LIONS LOOKAHEAD: HOCKEY ON HOME ICE, VOLLEYBALL HOSTS DIG FOR THE CURE WITH 2004-05 MEN’S OUA CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM ON HAND

Last week was an up-and-down week for the York University Lions.

The men’s hockey team put together a competitive weekend, losing a hard-fought 6-4 game at Carleton on Friday night before earning a point – thanks in large part to current York male athlete of the week Alex Chu – in a 2-1 overtime loss to Queen’s. Chu made 36 saves in his first ever OUA start as the Lions earned at least a point for the third time in four games. 

The women’s team split a pair of games on their trip out to southwestern Ontario. They beat the Western Mustangs 3-0 behind a 31-save shutout from Emma Wedgewood. They then fell by a 4-2 count to the Windsor Lancers on Saturday night.

Meanwhile, York’s volleyball teams won three of their four combined matches, including a sweep by the women’s team of the Ottawa Gee-Gees. The Lions took both matches in five sets, coming from behind in Friday’s opener. They were led by current female athlete of the week Amarai Endes, who combined for 23 kills on 48 total attacks and just a single attack error over two games. The men’s team beat the Nipisssing Lakers in five sets Friday night to move to 7-0, but fell in four sets on Saturday after dominating the opening set. Despite the loss, the Lions still earned their first U SPORTS top 10 ranking since Feb. 27-Mar. 5, 2023, slotting in 10th.

The Lions basketball teams each lost a pair of games to the Laurentian Voyageurs and Nipissing Lakers. The women’s team have now lost four in a row, while the men’s side is still looking for its first win of the year.

Finally, the wrestling team hosted its lone meet of the season on Saturday. Graduating wrestlers Kelly Nguyen and Daniyal Asim were honoured in a pre-meet ceremony for their contributions to the program.

With that look at the week that was, here’s what’s going on in the den this week:

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The Lions will look to get back on to their winning ways when they start a stretch of three of four on the road to close the fall term Wednesday at Waterloo. These are two pretty evenly-matched teams, with Waterloo sitting at 3-4 on the young season, while the Lions are 2-4. The Warriors are coming off a win over the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks. Then, on Saturday the Lions will head to Sault Ste. Marie to battle the 1-6 Algoma Thunderbirds. Algoma’s lone win of the season is over Ontario Tech, but are coming off playing a competitive game against the OUA’s second-best team, the Ottawa Gee-Gees, until it slipped away late. Wedensday’s game at Waterloo tips off at 6:00 pm, with Saturday’s tilt being a 1:00 pm start. You can stream both games on OUA TV.

MEN’S BASKETBALL 

The Lions men’s team will look for its first win of the year this weekend, as they also take on Waterloo and Algoma. The Warriors are 3-4 so far on the season, but actually lead the OUA West, as all six teams in the division are below .500. Waterloo’s most recent game was a 68-64 win over Ontario Tech. Meanwhile, something will have to give on Saturday as the Lions battle the 0-7 Algoma Thunderbirds, with one team guaranteed to earn its first win of the season. Algoma has surrendered 100+ points in each of its seven losses thus far, while allowing 110 or more points in four of them. You can stream both games on OUA TV. 

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL 

The Lions women’s volleyball team will look to keep the good times rolling when they return to Tait face the Queen’s Gaels for a pair of games. The Gaels are coached by a familiar face: former York assistant Shanice Marcelle, who was with the program on Jen Nielson’s staff from 2018-24 and served as interim head coach for part of the offseason before taking the Queen’s job while Nielson was on maternity leave. Marcelle’s Gaels will provide a tough test to her old team, as they come in 7-1 on the season, with their only loss coming to the Brock Badgers. First serve of Friday’s game flies at 6:00 pm, while Saturday’s game, the annual Dig for the Cure game, will be taking place at 4:00 pm. You can get your tickets to both matches here or stream them on OUA.TV.

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL 

In what has the potential to be the games of the year in the OUA, the 7-1 Lions take on the 7-1 Gaels in a battle for OUA supremacy. York is looking to bounce back from a four-set defeat at the hands of the Nipissing Lakers in what will be a statement weekend for the Lions. The Gaels, meanwhile, have lost only to the other 7-1 team in the OUA, the Windsor Lancers, whom the Gaels split a weekend set with on Nov. 8 and 9. First serves this weekend fly at 8:00 pm and 6:00 pm Saturday’s game will be a special one for the Lions program, as they host their Dig for the Cure game along with a 20th anniversary celebration as they welcome back members of the 2004-05 OUA championship-winning team. Those in attendance from the team will be honoured on court during a pre-game ceremony. You can get tickets to this weekend’s matches here or stream them on OUA TV.

WOMEN’S HOCKEY 

The Lions women’s hockey team returns home to open up a four-game fall-term-closing home stand Friday night when they host the Laurier Golden Hawks. The Golden Hawks come in fourth in the OUA West at 4-4-1-1. With a win Friday and a regulation loss by Western at Toronto, York will move into a tie for the fourth and final OUA West playoff spot. The Lions will then host the Waterloo Warriors on Sunday afternoon. Waterloo boasts the OUA’s most prolific offence. They’ve potted a league-leading 43 goals, while scoring six or more goals in four of their 10 games. This will be the teams’ first meeting since Game 3 of last season’s OUA semi-final when the Warriors eliminated the Lions in the series-deciding game. Note the puck drop of Friday’s game vs. Laurier is at 5:00 pm, while Sunday’s game with Waterloo begins at 2:00 pm. You can get your tickets to both games here or stream them both on OUA TV.

MEN’S HOCKEY

The Lions look to keep their momentum going when they host the Nipissing Lakers and Laurier Golden Hawks this weekend. Nipissing and Laurier sit in the bottom two spots in the OUA West, making this a good opportunity for the Lions to make some headway in the standings. The Lakers come in at 4-8-2 on the season, but have won two of their last three games. Laurier, meanwhile come in with a 2-7-3, and are currently riding an eight-game losing streak. Puck drop of Friday’s game against the Lakers is scheduled for 8:00 pm, immediately following the women game, with Saturday’s game against the Hawks shifting back to the typical 7:15 pm start time. You can get your tickets to this weekend’s games here or stream them on OUA TV.

TRACK & FIELD

Meanwhile, the Lions track and field season gets under way this week with the annual Red & White intrasquad meet. Action takes place over two days, Thursday and Friday, from the Toronto Track & Field Centre. Admission is free.