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York Lions men's ice hockey

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York Lions men's ice hockey
York Lions athletic logo
UniversityYork University
ConferenceOUA
OUA East Division
Head coachRuss Herrington
Since 2017–18 season
Assistant coachesDan Poliziani
Jessica Turi
Stefano Mallocci
ArenaCanlan Ice Sports
Toronto, Ontario
ColorsRed, White, and Black
     
U Sports Tournament championships
1985, 1988, 1989
U Sports Tournament appearances
1970, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2017
Conference Tournament championships
1970, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 2004, 2017
Conference regular season championships
1970, 1972, 1977, 1988

The York Lions men's ice hockey team (formerly the York Yeomen) is an active ice hockey program representing the York Lions athletic department of York University. The team has been continually active since the early 1960s and is currently a member of the Ontario University Athletics conference under the authority of U Sports. The Lions play at the Canlan Ice Sports in Toronto, Ontario.[1]

History

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York University, established in 1959, iced its first varsity hockey team in 1962, joining the Ontario Intermediate Athletic Association (OIAA), as an Intermediate (2nd tier) program. The Yeomen joined just as the league was preparing to elevate itself to the senior level of Canadian college hockey, however, its plans hit a snag. The OIAA petitioned CIAU for a bid into the University Cup in 1964 but were denied. In response, the entire league cancelled their schedules midway through the year. That summer, the CIAU reversed their decision and conferred an automatic bid for the conference champion. York resumed play the next year at the top level and slowly built itself into a contender. In 1970, the program won its first league title, earning a trip to the national tournament for the first time. The team followed up their bronze medal-finish with a runner-up spot in the conference final before the college landscape was upended.

The Lions in a game against the Windsor Lancers in 2012.

In 1971, the four conferences that shared programs across Ontario and Quebec were realigned into two provincial leagues. York didn't appear to be bothered in the slightest by this development, posting winning records in seven consecutive seasons in their new league, the Ontario University Athletic Association (OUAA). Unfortunately, the Yeomen were unable to win a league championship and were prevented from returning to the University Cup.

After a lull in the early 80s, York returned in force in the middle of the decade, winning its first conference championship in 15 years. They won three close games in the University Cup series and captured the program's first national championship.[2] York won the next three OUAA titles as well but it wasn't until 1988 that they were able too win their second University Cup. The program slumped a bit in 1989 but still earned an automatic bit to the tournament thanks to a runner-up finish in the OUAA playoffs. The defending champions then went on a tear and upset two heavily favored squads to win back-to-back championships.[3]

York declined and spent most of the 90s as a middling team, though they did make two trips to the national tournament in 1997 and '99. In the early 21st century, the program recovered and ended a 16-year drought with a league championship in 2004. However, once again, the renamed-Lions slipped into the middle of the pack for much of the succeeding two decades. Other than 2017 and '18, the Lions have seen no success in the postseason.

Season-by-season results

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Senior and intermediate play

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

Extra-League 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 %
1962–63 OIAA ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
1963–64 OIAA ? ? ? ? ? N/A ? ? ? ? ?
Totals GP W L T % Championships
Regular Season ? ? ? ? ?
Conference Post-season ? ? ? ? ?
Regular Season and Postseason Record ? ? ? ? ?

† season ended early when the league cancelled its remaining schedule in protest.

