11. News: Kesteris, Chetrat named Varsity Blues athletes of the year. thevarsity.ca/. Helen Picard. 2014-03-31. 2021-07-12. en.
  12. News: January 2019 — Erica Fryer. usports.ca/. February 11, 2019. June 25, 2021. en.
  13. Web site: 2007–08 CIS Women's Hockey Championship Media Kit. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110929020443/http://www.cisport.ca/e/championships/w_hockey/2008/documents/Alberta-Whockey-07-08_PH_Guide.pdf. 2011-09-29. 2011-06-22. Canadian Interuniversity Sport.
  14. News: 2015–16 U Sports Women's Hockey Awards and All-Canadians . presto-en.usports.ca. May 6, 2021. en.
  15. News: CAN Announces Women's Ice Hockey Team for Harbin. fisu.net. January 9, 2009 . May 4, 2021 . en.
  16. News: 2015 Winter Universiade: CIS announces Canadian women’s hockey roster. universitysport.prestosports.com. 2014-10-24. 2021-05-06. en.
  17. News: Canadian men’s and women’s hockey teams announced for 2019 FISU Winter Universiade. usports.ca. 2019-02-22. 2021-04-30. en.
  18. Web site: Lesley Reddon. https://web.archive.org/web/20200417225142/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/re/lesley-reddon-1.html . dead . 17 April 2020 . Sports Reference.com. 10 April 2010.
  19. News: CAN Announces Women's Ice Hockey Team for Harbin. fisu.net. January 9, 2009 . May 4, 2021 . en.
  20. Web site: CWHL 2010–11 Draft. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20101228050140/http://cwhl.ca/draft.asp. 2010-12-28. 2011-02-01. Canadian Women's Hockey League.