Nipissing Lakers women's ice hockey
The Nipissing Lakers women's ice hockey program represents Nipissing University in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) conference of U Sports. The Lakers first competed in OUA women's ice hockey in the 2013-14 season and qualified for the OUA playoffs in their second season. The team has played in two McCaw Cup finals and in one U Sports national tournament, in 2022. The team is led by head coach Darren Turcotte, a former NHL forward and North Bay Sports Hall of Fame member. History. Prior to their entry to U Sports (formerly  Canadian Interuniversity Sport), the Lakers had fielded a women's ice hockey team that played in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association. On June 26, 2012, it was announced that the women's ice hockey team would compete in Ontario University Athletics beginning with the 2013-14 season. After conducting a search for a head coach for the team's first foray into the OUA, it was announced on August 16, 2012, that Darren Turcotte had been hired for the position for the 2013-14 season. The Nipissing Lakers advanced to the USport National Championship for the first time in 2022 , where they returned to North Bay as National Silver Medalists. USports results. 2021-22 Finished Second in Canada. Won Quart-Final (1-0) vs. UBC Won Semi-Final (4-0) vs. UNB Lost Championship (4-0) vs. Concordia 705 Challenge Cup. First established as a challenge between the varsity soccer teams of two Northern Ontario universities (Laurentian vs. Nipissing), in which the winning team was awarded the Riley Gallo Cup, the rivalry expanded. Introducing the 705 Challenge Cup in 2016, the results of all regular season games between the Lakers and the Voyageurs varsity teams for men’s and women ’s basketball, ice hockey and soccer, comprised the overall won-loss record in determining the annual Cup winner. The Lakers would win their first 705 Challenge Cup during the 2019-20 athletics season. Of note, the scores below reflect the women's ice hockey matchups since the 705 Challenge Cup was introduced. The series ended following the discontinuation of the Laurentian Voyageurs women's ice hockey team in 2021.