Senior collegiate

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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 %
1964–65 OIAA 6 3 3 0 .500 T–4th 6 3 3 0 .500
1965–66 OIAA 10 5 4 1 11 3rd 10 5 4 1 .550
1966–67 OIAA 12 6 6 0 12 4th 12 6 6 0 .500
1967–68 OIAA 12 8 4 0 16 2nd 12 8 4 0 .667
1968–69 OIAA 10 5 5 0 10 4th 10 5 5 0 .500
1969–70 OIAA 10 10 0 0 20 1st 14 13 1 0 .929 Won Championship, 8–2 (Laurentian) Lost Quarterfinal, 1–4 (Saint Mary's)
Won Consolation Semifinal, 12–3 (Alberta)
Won Consolation Final, 7–3 (Loyola)
1970–71 OIAA 10 8 2 0 16 2nd 12 9 3 0 .750 Won Semifinal, 8–1 (Waterloo Lutheran)
Lost Championship, 3–5 (Laurentian)
1971–72 OUAA 19 16 1 2 34 1st 22 18 2 2 .864 Won Quarterfinal, 6–1 (Laurentian)
Won Semifinal, 6–2 (Guelph)
Lost Championship, 2–5 (Toronto)
1972–73 OUAA 17 10 6 1 6 T–6th 18 10 7 1 .583 Lost Quarterfinal, 2–8 (Toronto)
1973–74 OUAA 19 16 2 1 33 2nd 21 17 3 1 .833 Won Quarterfinal, 8–2 (Laurentian)
Lost Semifinal, 4–8 (Guelph)
1974–75 OUAA 14 9 2 3 21 2nd 17 11 3 3 .735 Won Quarterfinal, 9–2 (Ottawa)
Won Semifinal, 9–3 (Western Ontario)
Lost Championship, 3–4 (Toronto)
1975–76 OUAA 14 10 4 0 20 3rd 17 12 5 0 .706 Won Quarterfinal, 14–0 (Ryerson)
Won Semifinal, 5–2 (Western Ontario)
Lost Championship, 4–5 (Guelph)
1976–77 OUAA 19 16 2 1 33 1st 22 18 3 1 .841 Won Quarterfinal, 11–1 (Ryerson)
Won Semifinal, 5–4 (Guelph)
Lost Championship, 4–5 (Toronto)
1977–78 OUAA 20 10 8 2 22 6th 22 11 9 2 .545 Won Quarterfinal, 8–1 (Laurentian)
Lost Semifinal, 6–8 (Toronto)
1978–79 OUAA 16 5 7 4 14 8th ? ? ? ? ? Lost results unavailable
1979–80 OUAA 22 8 11 3 19 8th 22 8 11 3 .432
1980–81 OUAA 22 12 7 3 28 T–5th 24 13 8 3 .604 Won Quarterfinal, 5–4 (Guelph)
Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (Queen's)
1981–82 OUAA 22 13 8 1 27 T–5th 23 13 9 1 .587 Lost Quarterfinal, 5–6 (McMaster)
1982–83 OUAA 24 13 11 0 26 6th 25 13 12 0 .520 Lost Quarterfinal, 4–5 (Wilfrid Laurier)
1983–84 OUAA 24 10 13 1 16 T–11th 24 10 13 1 .438
1984–85 OUAA 24 15 9 0 30 5th 27 19 4 4 .778 Won Quarterfinal, 4–1 (Laurentian)
Won Semifinal series, 2–0 (Toronto)
Won Championship series, 2–1 (Western Ontario)
Won Semifinal series, 2–0 (Ottawa)
Won Championship, 3–2 (Alberta)
1985–86 OUAA 24 18 5 1 36 3rd 34 25 8 1 .750 Won Quarterfinal, 4–3 (Waterloo)
Won Semifinal series, 2–1 (Toronto)
Won Championship series, 2–0 (Wilfrid Laurier)
Won Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Dalhousie)
Lost Semifinal, 2–5 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
1986–87 OUAA 24 19 2 3 .854 2nd 34 25 6 3 .779 Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (McMaster)
Won Semifinal series, 2–1 (Windsor)
Won Championship series, 2–1 (Western Ontario)
Lost Pool 2 Round-Robin, 1–2 (Alberta), 2–4 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
1987–88 OUAA 26 20 1 5 45 1st 34 28 1 5 .897 Won Division Semifinal series, 2–0 (Wilfrid Laurier)
Won Division Final series, 2–0 (Western Ontario)
Won Semifinal, 5–2 (Windsor)
Won Championship, 5–1 (Western Ontario)
Won Semifinal, 4–3 (Calgary)
Won Championship, 5–3 (Western Ontario)
1988–89 OUAA 26 14 9 3 29 6th 35 19 13 3 .586 Won Division Semifinal series, 2–1 (Waterloo)
Lost Division Final series, 0–2 (Wilfrid Laurier)
Won Semifinal, 5–4 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
Lost Championship, 0–3 (Wilfrid Laurier)
Won Semifinal, 4–3 (Alberta)
Won Championship, 5–2 (Wilfrid Laurier)
1989–90 OUAA 22 13 8 1 27 T–4th 28 16 11 1 .589 Won Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Ottawa)
Lost Semifinal series, 1–2 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
1990–91 OUAA 22 14 8 0 28 5th 23 14 9 0 .609 Lost First Round, 4–5 (McGill)
1991–92 OUAA 22 11 8 3 25 8th 24 11 10 3 .521 Lost Division Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
1992–93 OUAA 22 7 13 2 16 T–13th 22 7 13 2 .364
1993–94 OUAA 26 10 15 1 21 10th 31 13 17 1 .435 Won Division Semifinal, 4–3 (Laurentian)
Won Division Final series, 2–1 (Brock)
Lost Semifinal, 1–2 (Western Ontario)
1994–95 OUAA 26 12 12 2 26 10th 31 15 14 2 .516 Won Division Semifinal, 5–3 (Laurentian)
Won Division Final series, 2–1 (Brock)
Lost Semifinal, 2–7 (Western Ontario)
1995–96 OUAA 26 13 9 4 30 8th 27 13 10 4 .556 Lost Division Semifinal, 3–4 (OT) (Brock)
1996–97 OUAA 26 14 9 3 31 5th 31 17 11 3 .583 Won Division Final series, 2–0 (Laurentian)
Won Semifinal, 5–4 (Western Ontario)
Lost Championship, 0–3 (Guelph)
Lost Semifinal, 2–4 (Guelph)
1997–98 OUA 26 13 11 2 28 T–7th 30 16 12 2 .567 Won Division Final series, 3–0 (Brock)
