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St. Francis Xavier X-Men ice hockey

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St. Francis Xavier X-Men ice hockey
St. Francis Xavier X-Men athletic logo
UniversitySt. Francis Xavier University
ConferenceAUS
Head coachBrad Peddle
Since 2005–06 season
ArenaCharles V. Keating Millennium Centre
Antigonish, Nova Scotia
ColorsBlue, White, and Silver
     
U Sports Tournament championships
2004
U Sports Tournament appearances
1963, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1976, 1978, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022
Conference Tournament championships
1924, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1936, 1937, 1941, 1943, 1944, 1946, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1963, 1968, 1976, 1978, 2004, 2016, 2017

The St. Francis Xavier X-Men ice hockey team is an ice hockey team representing the St. Francis Xavier X-Men athletics program of St. Francis Xavier University. The team is a member of the Atlantic University Sport conference and compete in U Sports. The team plays their home games at the Charles V. Keating Millennium Centre in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.[1]

History

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St. Francis Xavier formed its first varsity ice hockey team in 1905. That season the X-Men competed with other local colleges for the inaugural Hewson Cup, donated by E.E. Hewson. Rules stipulated that the first team to win the trophy three times would be allowed to keep the cup. SFX proceeded to win the title in the first three years of contention and lay permanent claim to the trophy. A second trophy was made, called the Sumner Cup, however, due to St. Francis being accused of knowingly using ineligible players (despite no governing body or official eligibility rules at the time) SFX was not included in competition for the second trophy. After returning from World War I, the animus against St. Francis had ebbed and the X-Men were one of the founding member of a new intercollegiate conference, the Maritime Intercollegiate Athletic Association. St. Francis Xavier swiftly became one of the league's best teams and won several championships in the interwar years. SFX left the MIAA sometime in the early 30s but the team was still invited to participate in the conference tournament each year. During this time, St. Francis also played in a local senior league and competed for the Allan Cup on multiple occasions.

During World War II, St. Francis was one of three teams who attempted to play for the duration but the program was eventually forced to suspend operations in 1944. It returned after a 1-season break and became the dominant force in the MIAA. The X-Men won every single conference tournament from 1950 to 1959 (The 1953 tournament was cancelled due to a bleacher collapse) and were by far the best team of the maritime colleges. In 1954, the MIAA teams ended their senior hockey play and focused solely on the college level. When the CIAU championship began in 1963, SFX was the first entrant from MIAA but the X-Men had trouble winning on the national stage. Despite making 6 appearance in the first 15 years of competition, St. Francis Xavier failed to make an appearance in the finals.

At the beginning of the 1980s, the fortunes of the program changed and the once-lofty X-Men became a middling team at best for most of the next 15 years. St. Francis Xavier did not regain its former status until the late 90s. Even then, it wasn't until 2004 that the team won another league championship, however, that year also saw St. Francis win its first national championship.[2] SFX has made several trips to the national tournament in the years since with their best finishes coming in 2016 and 2018 as runners-up (as of 2023).

Season-by-season results

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Senior and collegiate play

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Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points

