2024 U Sports University Cup
Tournament details | |
---|---|
Venue(s) | Mattamy Athletic Centre, Toronto, Ontario |
Dates | March 14–17, 2024 |
Teams | 8 |
Final positions | |
Champions | UNB Reds (10th title) |
Runner-up | UQTR Patriotes |
Third place | McGill Redbirds |
Tournament statistics | |
Games played | 8 |
MVP | Brady Gilmour |
The 2024 U Sports University Cup was the 62nd edition of the U Sports men's ice hockey championship held between March 14-17, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, to determine a national champion for the 2023–24 U Sports men's ice hockey season.
The UNB Reds defeated the UQTR Patriotes 4-0 victory to claim their 10th National Championship.[1][2] This marked UNB's second title defense - they also won back-to-back championships in 2016 & 2017. Similarly, this was UNB's second consecutive shutout posted in the finals (defeated Alberta 3-0 in 2023) and their fourth shutout in a final overall (2011, 2013, 2023 & 2024).
UNB became the first ever U Sports team to concede no goals at the U Cup[3] and completed the first undefeated season in Canadian collegiate hockey since 1962, going 43-0 (30-0, 5-0, 3-0 plus 5-0 in exhibition play). McMaster Marlins are the only other undefeated championship team, going 12-0-0 on their way to a U Cup title (10-0, 2-0).[4]
Milestones[edit]
- With 9 under his tenure, UNB head coach Gardiner MacDougall tied Tom Watt for the most U Cup Championship titles.
- UNB became the first team in the 8-team/3-game tournament format to win all three games via shutout.
Host[edit]
The tournament was played at the Mattamy Athletic Centre located in the former Maple Leaf Gardens and was hosted by Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU).[2] This was the first time that TMU hosted the tournament, but was the 15th time that the championship was played in Toronto.[5]
The finals were played 27 years to the day of the last University Cup finals played at Maple Leaf Gardens - Guelph Gryphons (OUA Queen's Cup Champions) won 4-3 over the UNB Varsity Reds (AUAA Champions) on Monday, March 17, 1997.
Qualification[edit]
AUS playoffs[6][edit]
Quarter-finals (Best of 3) | Semi-finals (Best of 5) | Finals (Best of 3) | ||||||||||||
1 | UNB Reds | 3 | ||||||||||||
4 | Saint Mary's Huskies | 2 | 4 | Saint Mary's Huskies | 0 | |||||||||
5 | UPEI Panthers | 0 | 1 | UNB Reds | 2 | |||||||||
2 | Moncton Aigles Bleus | 0 | ||||||||||||
2 | Moncton Aigles Bleus | 3 | ||||||||||||
3 | St. Francis Xavier X-Men | 2 | 3 | St. Francis Xavier X-Men | 0 | |||||||||
6 | Acadia Axemen | 0 |
OUA playoffs[7][edit]
Division Quarter-finals (Best of 3) OUA Top 12 | Division Semi-finals (Best of 3) OUA Quarter-Finals | Division Finals (Best of 3) OUA Semi-Finals | Queen's Cup (Single Game) OUA Championship | ||||||||||||||||
1E | McGill Redbirds | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
4E | Queen's Gaels | 0 | 5E | Concordia Stingers | 0 | ||||||||||||||
5E | Concordia Stingers | 2 | 1E | McGill Redbirds | 1 | ||||||||||||||
2E | UQTR Patriotes | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
2E | UQTR Patriotes | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
3E | Ottawa Gee-Gees | 2 | 3E | Ottawa Gee-Gees | 1 | ||||||||||||||
6E | Ontario Tech Ridgebacks | 0 | 2E | UQTR Patriotes | 3 (2OT) | ||||||||||||||
2W | TMU Bold | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
1W | Brock Badgers | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
4W | Windsor Lancers | 2 | 4W | Windsor Lancers | 0 | ||||||||||||||
5W | Lakehead Thunderwolves | 0 | 1W | Brock Badgers | 1 | Third place (Single Game) | |||||||||||||
2W | TMU Bold | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
2W | TMU Bold | 2 | 1E | McGill Redbirds | 5 | ||||||||||||||
3W | Toronto Varsity Blues | 0 | 6W | Laurier Golden Hawks | 0 | 1W | Brock Badgers | 2 | |||||||||||
6W | Laurier Golden Hawks | 2 |
Note 1: The Queen's Cup championship game must be held in Ontario (part of the arrangement when the RSEQ hockey league merged with the OUA). When a Quebec-based OUA-East representative is the higher seed and should 'host' the game - the game shall be hosted by the OUA-West team instead, but the OUA-East team shall be the 'home' team and have last change. This rule was applied this season as UQTR had a better record than TMU - thus, TMU would host the game but UQTR would be the 'home' team.
