St. Francis Xavier X-Women ice hockey

The St. Francis Xavier X-Women ice hockey team plays for St. Francis Xavier University, located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. The team competes in the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) conference of U Sports where they were an inaugural varsity member of U Sports women's ice hockey in the 1997–98 season. Representing St. Francis Xavier Athletics, the X-Women have won the most AUS championships with eleven conference championship wins, most recently in 2020.^[2]

St. Francis Xavier X-Women ice hockey
University	St. Francis Xavier University
Conference	AUS
Head coach	Ben Berthiuame → since 2014–15 season
Arena	Charles V. Keating Centre Antigonish, Nova Scotia
Colors	Blue and White
U Sports Tournament appearances
1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2023, 2024
Conference Tournament championships
1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2020

History

2010–11 season

During the 2010–11 season, the X-Women remained undefeated through the AUS regular schedule (24-0) and playoffs (3-0). The team won their first conference title since 2007–08. On March 14, 2011, the X-Women played in the national championship game for the first time. However, the squad was bested by the McGill Martlets in a 5–2 defeat.^[3] The silver medal finish is the program's highest in the U Sports women's ice hockey championship tournament.

Recent results

Prior to the 2013–14 season, AUS teams played a round robin tournament with six teams split into two groups (two games played each). The winners of those games played for the AUS championship. Starting in 2013–14, the AUS had teams play three-game series with seeding with the AUS championship also being awarded after a three-game series. Canadian Interuniversity Sport changed its name to U Sports in 2016. With the addition of the UNB Reds for the 2018–19 season, all AUS teams went from playing 24 regular season games to playing 28 games.

The 2019–20 team won the AUS championship after finishing the regular season on a 12-game winning streak and finished 4–0 in the AUS playoffs. In the 2020 national championship, the X-Women were seeded third and defeated the Montreal Carabins in the quarterfinal.^[4] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, the remainder of the tournament was cancelled, bringing a halt to a promising finish for the team.^[4]

 

The X-Women in a game against the McGill Martlets in 2004.

Year	GP	W	L	OTL	PTS	Standing	Playoffs
2010–11	24	24	0	0	48	1st	Won AUS Championship (9–2) vs. Moncton Lost CIS Championship (5–2) vs. McGill Martlets (2nd place finish)
2011–12	24	20	4	0	40	1st	Finished with 0–2 record in AUS round robin
2012–13	24	23	1	0	46	1st	Won AUS Championship (4–1) vs. Saint Mary's Won CIS Bronze Medal Game (3–2 OT) vs. Toronto (3rd place finish)
2013–14	24	18	4	2	40	1st	Lost AUS Semi-final vs. Mount Allison (1–2 series)
2014–15	24	20	4	0	40	1st	Won AUS Championship vs. Moncton (2–0 series) Lost CIS Bronze Medal Game (2–1) vs. Montreal (4th place finish)
2015–16	24	9	13	2	21	5th	Lost AUS Semi-final vs. Saint Mary's (1–2 series)
2016–17	24	16	8	0	32	3rd	Lost AUS Championship vs. Saint Mary's (1–2 series)
2017–18	24	20	2	2	42	1st	Lost AUS Championship vs. Saint Mary's (1–2 series) Lost U Sports Consolation Final (7–1) vs. Montreal (6th place finish)
2018–19	28	18	9	1	39	2nd	Lost AUS Championship vs. St. Thomas (1–2 series)
2019–20	28	22	5	1	45	2nd	Won AUS Championship vs. Saint Mary's (2–0 series) U Sports championship cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic^[5]
2020–21	Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic^[6]
2021–22	21	15	6	0	30	3rd	Lost AUS Championship vs. UNB Reds (0–2 series)
2022–23	28	20	5	3	43	2nd	Lost AUS Championship vs. UNB Reds (1–2 series) Lost U Sports Consolation Final (4–0) vs. Toronto (6th place finish)
2023–24	28	21	5	2	44	1st	Lost AUS Championship vs. UNB Reds (0–2 series) Lost U Sports Consolation Semi-Final (3–1) vs. Saskatchewan (8th place finish)

All-time scoring leaders

Player	Seasons	GP	G	A	Pts
Alexa Normore	2010–11 to 2014–15	114	78	127	205
Brayden Ferguson	2004–05 to 2008–09	100	105	91	196
Christina Davis	2004–05 to 2008–09	104	86	93	179
Candice Ernst	2002–03 to 2006–07	85	57	113	170
Rebecca Davies	2003–04 to 2006–07	71	80	56	136
Daley Oddy	2013–14 to 2017–18	113	63	70	133
Sarah Bujold	2014–15 to 2018–19	121	62	51	113
Tracy Sullivan	2002–03 to 2004–05	46	44	65	109
Jessica Shanahan	2006–07 to 2009–10	87	48	53	101
Amanda Church	2004–05 to 2007–08	78	45	55	100

Awards and honours

Note: forward; D = defenceman; G = goaltender

U Sports

U Sports was known as the Canadian Interuniversity Athletics Union (CIAU; French: Union sportive interuniversitaire canadienne – USIC) until 2001 and as Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS; French: Sport interuniversitaire canadien – SIC) from 2001 until the adoption of the current name in 2016.

