2024 U Sports University Cup Explained

2024 U Sports University Cup
Venues:Mattamy Athletic Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Winners:UNB Reds
Count:10
Second:UQTR Patriotes
Third:McGill Redbirds
Dates:March 14–17, 2024
Games:8
Num Teams:8
Tv:Damian Smith, Curtis Coleman, Matthew Smith, Griffin Butler, David Brosseau, Dylan Baker
Award Title:MVP
Award:Brady Gilmour
Prev Season:2023
Next Season:2025

The 2024 U Sports University Cup was the 62nd edition of the U Sports men's ice hockey championship, held between March 14 and 17 in Toronto, Ontario, to determine a national champion for the 2023–24 U Sports men's ice hockey season.

The UNB Reds defeated the UQTR Patriotes 4–0 to claim their 10th National Championship.[1] [2] This marked UNB's second title defence they also won back-to-back championships in 2016 and 2017. Similarly, this was UNB's second consecutive shutout posted in the finals (defeated Alberta 3–0 in 2023) and their fourth shutout in a final overall (2011, 2013, 2023 and 2024).

UNB became the first ever U Sports team to concede no goals at the U Cup[3] and completed the first undefeated season in Canadian collegiate hockey since 1962, going 43–0 (30–0, 5–0, 3–0 plus 5–0 in exhibition play). McMaster Marlins are the only other undefeated championship team, going 12–0–0 on their way to a U Cup title (10–0, 2–0).[4]

Milestones

Host

The tournament was played at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in the former Maple Leaf Gardens and was hosted by Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU).[2] This was the first time that TMU hosted the tournament, but was the 15th time that the championship was played in Toronto.[5]

The finals were played 27 years to the day of the last University Cup finals played at Maple Leaf Gardens: Guelph Gryphons (OUA Queen's Cup Champions) won 4–3 over the UNB Varsity Reds (AUAA Champions) on March 17, 1997.

Qualification

AUS playoffs

Source:[6]

OUA playoffs

Source:[7] Note 1: The Queen's Cup championship game must be held in Ontario (part of the arrangement when the RSEQ hockey league merged with the OUA). When a Quebec-based OUA-East representative is the higher seed and should 'host' the game the game shall be hosted by the OUA-West team instead, but the OUA-East team shall be the 'home' team and have last change. This rule was applied this season as UQTR had a better record than TMU thus, TMU would host the game but UQTR would be the 'home' team.

Note 2: The OUA 'Host' rule mentioned in Note 1 now, as of 2019–20, also applies to the bronze medal game. This rule was also applied this season as McGill had a better record than Brock thus, Brock hosted the game but McGill was the 'home' team.

Note 3: Laurier defeated 7th place Nipissing 5–4 in the OUA West Play-In Game to qualify for the playoffs.

Canada West playoffs

Source:[8]

University Cup Tournament

The eight teams advancing to the tournament are listed below. The three (3) conference champions must be seeded 1–3 followed by the OUA runner-up (seed #4). The remaining four seeds are for the AUS Finalist, Canada West Finalist, OUA Third-place and host respectively. Their seedings are based on the pre-tournament rankings. Since TMU would advance as the OUA Runner-up, the loser from the OUA Bronze Medal game (Brock) would represent the host.

Participating teams and seeding

SeedTeamQualified
1UNB RedsAUS Champion202320239
2UQTR PatriotesOUA Champion202320225
3UBC ThunderbirdsCW Champion2022None0
4TMU BoldOUA Finalist (Host)2022None0
5Calgary DinosCW Finalist2023None0
6McGill RedbirdsOUA Bronze201820121
7Moncton Aigles BleusAUS Finalist201219954
8Brock BadgersOUA Semifinalist2022None0
[9] [10]

Bracket

Results

Championship final

Awards

The Major W.J. 'Danny' McLeod Award for U Sports University Cup MVP was awarded to UNB forward Brady Gilmour whom finished the tournament tied for first in points with 7 (1G + 6A) along with Simon Lafrance (2G + 5A) of UQTR. His lone goal was the game winner in the Championship Final.

Tournament all-star team were:[11]
Forward: Brady Gilmour (UNB Reds)
Forward: Simon Lafrance (UQTR Patriotes)
Forward: Austen Keating (UNB Reds)
Defenceman: Kale McCallum (UNB Reds)
Defenceman: Scott Walford (McGill Redbirds)
Goaltender: Samuel Richard (UNB Reds)

Media

Television

All games were broadcast live in English on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app, the CBC Sports YouTube channel and the CBC Gem streaming service.[12] [13] It was broadcast in French on Radio-Canada and Ici TOU.TV, while the finals also aired on TVA Sports.

Entertainment

The McGill Fight Band came to support the McGill Redbirds at their three games, providing musical performances in the arena.[14] [15]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: U Sports Calendar . usports.ca . 15 September 2017 . . February 4, 2023.
  2. Web site: U Sports awards 2024 University Cup to Toronto Metropolitan University . . November 21, 2022.
  3. Web site: UNB defeats UQTR 4–0 to take the 2024 U Cup . usports.ca . 17 March 2024 . . March 18, 2024.
  4. Web site: Steiner . Ben . "It hasn’t sunk in": UNB caps off perfect season with record-breaking U CUP . 49-sport.com . 17 March 2024 . . March 18, 2024.
  5. Web site: History . 18 July 2017 . . February 4, 2023.
  6. Web site: 2024 AUS Men's Hockey Playoff Schedule - Atlantic University Sport (AUS) . 2024-02-25 . www.atlanticuniversitysport.com.
  7. Web site: 2023-24 OUA Men's Hockey Postseason Schedule . 2024-02-25 . Ontario University Athletics (OUA) . en.
  8. Web site: 2023-24 Men's Hockey Playoffs . 2024-02-25 . Canada West . en.
  9. Web site: September 2022 . U Sports Playing Regulations: Men's Ice Hockey . U Sports.
  10. Web site: 2024-03-10 . UNB looking to defend its title from the top seed . 2024-03-11 . U SPORTS . en.
  11. UNB defeats UQTR 4–0 to take the 2024 U Cup https://usports.ca/en/championships/hockey/m/news/2024/03/2682058273/unb-defeats-uqtr-4-0-to-take-the-2024-u-cup
  12. Web site: September 20, 2021 . CBC Sports to broadcast U Sports national championships for next 4 years . CBC Sports.
  13. Web site: 2024-02-29 . How to watch the 2024 U SPORTS Winter Championships . 2024-03-18 . U SPORTS . en.
  14. Web site: Hewitt . Thomas . 2024-03-16 . Redbirds oust UBC in tight U CUP quarterfinal contest - . 2024-03-18 . 49-sport.com . en-US.
  15. Web site: Hewitt . Thomas . 2024-03-17 . McGill Redbirds stun TMU to take U CUP bronze medal - . 2024-03-18 . 49-sport.com . en-US.