Note 2: The OUA 'Host' rule mentioned in Note 1 now, as of 2019-20, also applies to the bronze medal game. This rule was also applied this season as McGill had a better record than Brock - thus, Brock hosted the game but McGill was the 'home' team.
Note 3: Laurier defeated 7th place Nipissing 5-4 in the OUA West Play-In Game to qualify for the playoffs.
Canada West playoffs[8][edit]
Quarter-finals (Best of 3) | Semi-finals (Best of 3) | Finals (Best of 3) | ||||||||||||
1 | UBC Thunderbirds | 2 | ||||||||||||
4 | Saskatchewan Huskies | 1 | 5 | Alberta Golden Bears | 1 | |||||||||
5 | Alberta Golden Bears | 2 | 1 | UBC Thunderbirds | 2 | |||||||||
2 | Calgary Dinos | 1 | ||||||||||||
2 | Calgary Dinos | 2 | ||||||||||||
3 | Mount Royal Cougars | 2 | 3 | Mount Royal Cougars | 0 | |||||||||
6 | MacEwan Griffins | 0 |
University Cup Tournament[edit]
The eight teams advancing to the tournament are listed below. The three (3) conference champions must be seeded 1-3 followed by the OUA Runner-up (seed #4). The remaining four seeds are for the AUS Finalist, Canada West Finalist, OUA Third-place and host respectively. Their seedings are based on the pre-tournament rankings. Since TMU would advance as the OUA Runner-up, the loser from the OUA Bronze Medal game (Brock) would represent the host.
Participating teams and seeding[edit]
Seed | Team | Qualified | Record | Last App | Last Win | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | UNB Reds | AUS Champion | 30–0–0 | 2023 | 2023 | 9 |
2 | UQTR Patriotes | OUA Champion | 21–7–1 | 2023 | 2022 | 5 |
3 | UBC Thunderbirds | CW Champion | 22–4–2 | 2022 | None | 0 |
4 | TMU Bold | OUA Finalist (Host) | 19–8–1 | 2022 | None | 0 |
5 | Calgary Dinos | CW Finalist | 21–5–2 | 2023 | None | 0 |
6 | McGill Redbirds | OUA Bronze | 21–5–2 | 2018 | 2012 | 1 |
7 | Moncton Aigles Bleus | AUS Finalist | 20–9–1 | 2012 | 1995 | 4 |
8 | Brock Badgers | OUA Semifinalist | 21–7–0 | 2022 | None | 0 |
Bracket[edit]
Quarter-finals: March 14-15 | Semi-finals: March 16 | Final: March 17 | ||||||||||||
1 | UNB Reds | 4 | ||||||||||||
8 | Brock Badgers | 0 | ||||||||||||
1 | UNB Reds | 7 | ||||||||||||
Thursday Mar. 14th | ||||||||||||||
4 | TMU Bold | 0 | ||||||||||||
4 | TMU Bold | 2 (2OT) | ||||||||||||
5 | Calgary Dinos | 1 | ||||||||||||
1 | UNB Reds | 4 | ||||||||||||
2 | UQTR Patriotes | 0 | ||||||||||||
2 | UQTR Patriotes | 5 | ||||||||||||
7 | Moncton Aigles Bleus | 1 | ||||||||||||
2 | UQTR Patriotes | 5 | 3rd place game | |||||||||||
Friday Mar. 15th | ||||||||||||||
6 | McGill Redbirds | 4 | ||||||||||||
3 | UBC Thunderbirds | 2 | 4 | TMU Bold | 2 | |||||||||
6 | McGill Redbirds | 3 | 6 | McGill Redbirds | 3 |
Results[edit]
Championship final[edit]
March 17, 2024 5:00pm (local) CBC Gem | UNB Reds #1 | 4-0 (2-0, 0-0, 2-0) | UQTR Patriotes #2 | Mattamy Athletic Centre, Toronto, ON |
Game reference | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Samuel Richard (3-0) | Goalies | Alexis Gravel (2-1) | Referees: Troy Murray Danny Emerson Linesmen: Brian Birkhoff Maxime Ferland | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