Brodrick Trophy

The Brodrick Trophy is awarded to the player of the year in U Sports women's ice hockey. From 2017 to 2020, St. FX produced three Brodrick Trophy winners. Sarah Bujold (2016–17) and Daley Oddy (2017–18) represented back-to-back wins, while Tyra Meropoulis earned the honour in 2020. The first player in program history to capture the Brodrick Trophy was Brayden Ferguson, reaching the pinnacle in 2007–08.^[7]

2007–08: Brayden Ferguson

2016–17: Sarah Bujold

2017–18: Daley Oddy

2019–20: Tyra Meropoulis^[8]

Rookie of the Year

The U Sports Rookie of the Year Award in women's hockey recognizes a "first-year player who has exhibited exemplary skill and leadership."^[9]

2010–11: Alex Normore^[10][11]

2021–22: Abby Lewis

All-Canadians

All-Canadian honours are awarded by U Sports to the most outstanding regular season players in women's ice hockey.^[12][13][14]

First Team

1998–99: Leanne MacDonald (D)

2000–01: Leanne MacDonald (D)

2007–08: Brayden Ferguson (F)

2010–11: Suzanne Fenerty (D)^[15]

2011–12: Suzanne Fenerty (D), Alex Normore (F)^[16]

2013–14: Alex Normore (F)

2016–17: Sarah Bujold (F)

2018–19: Lindsey Donovan (D)

2019–20: Lindsey Donovan (D), Tyra Meropoulis (F)

Second Team

2005–06: Rebecca Davies (F)

2006–07: Marilynn Hay (D)

2007–08: Marilynn Hay (D)

2010–11: Alex Normore (F)

2012–13: Alex Normore (F)^[17]

2013–14: Jenna Pitts (D)

2014–15: Alex Normore (F)

All-Rookies

U Sports All-Rookie Teams have recognized outstanding first-year players of the regular season since 2003–04.^[18]

2003–04: Katie Barrett (D), Rebecca Davies (F)

2005–06: Laura Grant (D)

2009–10: Abygail Laking (F)^[19]

2010–11: Alex Normore (F), Jenna Pitts (D)

2017–18: Emerson Elliott (F)

2018–19: Tyra Meropoulis (F)

2019–20: Jamie Johnson (G)

2021–22: Amaya Giraudier (G), Abby Lewis (F)

Fair Play Award

A CIS Championship Fair Play Award was awarded until the 2009–10 season.^[20] From 2010 to 2013, the player who "best exhibit[ed] the standards of fair play" throughout the CIS Championship tournament was recognized with the R.W. Pugh Fair Play Award.^[11] No fair play awards have been awarded since 2013.^[21]

2006: Kelly Boudreau

2008: Suzanne Fenerty

2009: Suzanne Fenerty

2010: Katie Harvieux

Championship All-Stars

U Sports Championship All-Stars are awarded to the best players at the national tournament in women's ice hockey.^[22]

2000: Leanne MacDonald

2002: Amy Handrahan (G)

2006: Katie Harvieux (G)

2011: Carolyn Campbell (F), Suzanne Fenerty (D)

2013: Jenna Downey (D)

2015: Alex Normore (F)

AUS

• Female Athlete of the Year, Finalist: Tyra Meropoulis, 2019–20^[23]

Most Valuable Player

The recipient of the Most Valuable Player award becomes the AUS nominee for the U Sports Brodrick Trophy.^[24]

1998–99: Leanne MacDonald

2007–08: Brayden Ferguson

2011–12: Alex Normore

2012–13: Alex Normore

2013–14: Alex Normore

2014–15: Alex Normore

2016–17: Sarah Bujold

2017–18: Daley Oddy

2019–20: Tyra Meropoulis^[14][25]

Rookie of the Year

The recipient of the AUS Coach of the Year Award represents the conference as a finalist for the U Sports Rookie of the Year Award.^[24][26]

2003–04: Rebecca Davies

2009–10: Abygail Laking

2010–11: Alex Normore

2017–18: Emerson Elliott

2021–22: Abby Lewis

2023–24: Ireland McCloskey

Coach of the Year

The recipient of the AUS Coach of the Year Award represents the conference as a finalist for the U Sports Coach of the Year Award.^[27][24]

