Field Hockey | 10/29/2025 6:00:00 PM

For a second straight year, the York University Lions have earned the right to compete on Canadian university field hockey's biggest stage.

The Lions have landed in Charlottetown, P.E.I., the site of this year's Field Hockey Canada U SPORTS Invitational Championships, which get going Thursday afternoon. The Lions will open the tournament with a rematch of the 2024 gold medal game against the Victoria Vikes, who won the inaugural title last year and have won six straight national banners dating back to when the event was still considered a U SPORTS championship under the organizations sport model.

While the Vikes come in as favourites once again this year, the Lions would like a word, as they say. York will be tough to beat, combining their potent offence that scored the most goals in the OUA this season and a suffocating defence that has allowed just four goals across their 12 games, including the postseason. Defence has always been a hallmark of the Lions identity, and they proved it once again this season.

The Lions were led by a cast of veterans and youngsters. Kathryn Carlow has enjoyed a breakout season, scoring nine tiems during the regular season and adding another in the OUA gold medal game against the Toronto Varsity Blues. Veteran defenders Natalie Brown led the Lions back line, while the likes of 2024 U SPORTS all-Canadian Abby Thompson, Jocelyn Boyd and Jewel Lew are impactful players in the midfield and 2023 OUA rookie of the year Juliet Redelaar leading a young group of forwards.

After opening the tournament with the Vikes, the Lions will battle the host UPEI Panthers on Friday afternoon. In last year's tournament, the Lions made easy work of the Panthers in the opening round robin game, beating UPEI by a 5-0 count. The Panthers come into this year's championships on home soil having captured their fourth consecutive Atlantic University Field Hockey (AUFH) championship. The hosts downed the Dalhousie Tigers 3-0 in the final on the heels of a 3-0 win over the Acadia Axewomen in the semi-final. The Panthers are built much like the Lions, with the ability to score in bunches while also limiting goals. The Panthers potted a ridiculous 71 goals during the year (tournaments and playoffs) while allowing just three.

York will then close the round-robin portion of the tournament on Saturday against the other Atlantic representative, the Dalhousie Tigers. Dalhousie earned an automatic bid to the national tournament after making it to the AUFH final against UPEI. The Tigers advance to a national championship for the first time since 2015.

The top two round-robin teams will advance straight to the gold medal match, which will take place on Sunday afternoon, while the other two teams will play for bronze earlier in the day.

YORK SCHEDULE – 2025 FIELD HOCKEY CANADA U SPORTS INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:

Thu., Oct. 30: vs. Victoria – 1:00 pm

Fri., Oct. 31: vs. UPEI – 3:30 pm

Sat., Nov. 1: vs. Dalhousie – 1:30 pm

Sun., Nov. 2: Medal Game – TBD

For more information on the 2025 Field Hockey Canada U SPORTS Invitational Championship, including the full tournament schedule and live stream information click here.