Surging hockey Lions return to home ice this weekend

It’s still early, but the York Lions women’s hockey team seems intent on ending its four-year playoff drought.

After a season-opening loss, the Lions have responded with four consecutive wins, putting them in a first-place tie with the Guelph Gryphons and the Windsor Lancers at the five-game mark. The Lions, off to their best start under fourth-year head coach Dan Church, hope to continue their hot streak Saturday Mmancy Coleat 2pm at Canlan Ice Sports against the Waterloo Warriors.

One player to watch is Mandy Cole. The Peterborough native potted a hat trick in a 5-2 win over the Brock Badgers on Sunday.

Right: Mandy Cole

Elsewhere on campus this weekend, the Lions football team will wrap up its Ontario University Athletics (OUA) campaign with a game against the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks Saturday, 2pm, at York Stadium. The Lions (1-6) were eliminated from playoff contention this past weekend with a 40-16 road loss against the McMaster Marauders.

At the Tait McKenzie Centre this weekend, basketball, water polo and badminton will take centre stage. The defending OUA women’s basketball champion Lions play three non-conference games – vs. McGill University on Friday at 8pm, vs. Victoria University on Saturday at 6pm and vs. Acadia University on Sunday at noon. The Lions men’s basketball team squares off against Dalhousie Saturday at 8pm.

In water polo, the Lions tangle with the Western Mustangs Saturday, at 11:30am, and the badminton Lions battle the Ryerson Rams Saturday at 10am. Meanwhile, in field hockey action, the Lions play host to the University of Toronto Varsity Blues Wednesday, 6pm, at Lamport Stadium, King St. W., Toronto.

York men's tennis team 2007 OUA Champions
York Lions men’s tennis team gather for posterity after winning the provincial university tennis championship.

This past weekend, the Lions men’s tennis team claimed the OUA title for the second time in the past three years at the Rexall Centre. Captain Matt Kuzdub and first-year star Mikhail Lew led the way for the Lions, who beat the Waterloo Warriors and the Western Mustangs.

Submitted to YFile by Mike Koreen, sport & recreation information officer in York’s School of Kinesiology & Health Science, Faculty of Health.