1999-2000: Frank Isherwood

2000–01: Frank Isherwood

2003–04: David Synishin

2004–05: David Synishin

2007–08: David Synishin

2012–13: David Synishin

2014–15: Ben Berthiaume

2017–18: Ben Berthiaume

2022–23: Ben Berthiaume

Most Sportsmanlike Player

AUS Most Sportsmanlike Player "recognizes an individual who maintains the standards of fair play and treats those around her with respect at all times."^[24][28]

2003–04: Jill Bowie

2004–05: Sheila Kelly

2009–10: Suzanne Fenerty

2014–15: Taylor Dale

2015–16: Taylor Dale

2023–24: Ireland McCloskey

Top Defensive Player

Awarded since the 2016–17 season, the AUS Top Defensive Player has been recognizes a skater who consistently excels in defensive aspects of the game and displays stong play in all areas of the ice individually and as part of their team's defensive tactics.^[24][29]

2019–20: Lydia Schurman

Student-Athlete Community Service Award

The recipient of the AUS Student-Athlete Community Service Award represents the conference as a finalist for the U Sports Marion Hilliard Award.^[24][30]

2004–05: Colleen Wall

All-Stars

One AUS All-Star team per season was named through the 2000–01. The AUS All-Star second team was introduced in the 2001–02 season.

1998–99: Leanne MacDonald (D)

1999-2000: Cindy Clarke (F), Amy Handrahan (G), Leanne MacDonald (D)

2000–01: Michelle Fortier (F), Amy Handrahan (G), Leanne MacDonald (D)

First Team

2001–02: Michelle Fortier (F), Gayle MacDonald (D)

2002–03: Tracy Sullivan (F)

2003–04: Katie Barrett (D), Rebecca Davies (F), Amy Handrahan (G), Tracy Sullivan (F)

2004–05: Candace Ernst (F), Sheila Kelly (D)

2005–06: Rebecca Davies (F), Laura Grant (D)

2006–07: Marilynn Hay (D), Sheila Kelly (D)

2007–08: Brayden Ferguson (F), Marilynn Hay (D)

2008–09: Christina Davis (F), Brayden Ferguson (F), Laura Grant (D), Marilynn Hay (D)

2009–10: Suzanne Fenerty (D), Marilynn Hay (D)^[31]

2010–11: Suzanne Fenerty (D), Alex Normore (F), Janelle Parent (F)

2011–12: Suzanne Fenerty (D), Alex Normore (F), Janelle Parent (F)

2012–13: Jenna Downey (D), Alex Normore (F)

2013–14: Alex Normore (F), Jenna Pitts (D)

2014–15: Jenna Downey (D), Alex Normore (F), Sojung Shin (G)

2016–17: Sarah Bujold (F)

2017–18: Sarah Bujold (F), Lindsey Donovan (D), Daley Oddy (F)

2018–19: Sarah Bujold (F), Lindsey Donovan (D)

2019–20: Lindsey Donovan (D), Tyra Meropoulis (F)

2021–22: Maggy Burbidge (F), Lauren Dabrowski (D)

2022–23: Maggy Burbidge (F), Lauren Dabrowski (D), Lea MacLeod (F)

Second Team

2001–02: Amy Handrahan (G)

2002–03: Cindy Connors (F), Leanne MacDonald (D)

2004–05: Brayden Ferguson (F), Tracy Sullivan (F)

2005–06: Candace Ernst (F), Brayden Ferguson (F)

2006–07: Kelly Boudreau (F), Christina Davis (F), Brayden Ferguson (F)

2007–08: Suzanne Fenerty (D), Jessica Shanahan (F)

2009–10: Carolyn Campbell (F), Jessica Shanahan (F)

2010–11: Marilynn Hay (D)

2011–12: Jenna Pitts (D)

2012–13: Taylor Dale (F), Kristy Garrow (G), Jenna Pitts (D)

2013–14: Daley Oddy (F)

2014–15: Daley Oddy (F)

2015–16: Daley Oddy (F)

2016–17: Daley Oddy (F)

2017–18: Carley Molnar (G)

2018–19: Tyra Meropoulis (F)

2021–22: Lea MacLeod (F), Tyra Meropoulis (F)

2022–23: Josie Chisholm (D)

2023–24: Maggy Burbidge (F)^[32]

All-Rookies

2006–07: Marilynn Hay (D), Jessica Shanahan (F)

2007–08: Suzanne Fenerty (D), Catie Gavin (F)

2008–09: Erin Brophy (F)

2009–10: Jenna Downey (D), Abygail Laking (F)

2010–11: Kristy Garrow (G), Alex Normore (F), Jenna Pitts (D)

2012–13: Schyler Campbell (F), Taylor Dale (F)

2013–14: Nicole Corcoran (F), Daley Oddy (F)

2014–15: Nicole Halladay (D)

2016–17: Lindsey Donovan (D)

2017–18: Emerson Elliott (F), Amy Graham (D)

2018–19: Tyra Meropoulis (F)

