Canadian Interuniversity Sport men's ice hockey
Current season, competition or edition: 2015–16 Canadian Interuniversity Sport men's ice hockey season | |
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| Formerly | CIAU men's ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Founded | 1961 |
| No. of teams | 36 |
| Country | Canada |
| Most recent champion(s) | Alberta Golden Bears |
| Most titles | Alberta Golden Bears |
| Official website | http://english.cis-sic.ca/sports/mice/index |
The Canadian Interuniversity Sport men's ice hockey is the highest level of play at the university level under the auspices of the CIS. As these players compete at the university level, they are obligated to follow the rule of standard eligibility of five years.
University hockey teams in Canada compete in leagues as part of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), the national governing body for Canadian university athletics (in Canadian English, the term "college" is reserved for schools that would be called "junior", "community", or "technical" colleges in the U.S.). The CIS sponsors both men's and women's hockey. Like in the United States, teams compete in athletic conferences based on geographical locations of the schools. Unlike the NCAA the CIS does not award players with athletic scholarships, resulting in a lack of divisional separation such as found between NCAA divisions. Individual conferences hold postseason tournaments, followed by the round-robin CIS Championship tournament in late March.
History
The Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union was established in 1961 by Major W.J. McLeod, Athletic Director of the Royal Military College of Canada.[1][2] By the 1962-63 season, the CIAU had created a National Championship for their ice hockey playoffs: the University Cup.
The first ever University Cup was competed for in Kingston, Ontario between the UBC Thunderbirds and the McMaster Marlins. The Marlins would win the game 3-2.
The CIAU had competition in Canadian post-secondary varsity hockey at a national level. but rivalries only existed on an exhibition basis. The Canadian Colleges Athletic Association now Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association held national championships between 1975 and 2001. At one time, seven conferences in the CCAA sanctioned hockey, but only two do today - the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference and the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec.
In 1978, the governing body of the league changed its name to the Canadian Interuniversity Athletics Union. In 2001, again, the body's name was changed to Canadian Interuniversity Sport.
The most successful team in CIS history is the Alberta Golden Bears with 15 University Cup titles. This is followed by the Toronto Varsity Blues with 10 and the UNB Varsity Reds with 6. The reigning champions are the Alberta Golden Bears, who defeated the UNB Varsity Reds in Halifax to repeat as champions in 2015.
Teams
Atlantic University Sport
- Acadia Axemen
- Dalhousie Tigers
- Moncton Aigles Bleus
- St. Francis Xavier X-Men
- Saint Mary's Huskies
- St. Thomas Tommies
- UNB Varsity Reds
- UPEI Panthers
Canada West Universities Athletic Association
- Alberta Golden Bears
- Calgary Dinos
- Lethbridge Pronghorns
- Manitoba Bisons
- Mount Royal Cougars
- Regina Cougars
- Saskatchewan Huskies
- UBC Thunderbirds
Ontario University Athletics
East
- Carleton Ravens
- Concordia Stingers
- Laurentian Voyageurs
- McGill Redmen
- Nipissing Lakers
- Ottawa Gee-Gees
- Queen's Golden Gaels
- RMC Paladins
- UOIT Ridgebacks
- UQTR Patriotes
West
- Brock Badgers
- Guelph Gryphons
- Lakehead Thunderwolves
- Ryerson Rams
- Toronto Varsity Blues
- Waterloo Warriors
- Western Mustangs
- Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
- Windsor Lancers
- York Lions
Annual awards
The following are annual CIS trophies and awards:[3]
- CIS University Cup - Awarded annually to the CIS men's ice hockey champions
- Senator Joseph A. Sullivan Trophy – Annual “Player of the Year” awardd to the most outstanding player in the CIS.
- CIS Defenceman of the Year - Awarded annually to the most outstanding defenceman in the CIS.
- CIS Goaltender of the Year – Awarded annually to the most outstanding goaltender in the CIS.
- Clare Drake Award - Annual "Rookie of the Year" award presented to "the most outstanding first-year player in the CIS who has exhibited exemplary skill and leadership".
- R.W. Pugh Award – Awarded annually to the most sportsmanlike player in the CIS.
- Dr. Randy Gregg Award - Awarded annually to reward excellence in the student-athlete. The player who receives this award has exhibited outstanding achievement in ice hockey, academics, and community involvement.
- Father George Kehoe Memorial Award – Coach of the Year award.
- CIS All-Canadian Teams - Each year the CIS names a "First Team", "Second Team", and "All-Rookie Team".
Champions
- Further information: University Cup
References
External links
- CIS Men's Hockey homepage
- AUS Men's Hockey homepage
- CWUAA Men's Hockey homepage
- OUA Men's Hockey homepage
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