Toronto Lady Blues women's ice hockey

The Lady Blues women's ice hockey team represent the University of Toronto and compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference.

History
On December 12, 1922, the Lady Blues joined the Ladies Ontario Hockey Associaton 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, and the reason was certain unsatisfactory aspects of competition. There were issues as to the acceptable definition of womanhood. The team would take two extended hiatuses from 1936 to 1948 and 1951 to 1960.

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.

Notable games

 * 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 York University. 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, as she valiantly made 63 saves over 125 minutes.

Awards and honors

 * Nicole Kesteris, 2011 CIS All-Rookie Team

All-OUA team

 * First Team 1981-82