U Sports Champion U Sports Semifinalist Conference regular season champions Conference Division Champions Conference Playoff Champions
Season Conference Regular Season Conference Tournament Results National Tournament Results
Conference Overall
GP W L T Pts* Finish GP W L T %
Senior Hockey
1905–06 Independent ? ? ? ? ? Hewson Cup Champion
1906–07 Independent ? ? ? ? ? Hewson Cup Champion
1907–08 Independent ? ? ? ? ? Hewson Cup Champion
1908–09 Independent ? ? ? ? ?
1909–10 Independent ? ? ? ? ?
1910–11 Independent ? ? ? ? ?
1911–12 Independent ? ? ? ? ?
1912–13 Independent ? ? ? ? ?
1913–14 Independent ? ? ? ? ?
1914–15 Independent ? ? ? ? ?
Program suspended due to World War I
Senior and Intercollegiate Hockey
1919–20 MIAA ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Won Semifinal, ? (King's)
Lost Championship, 3–8 (Acadia)
1920–21 MIAA 2 1 1 0 2 T–3rd ? ? ? ? ?
1921–22 MIAA ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Lost Semifinal, 3–6 (Dalhousie)
1922–23 MIAA 2 0 2 0 0 6th ? ? ? ? ?
1923–24 MIAA 3 3 0 0 6 1st ? ? ? ? ? Won Championship, 6–2 (Acadia)
1924–25 MIAA ? ? ? ? ? 1st ? ? ? ? ? Lost Championship, 4–5 (New Brunswick)
1925–26 MIAA 3 0 0 0 6 1st ? ? ? ? ? Won Semifinal, 2–0 (King's)
Won Championship, 3–2 (New Brunswick)
1926–27 MIAA ? ? ? ? ? 1st ? ? ? ? ? Won Championship, 1–0 (Mount Allison)
1927–28 MIAA 3 3 0 0 6 1st ? ? ? ? ? Won Championship, 3–1 (New Brunswick)
1928–29 MIAA 2 2 0 0 4 T–1st ? ? ? ? ? Won Championship series, 10–5 (New Brunswick)
1929–30 Independent ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Won Quarterfinal, 3–2 (Acadia)
Lost Semifinal, 1–3 (Saint Mary's)
1930–31 Independent ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Won Quarterfinal, 5–1 (Acadia)
Won Semifinal, 3–2 (Saint Mary's)
Lost Championship, 0–1 (Mount Allison)
1931–32 Independent ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Won Quarterfinal, 5–3 (Acadia)
Won Semifinal, 4–1 (Saint Mary's)
Lost Championship, 0–3 (Mount Allison)
1932–33 Independent ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Lost MIAA Quarterfinal, 1–5 (Acadia)
1933–34 Independent ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Lost MIAA Quarterfinal, 3–4 (Acadia)
1934–35 Independent ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Won Quarterfinal series, 7–5 (Saint Mary's)
Won Semifinal, 5–2 (Acadia)
Lost Championship, 2–3 (Mount Allison)
1935–36 Independent ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Won MIAA Quarterfinal series, 11–4 (Acadia)
Won Semifinal, 9–3 (Saint Mary's)
Won Championship, 3–2 (New Brunswick)
1936–37 Independent ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Won MIAA Semifinal, 5–3 (Dalhousie)
Won Championship, 6–2 (Mount Allison)
1937–38 Independent ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Lost MIAA Semifinal, 4–5 (Acadia)
1938–39 Independent ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Lost MIAA Quarterfinal series, 4–5 (Acadia)
1939–40 Independent ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
1940–41 MIAA 3 2 1 0 4 ? ? ? ? ? ? Won Semifinal series, 11–10 (Saint Mary's)
Won Championship, 4–3 (New Brunswick)
1941–42 MIAA ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Lost Semifinals series, 9–10 (Saint Mary's)
1942–43 MIAA ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Won Championship series, 14–7 (Saint Mary's)
1943–44 MIAA ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Won Championship, 6–3 (Acadia)
Program suspended due to World War II
1945–46 MIAA 8 8 0 0 1.000 1st ? ? ? ? ? Won Championship, forfeit (St. Joseph's)
1946–47 MIAA 8 7 1 0 .875 1st ? ? ? ? ? Lost Championship, 6–8 (Saint Dunstan's)
1947–48 MIAA 7 5 2 0 .714 T–2nd ? ? ? ? ? Lost Semifinal, 5–6 (Acadia)
1948–49 MIAA 4 2 2 0 .500 2nd ? ? ? ? ?
1949–50 MIAA 4 4 0 0 1.000 1st ? ? ? ? ? Won Championship series, 13–6 (New Brunswick)
1950–51 MIAA 3 3 0 0 1.000 1st ? ? ? ? ? Won Championship series, 13–8 (St. Thomas)
1951–52 MIAA ? ? ? ? ? Won Championship series, 21–5 (New Brunswick)
1952–53 MIAA 0 0 0 0 0 ? ? ? ? ? Won Semifinal series, ? (Acadia)
no contest Championship series, cancelled (Mount Allison)
1953–54 MIAA 0 0 0 0 0 ? ? ? ? ? Won Quarterfinal series, 15–5 (Dalhousie)
Won Semifinal series, ? (Acadia)
Won Championship series, 6–3 (Mount Allison)
Totals GP W L T % Championships
Regular Season ? ? ? ? ? 13 MIAA Division Championships, 10 MIAA Championships
Conference Post-season ? ? ? ? ? 3 Hewson Cups, 15 MIAA Championships
Regular Season and Postseason Record ? ? ? ? ?

