York Lions women's ice hockey

The York Lions women's ice hockey team represent York University and compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference.

History
On February 25, 1997, a little-known rule denies the Toronto Lady Blues hockey program 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 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.

On February 5, 2011, two Lions players, forward Courtney Unruh and defender Kelsey Webster (and assistant coach Stacey Colarossi) were part of the Team Canada roster that captured gold at the 2011 Winter Universiade title as Canada defeated Finland 4-1 in the gold-medal final. Autumn Mills was the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) nominee for the 2011 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Marion Hillard Award.

International

 * April 4, 2011: Kiri Langford was a member of the New Zealand national team that won the gold medal at the 2011 IIHF World Women’s Championship Div. IV in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Lions selected in the CWHL Draft
The following were selected in the 2010 CWHL Draft.

School honors

 * Autumn Mills, York University female athlete of the week for the period ending Jan. 30, 2011.

CIS honors

 * Kelsey Webster, 2010 All-CIS Second team selection

OUA in-season

 * Autumn Mills, Pioneer Petroleums Ontario University Athletics (OUA) female athlete of the week for the period ending Jan. 30, 2011.

OUA All-Stars

 * Marnie Barow, First Team (1990-91)


 * Marnie Barow, Second Team (1991-92)


 * Marnie Barow, First Team (1992-93)


 * Heather Balbraith, Second Team (1996-97)


 * Michelle Campbell, Second Team (1989-90)


 * Michelle Clayton, First Team (1993-94)


 * Michelle Clayton, Second Team (1994-95)


 * Michelle Clayton, First Team (1995-96)


 * Allyson Fox, Second Team (1995-96)


 * Allyson Fox, First Team (1996-97)


 * Allyson Fox, Second Team (1997-98)


 * Debra Ferguson, First Team (1996-97)


 * Collette Good, Second Team (1997-98)


 * Karent Kett, Second Team (1998-99)


 * Sari Krooks, First Team (1996-97)


 * Sari Krooks, First Team (1999-2000)


 * Katie Quinn, Second Team (1993-94)


 * Katie Quinn, Second Team (1994-95)


 * Katie Quinn, First Team (1995-96)


 * Melanie Roach, First Team (1998-99)


 * Melanie Roach, First Team (1999-2000)


 * Shanley White, Second Team (1997-98)

Postseason awards

 * Debra Ferguson, Player of the Game, OWIAA Final (February 25, 1997)


 * Debra Ferguson, Player of the Game, OUA Semifinal (February 11, 2000)


 * Autumn Mills,, Runner-up, 2011 Marion Hilliard Award


 * Collette Good, Player of the Game, OWIAA Semi-final (February 24, 1997)

Other

 * Chloe Milano, Player of the Game, Game 2 of 2010 Theresa Humes Tournament
 * Katie Starke 2008 Miss Teen Canada World, she was eligible to play from 2009 to 2013 but did not appear in any games because of a severe concussion in a York University pre-season game.