# Toronto Varsity Blues women's ice hockey

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. 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.
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. 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.
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.

### Notable games

* On February 25, 1997, a little-known rule denies the Blues’ their second consecutive title. The OWIAA gold medal game in Waterloo, Ontario resulted in a controversial finish. Lady Blues player Jayna Hefford scored 23 seconds into overtime in the OWIAA gold medal game against the York Yeowomen at Waterloo Memorial Arena. The Lady Blues believed they had claimed the provincial championship.
    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.
* On February 11, 2000, the Ontario University Athletics women's ice hockey program saw its longest game take place. The University of Toronto's Rhonda Mitchell scored on a 35-foot slap shot. It was the 5:07 mark of the eighth period and the Varsity Blues defeated the York Lions women's ice hockey program. Although the victory allowed the U of T to advance to the OUA gold medal game, it was the longest in the history of Canadian women's hockey. The game lasted over five hours and ten minutes. York's player of the game was goaltender Debra Ferguson, who made 63 saves over 125 minutes in net.

## U Sports Tournament results

In Progress
| Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 2019 | #8 | First Round Consolation Bracket Fifth place game | #1 Alberta #4 St. Thomas #6 Manitoba | L 3–2 W 2–1 L 2–0 |

## Player awards and honours

* Alison Houston, 2001 CIS Goaltending Champion (0.40 GAA)
* Karen Hughes, CIS coach of the Year, 2001
* Jen Rawson, 2001 CIS Tournament MVP honors

### University Awards

* 2020 Toronto Varsity Blues Female Rookie of the Year: Natasha Athanasakos
* 2014 Toronto Varsity Blues Female Athlete of the Year: Nicole Kesteris

### OUA Awards

* Karen Hughes, 2001 OUA Coach of the Year
* Jen Rawson, 2001 OUA all-star
* Jen Rawson, 2001 OUA Athlete of the Year
* Vicky Sunohara, 2021,2022,2023 OUA Female Coach of the Year

#### OUA All-Stars

* Taylor Day – Forward – 2017 OUA First-Team All-Star
* Cristine Chao – Defence – 2017 OUA First-Team All-Star

#### OUA Most Sportsmanlike

| Player | Year |
| Cristine Chao | 2018/19 |

### U Sports Awards

* Erica Fryer, U Sports Athlete of the Month, January 2020

#### 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.
* Bridget Bates, 1999
* Jenny McRae, 2003
* Sue McCutcheon, 2005

#### All-Canadian honours

First Team
* Urszula May, 1999 CIS First Team All-Canadian
Second Team
* Ali MacMillan, 1998 CIS Second Team All-Canadian
* Sue Anne Van Damme, 1998 CIS Second Team All-Canadian
* Jen Rawson, 2000 CIS Second Team All-Canadian
* Heather Vance, 2000 CIS Second Team All-Canadian
* Alison Houston, 2001 CIS Second Team All-Canadian
* Susie Laska, 2001 CIS Second Team All-Canadian
* Jen Rawson, 2001 CIS Second Team All-Canadian
* Alison Houston, 2003 CIS Second Team All-Canadian
* Kim Malcher, 2003 CIS Second Team All-Canadian
* Safiya Muharuma, 2004 CIS Second Team All-Canadian
* Kim Devereaux, 2006 CIS Second Team All-Canadian
* Stephanie Lockert, 2007 CIS Second Team All-Canadian

#### U Sports All-Rookie

* Cristine Chao, 2015–16 U Sports All-Rookie

## International

* Annie Del Guidice Canada: 2009 Winter Universiade
* Karen Hughes General Manager Canada: 2009 Winter Universiade
* Nicole Kesteris Canada: 2015 Winter Universiade
* Lauren Straatman Canada: Ice hockey at the 2019 Winter Universiade

### Lady Blues in Olympic hockey

| Player | Position | Event | Result |
| Lesley Reddon | Goaltender | 1998 Winter Olympics | Silver |
| Lori Dupuis | Forward | 1998 Winter Olympics | Silver |
| Lori Dupuis | Forward | 2002 Winter Olympics | Gold |
| Jayna Hefford | Forward | 1998 Winter Olympics | Silver |
| Jayna Hefford | Forward | 2002 Winter Olympics | Gold |
| Jayna Hefford | Forward | 2006 Winter Olympics | Silver |
| Jayna Hefford | Forward | 2010 Winter Olympics | Gold |
| Laura Schuler | Forward | 1998 Winter Olympics | Silver |
| Vicky Sunohara | Forward | 1998 Winter Olympics | Silver |
| Vicky Sunohara | Forward | 2002 Winter Olympics | Gold |
| Vicky Sunohara | Forward | 2006 Winter Olympics | Gold |

## Blues in pro hockey

| Player | Pos. | Team(s) | League(s) | Titles |
| Lori Dupuis | F | Brampton Thunder | NWHL CWHL | 2008 CWHL championship |
| Jayna Hefford | F | Brampton Thunder | NWHL CWHL | Gold medal: 2006 Esso Women's Nationals 2008 CWHL championship |
| Vicky Sunohara | F | Brampton Thunder | NWHL CWHL | Gold medal: 2006 Esso Women's Nationals 2008 CWHL championship |
| Karolina Urban | F | Calgary Inferno Markham Thunder | CWHL | 2018 Clarkson Cup |
The following players were selected in the 2010 CWHL Draft.
| Player | Pos. | Team | Draft | Pick |
| Mary Modeste | F | Toronto Furies | 2010 | #39 |
| Heather Logan-Sprenger | F | Brampton Thunder | 2010 | #71 |