3 for 6 min | Penalties | 1 for 2 min | ||||||||||||
33 | Shots | 23 |
Game MVPs: Cody Morgan (UNB) & Félix Lauzon (UQTR) |
Awards[edit]
The Major W.J. 'Danny' McLeod Award for U Sports University Cup MVP was awarded to UNB forward Brady Gilmour whom finished the tournament tied for first in points with 7 (1G + 6A) along with Simon Lafrance (2G + 5A) of UQTR. His lone goal was the game winner in the Championship Final.
Tournament all-star team were:[11]
Forward: Brady Gilmour (UNB Reds)
Forward: Simon Lafrance (UQTR Patriotes)
Forward: Austen Keating (UNB Reds)
Defenceman: Kale McCallum (UNB Reds)
Defenceman: Scott Walford (McGill Redbirds)
Goaltender: Samuel Richard (UNB Reds)
Media[edit]
Television[edit]
All games were broadcast live in English on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app, the CBC Sports YouTube channel and the CBC Gem streaming service.[12] [13] It was broadcast in French on Radio-Canada and Ici TOU.TV, while the finals also aired on TVA Sports.[13]
Entertainment[edit]
The McGill Fight Band came to support the McGill Redbirds at their three games, providing musical performances in the arena.[14][15]
References[edit]
- ^ "U Sports Calendar". usports.ca. U Sports. 15 September 2017. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
- ^ a b "U Sports awards 2024 University Cup to Toronto Metropolitan University". U Sports. November 21, 2022.
- ^ "UNB defeats UQTR 4-0 to take the 2024 U Cup". usports.ca. U Sports. 17 March 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
- ^ Steiner, Ben (17 March 2024). ""It hasn't sunk in": UNB caps off perfect season with record-breaking U CUP". 49-sport.com. 49 Sport. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
- ^ "History". U Sports. 18 July 2017. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
- ^ "2024 AUS Men's Hockey Playoff Schedule - Atlantic University Sport (AUS)". www.atlanticuniversitysport.com. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "2023-24 OUA Men's Hockey Postseason Schedule". Ontario University Athletics (OUA). Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "2023-24 Men's Hockey Playoffs". Canada West. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "U Sports Playing Regulations: Men's Ice Hockey" (PDF). U Sports. September 2022.
- ^ "UNB looking to defend its title from the top seed". U SPORTS. 2024-03-10. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
- ^ UNB defeats UQTR 4-0 to take the 2024 U Cup https://usports.ca/en/championships/hockey/m/news/2024/03/2682058273/unb-defeats-uqtr-4-0-to-take-the-2024-u-cup
- ^ "CBC Sports to broadcast U Sports national championships for next 4 years". CBC Sports. September 20, 2021.
- ^ a b "How to watch the 2024 U SPORTS Winter Championships". U SPORTS. 2024-02-29. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
- ^ Hewitt, Thomas (2024-03-16). "Redbirds oust UBC in tight U CUP quarterfinal contest -". 49-sport.com. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
- ^ Hewitt, Thomas (2024-03-17). "McGill Redbirds stun TMU to take U CUP bronze medal -". 49-sport.com. Retrieved 2024-03-18.