Collegiate only

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Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, SOL = Shootout Losses, Pts = Points

U Sports Champion U Sports Semifinalist Conference regular season champions Conference Division Champions Conference Playoff Champions
Season Conference Regular Season Conference Tournament Results National Tournament Results
Conference Overall
GP W L T OTL SOL Pts* Finish GP W L T %
1954–55 MIAA 12 9 3 0 18 2nd 14 11 3 0 .786 Won Championship series, 17–1 (Mount Allison)
1955–56 MIAA 8 8 0 0 16 T–1st 14 14 0 0 1.000 Won Quarterfinal series, 9–5 (Dalhousie)
Won Semifinal series, 20–4 (Acadia)
Won Championship series, 8–2 (Mount Allison)
1956–57 MIAA 8 6 0 2 14 T–2nd 10 2 7 1 .250 Won Quarterfinal series, 17–0 (Acadia)
Won Semifinal series, 5–4 (Dalhousie)
Won Championship series, 15–6 (New Brunswick)
1957–58 MIAA 8 8 0 0 16 T–1st 14 13 0 1 .964 Won Quarterfinal series, 22–2 (Acadia)
Won Semifinal series, 18–4 (Dalhousie)
Won Championship series, 10–8 (New Brunswick)
1958–59 MIAA 8 5 2 1 11 4th 14 10 2 2 .786 Won Quarterfinal series, 9–1 (Nova Scotia Tech)
Won Semifinal series, 7–4 (Dalhousie)
Won Championship series, 10–1 (St. Thomas)
1959–60 MIAA 8 6 2 0 12 2nd 14 13 0 1 .964 Won Quarterfinal series, 23–5 (Acadia)
Won Semifinal series, 12–8 (Saint Mary's)
Lost Championship series, 0–2 (New Brunswick)
1960–61 MIAA 8 5 3 0 10 2nd 14 10 4 0 .714 Won Quarterfinal series, 13–5 (Nova Scotia Tech)
Won Semifinal series, 13–3 (Saint Mary's)
Lost Championship series, 10–13 (St. Thomas)
1961–62 MIAA 7 6 0 1 13 1st 14 10 2 2 .786 Won Quarterfinal series, 9–8 (Nova Scotia Tech)
Won Semifinal series, 18–5 (Acadia)
Lost Championship series, 1–2 (New Brunswick)
1962–63 MIAA 12 9 2 1 19 2nd 17 12 4 1 .735 Won Championship series, 2–1 (New Brunswick) Lost Semifinal, 3–4 (McMaster)
Won Third Place Game, 4–7 (Sherbrooke)
1963–64 MIAA 12 9 2 1 23 3rd 12 9 2 1 .792
1964–65 MIAA 11 9 2 0 18 2nd 11 9 2 0 .818
1965–66 MIAA 14 14 0 0 28 1st 16 15 1 0 .938 Lost Semifinal, 4–6 (Toronto)
Won Third Place Game, 5–3 (Laurentian)
1966–67 MIAA 14 13 1 0 26 1st 16 14 2 0 .875 Lost Semifinal, 4–7 (Toronto)
Won Third Place Game, 6–3 (Sir George Williams)
1967–68 MIAA 16 15 1 0 30 1st 20 17 3 0 .850 Won Semifinal, 2–1 (New Brunswick)
Won Championship, 9–6 (Saint Mary's)
Lost Quarterfinal, 3–12 (Alberta)
Lost Consolation Semifinal, 1–9 (Toronto)
1968–69 AIAA 18 9 8 1 19 6th 18 9 8 1 .528
1969–70 AIAA 18 15 3 0 30 2nd 20 16 4 0 .800 Won Semifinal, 8–1 (New Brunswick)
Lost Championship, 5–6 (Saint Mary's)
1970–71 AIAA 18 14 4 0 28 3rd 19 14 5 0 .737 Lost Semifinal, 6–7 (Dalhousie)
1971–72 AIAA 18 5 12 1 11 T–9th 18 5 12 1 .306
1972–73 AIAA 21 9 12 0 .429 7th 21 9 12 0 .429
1973–74 AUAA 21 14 7 0 .667 3rd 22 14 8 0 .636 Lost Semifinal, 1–5 (Moncton)
1974–75 AUAA 18 11 7 0 22 5th 18 11 7 0 .611 Lost Semifinal, 1–5 (Moncton)
1975–76 AUAA 16 12 4 0 24 T–2nd 20 15 5 0 .750 Won Semifinal, 9–4 (Mount Allison)
Won Championship, 7–5 (Moncton)
Won East Regional Semifinal, 4–1 (Laval)
Lost East Regional Final, 3–5 (Concordia)
1976–77 AUAA 20 16 2 2 34 1st 24 18 4 2 .792 Won Semifinal series, 2–0 (Prince Edward Island)
Lost Championship series, 0–2 (Saint Mary's)
1977–78 AUAA 20 13 4 3 29 2nd 29 19 7 3 .707 Won Semifinal series, 2–0 (Prince Edward Island)
Won Championship series, 3–2 (Saint Mary's)
Lost Group 1 Round-Robin, 5–0 (Regina), 3–7 (Alberta)
1978–79 AUAA 20 10 9 1 21 5th 20 10 9 1 .525
1979–80 AUAA 29 16 12 1 33 5th 33 18 14 1 .561 Won Quarterfinal, 7–4 (New Brunswick)
