The York University Lions women's hockey team kicks off the new year this weekend with its first home game of 2017, a contest against the visiting Waterloo Warriors at Canlan Ice Sports on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Match-ups: York (2-1-6-4) vs. Waterloo (6-2-4-1)
 
Game Details
Saturday, Jan. 7 @ 2pm, OUA.tv
 
Home/Away Records
York – 2-5 at home
Waterloo – 3-2 on the road
 
Current Streak
York – Lost 1
Waterloo – Lost 2
 
Last Meetings
The two squads have already met once this year in mid November, a game that ended in double overtime with a 2-1 win for the Warriors. The Lions used an early goal in the third period to tie the contest and secure a point in the standings. The two teams split their season series last year, with the home team winning each time. York defeated Waterloo 3-2 in early February, while the Warriors blanked the Lions 3-0 earlier in the season.
 
QUICK FACTS
 
York

• The Lions have been off since late November, when they ended the 2016 portion of their schedule with a shootout loss to Toronto. The Lions earned points in two straight games before the break, also defeating Ryerson 4-3.
• The Lions are one of the lowest scoring teams in the OUA this season with an average of 2.0 goals per game, putting them in a three-way tie for 10^th in the conference.
• The Lions have played more overtime games (five) than every other team in the OUA this season.
• As part of their weekend schedule, the Lions will also travel to Waterloo, Ont., on Sunday evening for a game against the Laurier Golden Hawks.

 
Waterloo

• The Warriors had a strong first half of the season, accumulating 23 points to sit third in the OUA standings. They lost two in a row before the break, a double overtime defeat to Western and a 4-1 loss to Brock, but earned points in five of their seven games in November.
• The Warriors are a low-scoring team, averaging just 2.31 goals per game to sit ninth in the OUA. However, they have one of the best defences, ranking third with only 1.66 goals allowed per game.
• The Warriors will also face the Guelph Gryphons on the road on Thursday night to begin the 2017 portion of their campaign.

 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
 
York
 
F Erin Locke – Leads the Lions in points (eight) and assists (five). She is on pace to surpass the 11 points she scored as a rookie last season.
 
D Taylor Davison – The rookie defender is fourth in team scoring, and first among both defenders and rookies, with five points in 11 games. She has scored three goals, all of them on the power play.
 
Waterloo
 
G Stephanie Sluys – Ranks second in the OUA in goals against average (1.33) and third in save percentage (.942). She has started nine games and has five wins.
 
F Rachel Marriott – The team's scoring leader is tied for sixth in the OUA with 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 13 games. She has scored four times on the power play and has one game winner.