The best in U SPORTS Women’s Hockey returns to UPEI, March 24–27

It’s been a two-year wait, but the Panthers are set to compete on home ice once again as UPEI hosts the 2022 U SPORTS Women’s Hockey Championship at MacLauchlan Arena. In 2020, UPEI hadn’t even played their first game when the championship was cancelled due to COVID-19.

The Panthers will have their hands full March 24–27 as the top eight university women’s hockey teams in the country come to compete. Two teams will represent each conference across Canada: Atlantic University Sport (AUS), Réseau du sport étudiant de Québec (RSEQ), Ontario University Athletics (OUA), and Canada West (CW).

As host, UPEI will be one of two AUS teams participating in the championship: the University of New Brunswick won the AUS title last week beating St. Francis Xavier in a 4-0 shutout. Games begin on Thursday, March 24, with UPEI playing its opening game versus number-one-ranked Concordia on Friday, March 25, at 7:00 pm. 

In 2018, the University of Prince Edward Island was awarded the rights to host the U SPORTS Women’s Hockey Championship for both 2019 and 2020. While 2019 marked the first time the national women’s hockey tournament would be in Charlottetown, UPEI has a proven track record in successfully hosting three U SPORTS national championships: men’s soccer in 2005 and 2014, and women’s soccer in 2010.

The organizing committee for the 2022 championship includes members of the community and University staff. The convenor of the event on behalf of UPEI is Jane Vessey, Director of Athletics and Recreation. The committee has secured many corporate and community sponsors, and both the Government of Prince Edward Island and the City of Charlottetown are partners.

“We are delighted to host the best in university women’s hockey once again,” said Vessey. “With support from the UPEI administration, the Government of PEI, and the City of Charlottetown, we have been able to persevere through the pandemic. I know we will deliver exciting events that will be centred on student-athletes, fans, and visitors alike.”

Community outreach efforts to engage youth have been successful to date and a number of schools and minor sport organizations will attend games.

Ticket packages for the entire tournament are available for $80. Single game tickets are now on sale: $10 for regular admission; $8 for seniors, students under 18, or UPEI students; free for children under 3. All games are being played at MacLauchlan Arena at the Bell Aliant Centre on the UPEI campus.

For more information, visit gopanthersgo.ca, Eastlink Centre Box Office, or the Bell Aliant Centre Box Office on Wednesday from 10 am–5 pm and two hours before each game (Thursday–Sunday). Games will also be broadcast live on either CBC Sports or U SPORTS digital platforms (see below for details).

SEEDING:

1 – Concordia Stingers (RSEQ champions: 11-3-1 regular season, 4-0 playoffs)
2 – UNB Reds (AUS champions: 15-3-3 regular season, 5-0 playoffs)
3 – UBC Thunderbirds (CW champions: 14-6-0 regular season, 4-0 playoffs)
4 – Brock Badgers (OUA champions: 7-5-4 regular season, 3-0 playoffs)
5 – Saskatchewan Huskies (CW finalists: 11-7-2 regular season, 4-2 playoffs)
6 – Nipissing Lakers (OUA finalists: 10-4-0 regular season, 2-1 playoffs)
7 – McGill Martlets (RSEQ finalists: 12-3-0 regular season, 2-3 playoffs)
8 – UPEI Panthers (Hosts: 13-7-2 regular season, 0-1 playoffs)

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE (all times ATLANTIC TIME)

Thursday, March 24

• 3 pm: Quarter-final #1 – No. 7 McGill vs. No. 2 UNB (www.cbcsports.ca)
• 7 pm: Quarter-final #2 – No. 6 Nipissing vs. No. 3 UBC (www.cbcsports.ca)

Friday, March 25

• 3 pm: Quarter-final #3 – No. 5 Saskatchewan vs. No. 4 Brock (www.cbcsports.ca)
• 7 pm: Quarter-final #4 – No. 8 UPEI vs. No. 1 Concordia (USPORTS.ca broadcast)

Saturday, March 26

• 10 am: Consolation #1 – Loser Quarter-final #1 vs. Loser Quarter-final #2 (www.cbcsports.ca)
• 1 pm: Consolation #2 – Loser Quarter-final #3 vs. Loser Quarter-final #4 (www.cbcsports.ca)
• 4 pm: Semi-final #1 – Winner Quarter-final #1 vs. Winner Quarter-final #2 (www.cbcsports.ca)
• 7 pm: Semi-final #2 – Winner Quarter-final #3 vs. Winner Quarter-final #4 (www.cbcsports.ca)

Sunday, March 27

• 11 am: 5th-place game (www.cbcsports.ca)
• 2:30 pm: Bronze Medal (www.cbcsports.ca)
• 6 pm: Gold Medal (www.cbcsports.ca and TVA Sports [French]).

Go Panthers Go!