Lost Semifinal series, 1–2 (Dalhousie)
1980–81 AUAA 24 11 13 0 22 6th 24 11 13 0 .458
1981–82 AUAA 26 6 17 3 15 8th 26 6 17 3 .288
1982–83 AUAA 24 7 14 3 17 8th 24 7 14 3 .354
1983–84 AUAA 24 10 14 0 20 7th 24 10 14 0 .417
1984–85 AUAA 24 10 13 1 21 5th 24 10 13 1 .438
1985–86 AUAA 25 16 9 0 .640 4th 27 16 11 0 .593 Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (Moncton)
1986–87 AUAA 25 15 10 0 .600 4th 30 17 13 0 .567 Won Semifinal series, 2–1 (Moncton)
Lost Championship series, 0–2 (Prince Edward Island)
1987–88 AUAA 26 18 6 2 38 T–2nd 29 19 8 2 .690 Lost Semifinal series, 1–2 (Moncton)
1988–89 AUAA 26 4 22 0 8 10th 26 4 22 0 .154
1989–90 AUAA 22 9 11 2 20 T–6th 24 9 13 2 .417 Lost Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Dalhousie)
1990–91 AUAA 26 10 12 4 24 7th 29 11 14 4 .448 Lost Division Semifinal series, 1–2 (Dalhousie)
1991–92 AUAA 26 9 14 3 21 7th 28 9 16 3 .375 Lost Division Semifinal series, 0–2 (Acadia)
1992–93 AUAA 26 7 19 0 14 9th 26 7 19 0 .269
1993–94 AUAA 26 13 11 2 28 5th 28 13 13 2 .500 Lost Division Semifinal series, 0–2 (Acadia)
1994–95 AUAA 26 9 16 1 19 8th 28 9 18 1 .339 Lost Division Semifinal series, 0–2 (Acadia)
1995–96 AUAA 26 15 11 0 30 5th 28 15 13 0 .536 Lost Division Semifinal series, 0–2 (Dalhousie)
1996–97 AUAA 28 18 8 2 38 3rd 31 19 10 2 .645 Lost Division Semifinal series, 1–2 (Dalhousie)
1997–98 AUAA 28 18 8 2 1 39 2nd 33 20 11 2 .636 Won Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Saint Mary's)
Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (Acadia)
1998–99 AUS 26 14 10 2 0 30 T–2nd 31 17 12 2 .581 Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Dalhousie)
Lost Semifinal series, 1–2 (Acadia)
1999–00 AUS 26 15 11 0 5 35 3rd 28 15 13 0 .536 Lost Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Acadia)
2000–01 AUS 28 17 8 3 2 39 1st 34 20 11 3 .632 Won Semifinal series, 2–1 (New Brunswick)
Lost Championship series, 1–2 (St. Thomas)
Won Pool A Round-Robin, 5–2 (Western Ontario), 5–3 (Alberta)
Lost Championship, 4–5 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
2001–02 AUS 28 9 10 6 3 27 6th 31 10 15 6 .419 Lost Quarterfinal series, 1–2 (Moncton)
2002–03 AUS 28 14 12 2 0 30 3rd 40 21 17 2 .550 Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Prince Edward Island)
Won Semifinal series, 2–1 (Dalhousie)
Lost Championship series, 1–3 (New Brunswick)
Won Pool A Round-Robin, 3–2 (Alberta), 5–3 (York)
Lost Championship, 0–3 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
2003–04 AUS 28 19 6 3 0 41 1st 37 27 7 3 .770 Won Semifinal series, 2–1 (St. Thomas)
Won Championship series, 3–0 (Dalhousie)
Won Pool B Round-Robin, 5–0 (Dalhousie), 4–0 (York)
Won Championship, 3–2 (2OT) (New Brunswick)
2004–05 AUS 28 11 10 6 1 29 5th 30 11 13 6 .467 Lost Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (New Brunswick)
2005–06 AUS 28 13 11 1 3 30 6th 31 14 16 1 .468 Lost Quarterfinal series, 1–2 (New Brunswick)
2006–07 AUS 28 16 9 3 35 3rd 36 19 17 0 .528 Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Acadia)
Lost Semifinal series, 1–3 (New Brunswick)
Lost Pool B Round-Robin, 3–4 (Wilfrid Laurier), 3–5 (Moncton)
2007–08 AUS 28 12 12 4 28 T–4th 31 13 18 0 .419 Lost Quarterfinal series, 1–2 (St. Thomas)
2008–09 AUS 28 15 11 2 32 4th 30 15 15 0 .500 Lost Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Acadia)
2009–10 AUS 28 11 12 5 27 5th 36 16 20 0 .444 Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Prince Edward Island)