Lost Semifinal, 2–6 (Windsor)
1998–99 OUA 25 8 10 7 33 10th 32 12 13 7 .484 Won Division Final series, 2–1 (Brock)
Won Semifinal, 3–1 (Windsor)
Lost Championship, 0–7 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
Lost Pool A Round-Robin, 5–2 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières), 0–4 (Alberta)
1999–00 OUA 26 9 14 3 21 T–10th 32 13 16 3 .453 Won Division Semifinal, 2–0 (Laurentian)
Won Division Final series, 2–1 (Brock)
Lost Semifinal, 1–5 (Western Ontario)
2000–01 OUA 24 15 6 3 33 3rd 27 17 7 3 .685 Won Division Final series, 2–0 (Guelph)
Lost Semifinal, 3–7 (Western Ontario)
2001–02 OUA 24 17 4 3 37 2nd 27 19 5 3 .759 Won Division Final series, 2–0 (Brock)
Lost Semifinal, 3–5 (Western Ontario)
2002–03 OUA 24 17 6 1 35 4th 31 20 10 1 .661 Won Division Final series, 2–1 (Wilfrid Laurier)
Won Semifinal, 3–1 (Lakehead)
Lost Championship, 4–7 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
Lost Pool A Round-Robin, 0–4 (Alberta), 4–5 (St. Francis Xavier)
2003–04 OUA 24 15 5 4 0 34 3rd 30 19 7 4 .700 Won Division Final series, 2–0 (Wilfrid Laurier)
Won Semifinal, 3–2 (Lakehead)
Won Championship, 3–2 (Ottawa)
Lost Pool B Round-Robin, 2–4 (Dalhousie), 0–4 (St. Francis Xavier)
2004–05 OUA 24 12 6 5 1 30 6th 26 12 9 5 .558 Lost Division Semifinal series, 0–2 (Lakehead)
2005–06 OUA 24 10 11 1 2 23 8th 26 10 15 1 .404 Lost Division Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Lakehead)
2006–07 OUA 28 13 10 3 2 31 T–7th 30 13 14 3 .483 Lost Division Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Lakehead)
2007–08 OUA 28 14 11 2 1 31 8th 30 14 15 1 .483 Lost Division Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Western Ontario)
2008–09 OUA 28 14 11 0 3 31 T–7th 30 14 13 3 .517 Lost Division Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Western Ontario)
2009–10 OUA 28 12 13 3 0 27 T–11th 31 13 18 0 .419 Lost Division Quarterfinal series, 1–2 (Lakehead)
2010–11 OUA 28 10 16 1 1 22 17th 28 10 17 1 .375
2011–12 OUA 28 14 10 1 3 31 9th 30 14 13 3 .517 Lost Division Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Windsor)
2012–13 OUA 28 14 14 0 0 28 13th 30 14 16 0 .467 Lost Division Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Windsor)
2013–14 OUA 28 13 13 1 1 28 T–12th 30 13 16 1 .450 Lost Division Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Lakehead)
2014–15 OUA 27 9 15 2 1 21 T–16th 27 9 17 1 .352
2015–16 OUA 28 16 7 4 1 37 6th 30 16 13 1 .550 Lost Division Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Toronto)
2016–17 OUA 28 18 6 3 1 40 4th 37 25 11 1 .689 Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Lakehead)
Won Division Semifinal series, 2–0 (Guelph)
Won Division Final series, 2–1 (Windsor)
Won Championship, 4–3 (Queen's)
Lost Quarterfinal, 0–1 (OT) (Saskatchewan)
2017–18 OUA 28 17 10 0 1 35 7th 35 21 13 1 .614 Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Lakehead)
Won Division Semifinal series, 2–0 (Ryerson)
Lost Division Final series, 1–2 (Brock)
Lost Bronze Medal Game, 2–3 (Concordia)
2018–19 OUA 28 12 14 2 0 26 T–14th 30 12 18 0 .400 Lost Division Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Brock)
2019–20 OUA 28 9 17 2 0 20 17th 28 9 19 0 .321
2020–21 Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021–22 OUA 16 6 8 2 0 .438 15th 17 6 11 0 .353 Lost Division Quarterfinal, 2–4 (Windsor)
2022–23 OUA 27 12 13 2 0 26 16th 27 12 15 0 .444
2023–24 OUA 28 3 22 2 1 9 19th 28 3 24 1 .125
Totals GP W L T/SOL % Championships
Regular Season 1301 688 516 97 .566 1 OIAA Championship, 3 OUAA Championships, 3 East Division Title, 1 Central Division Title, 9 Mid-West Division Titles, 1 West Division Title
Conference Post-season 151 83 68 0 .550 1 OIAA Championships, 4 OUAA Championships, 2 OUAA Championships
U Sports Postseason 21 10 11 0 .476 11 National Tournament appearances
Regular Season and Postseason Record 1473 781 595 97 .563 3 National Championships

† York was penalized 5 points in the standings for using an ineligible player.
Note: Totals include senior collegiate play only, except for 1978–79.

References

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  1. ^ "Canlan Sports - York". Canlan Sports. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  2. ^ "York Has 'Different' Team But Still Strong". The Hockey News. October 18, 1985. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  3. ^ "ROCK ON!". The Hockey News. March 31, 1989. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
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