Women's Hockey | 10/7/2025 7:30:00 PM
The York University Lions women's hockey team is entering their regular season with renewed excitement and championship aspirations. After a successful preseason that saw the coaching staff experiment with new lineups and rotate through their impressive depth, the Lions are ready to take on regular season play with confidence.
Last season, the Lions displayed their trademark grit throughout their 26-game campaign, finishing 11-15 and earning a quarter-final playoff appearance. Now, looking ahead to 2025-26, the program has set its sights on surpassing that achievement and making a deeper postseason run. "As a program we are where we should be, it is exciting, we have more talent and depth across our lineup," said Head Coach Dan Church, highlighting the team's growth and competitive readiness.
Kaitlin Teixeira (Mississauga, Ont.) is entering the season with offensive momentum and valuable league experience that positions her as a leader for the squad. As well, Alexa Giantsopoulos (Markham, Ont.) will be driving play for the Lions offense while also serving as a mentor to younger players, passing on her extensive knowledge of the game. "Her passion for hockey and love of the game is what fuels her," Church said, making her an invaluable presence both on and off the ice. Jill Milligan (Strathroy, Ont.) will be stepping into a role as a physical two-way player, adding key strength on offense and defensive efforts. Seasoned players Sara McLennan (Winnipeg, Man.) and Emma Wedgewood (Innisfil, Ont.) will add to the depth of experience within the program, providing leadership and stability throughout the lineup.
The goaltending position will feature an exciting mix of youth and experience this season. Two-thirds of the goaltending crew will be new Lions, with Olivia Tran (Abbotsford, B.C.) and Alix Walchuk (Whitehorse, Y.T.) joining veteran goalie Emma Wedgewood (Innisfil, Ont.), who returns with another year of development under her belt. "Emma has become more and more of a pro every year. Understanding what it takes not just to play the position of goalie but the athleticism and the work that you have to put in off the ice," Church explained. "The two first years are really going to learn from her attention to detail in what she does away from the rink in video, in the gym, and the prep to get ready for games."
The recruited incoming class brings energy and skill to the roster. Molly Battram (Parkhill, Ont.) and Olivia Battram (Parkhill, Ont.) are a twin set of high-energy who can continually outwork their opponents, while Aashna Johal (Mississauga, Ont.) brings a great shot that will add power to the offense. Rounding out the first-year talent are Clara Liu (Richmond Hill, Ont.) and Avery Shortridge (Winnipeg, Man.), both expected to make immediate and impactful contributions.
The Lions have historically maintained strong special teams, and this year's aspirations remain the same with a focus on a lockdown penalty kill. However, the key to the team's competitiveness lies in their offensive evolution. The Lions will be aiming to score more consistently this season, adding a dangerous offensive dimension to their already-solid defensive foundation. The combination of experienced playmakers, physical forwards, and talented rookies should provide the scoring depth necessary to compete with the best teams in the conference.
The Lions will be on the hunt this Friday evening as they open the 2025-26 regular season against the Western Mustangs. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM and can be streamed live on OUA.tv.