Won Semifinal series, 3–0 (New Brunswick)
Lost Championship series, 0–3 (Saint Mary's)
2010–11 AUS 28 17 10 1 35 3rd 42 25 17 0 .595 Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Dalhousie)
Won Semifinal series, 3–2 (Saint Mary's)
Lost Championship series, 2–3 (New Brunswick)
Lost Pool A Round-Robin, 1–2 (McGill), 3–1 (Alberta)
2011–12 AUS 28 10 14 4 24 6th 31 11 20 0 .355 Lost Quarterfinal series, 1–2 (Moncton)
2012–13 AUS 28 16 10 2 0 34 4th 31 17 14 0 .548 Lost Quarterfinal series, 1–2 (Prince Edward Island)
2013–14 AUS 28 12 13 2 1 27 6th 30 12 17 1 .417 Lost Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Moncton)
2014–15 AUS 28 17 9 1 1 36 4th 36 21 14 1 .597 Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Prince Edward Island)
Lost Semifinal series, 2–3 (New Brunswick)
Lost Quarterfinal, 1–5 (Alberta)
2015–16 AUS 28 18 6 4 0 40 T–2nd 37 25 12 0 .676 Won Semifinal series, 3–1 (Saint Mary's)
Won Championship series, 2–0 (New Brunswick)
Won Quarterfinal, 6–2 (Alberta)
Won Semifinal, 3–2 (3OT) (Saskatchewan)
Lost Championship, 1–3 (New Brunswick)
2016–17 AUS 30 16 12 2 0 34 3rd 35 22 13 0 .629 Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Moncton)
Won Semifinal series, 3–0 (Acadia)
Won Championship series, 2–0 (New Brunswick)
Won Quarterfinal, 4–1 (McGill)
Lost Semifinal, 0–8 (Saskatchewan)
Lost Bronze Medal game, 3–7 (Acadia)
2017–18 AUS 30 22 4 1 3 48 2nd 40 27 10 3 .713 Won Semifinal series, 3–2 (Acadia)
Lost Championship series, 0–2 (New Brunswick)
Won Quarterfinal, 6–2 (Brock)
Won Semifinal, 5–4 (OT) (New Brunswick)
Lost Championship, 2–4 (Alberta)
2018–19 AUS 30 15 12 2 1 33 3rd 33 22 20 1 .682 Won Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Acadia)
Won Semifinal series, 3–2 (Saint Mary's)
Lost Championship series, 0–2 (New Brunswick)
Won Quarterfinal, 5–3 (Queen's)
Lost Semifinal, 1–9 (New Brunswick)
Won Bronze Medal game, 5–1 (Saskatchewan)
2019–20 AUS 30 12 13 1 4 29 5th 32 12 16 4 .438 Lost Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Moncton)
2020–21 Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021–22 AUS 24 17 5 1 1 36 2nd 33 22 10 1 .682 Won Semifinal series, 2–0 (Saint Mary's)
Lost Championship, 1–3 (New Brunswick)
Won Quarterfinal, 3–0 (Brock)
Lost Semifinal, 3–7 (Alberta)
Won Bronze Medal game, 3–2 (OT) (Ryerson)
2022–23 AUS 30 16 13 1 0 33 4th 32 16 16 0 .500 Lost Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Acadia)
2023–24 AUS 30 16 13 1 0 33 3rd 35 18 17 0 .514 Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Acadia)
Lost Semifinal semifinal, 0–3 (Moncton)
Totals GP W L T/SOL % Championships
Regular Season 1545 841 630 74 .568 7 East Division Titles, 3 Kelly Division Titles, 6 MIAA Championships, 1 AUAA Championships, 2 AUS Championships
Conference Post-season 207 114 90 3 .558 7 MIAA Championships, 2 AUAA Championships, 3 AUS Championships
U Sports Postseason 41 22 19 0 .537 17 National tournament appearances
Regular Season and Postseason Record 1793 977 739 77 .566 1 National Championship

Note: Totals include results from 1954–55 onward.

See also

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St. Francis Xavier X-Women ice hockey

References

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  1. ^ "Keating Centre". St. Francis Xavier University. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  2. ^ "StFX X-Men Hockey - National Championship History". St. Francis Xavier X-Men. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
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