2019–20: Jamie Johnson (G)

2021–22: Amaya Giraudier (G), Abby Lewis (F), Ella VandeSompel (D)

2022–23: Kya Moss (D)^[24]

2023–24: Mackenzie Lothian (D), Ireland McCloskey (F)^[32]

St. Francis Xavier University awards

Student-Athlete of the Year

2008: Brayden Ferguson^[a]

2011: Suzanne Fenerty^[33]

2014: Alex Normore

2017: Sarah Bujold

2018: Daley Oddy

2020: Tyra Meropoulis

2023: Maggie Burbidge

Note:

1. Co-winner with rugby player Ghislaine Landry

Sports Hall of Fame

The StFX Sports Hall of Fame honours student-athletes, builders, and teams who made outstanding contributions through sport at St. Francis Xavier University.^[34]

Inductee	Category	Year inducted
Leanne MacDonald^[35]	Athlete	2017
Beth McCharles^[a]^[36]	Athlete	2019

1. Inducted for contributions to both soccer and hockey at StFX.

X-Women in professional hockey

• Suzanne Fenerty was selected by the Brampton Thunder in the fifth round of the 2012 CWHL Draft,^[37] but never appeared with the team.

= CWHL All-Star

= NWHL All-Star

= Clarkson Cup Champion

= Isobel Cup Champion

Player Position Team(s) League(s) Years Titles Lindsey Donovan Forward AIK SDHL Brayden Ferguson Forward Burlington Barracudas CWHL 2 Rebecca Davies Forward Mississauga Chiefs Toronto Furies CWHL 4 2014 Clarkson CupAs Furies GM International Brayden Ferguson   Canada: 2009 Winter Universiade ^[38]   Jenna Downey,^[39] Defense   Canada: 2011 Winter Universiade   Suzanne Fenerty, Defense   Canada: 2011 Winter Universiade   Alex Normore – StFX   Canada: 2015 Winter Universiade^[40]   Daley Oddy,   Canada: 2015 Winter Universiade   Daley Oddy, Forward   Canada: 2017 Winter Universiade^[41]   See also St. Francis Xavier X-Men ice hockey References "Charles V. Keating Centre". St. Francis Xavier University Athletics. Retrieved 21 July 2020. "Atlantic University Sport Women's Hockey Past Champions". Atlantic University Sport. Retrieved 21 July 2020. "FINAL CIS championship: McGill completes perfect season by winning CIS Gold". U Sports. 13 March 2011. "X-Women national quarterfinal victory overshadowed by cancellation of championship". St. Francis Xavier Athletics. 12 March 2020. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) "U Sports hockey championships cancelled due to COVID-19 outbreak". Sportsnet. 12 March 2020. "U Sports unable to offer national championships in winter 2021". usports.ca. U Sports. 15 October 2020. "Brodrick Trophy (Player of the Year) / Trophée Brodrick (Joueyse de l'année)" (PDF). U Sports (in English and French). 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2024. "StFX's Meropoulis headlines U SPORTS women's hockey major award winners". Atlantic University Sport (Press release). 12 March 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2021. "Rookie of the Year / Recrue de l'année" (PDF). U Sports (in English and French). 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2024. "Women's Ice Hockey Championships". Canadian Interuniversity Sport.^[dead link] . Canadian Interuniversity Sport. Archived from the original on 1 November 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2024. "Ice Hockey – Women: All-Canadian Teams" (PDF). U Sports (in English and French). 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2024. "StFX X-Women Hockey History of U SPORTS All-Canadians & All-Rookies". St. Francis Xavier University Athletics. Retrieved 27 March 2024. "Atlantic University Sport U Sports Women's Hockey Award Winners and All-Canadians". Atlantic University Sport. Retrieved 30 March 2024. . University of Toronto Athletics. 9 March 2011. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2024. . Canadian Interuniversity Sport (Press release). 7 March 2012. Archived from the original on 29 April 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2012. . Canadian Interuniversity Sport (Press release). 6 March 2013. Archived from the original on 10 March 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2021. "Women's Hockey All-Rookie Teams / Équipes des recrues de hockey féminin" (PDF). U Sports (in English and French). 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2024. . Canadian Interuniversity Sport (Press release). 10 March 2020. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011. "StFX X-Women Hockey History of U SPORTS Major Awards". St. Francis Xavier University Athletics. Retrieved 30 March 2024. "R.W. Pugh Fair Play Award / Prix de l'espirit sportif R.W. Pugh" (PDF). U Sports (in English and French). 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2024. "Women's Hockey Championship All-Stars / Étoiles de championnat de hockey féminin" (PDF). U Sports (in English and French). 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2024. "Top 3 Finalists Announced for 2019-20 AUS Male and Female Athletes of the Year Awards". Atlantic University Sport (Press release). 29 April 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2021. "2022-23 AUS women's hockey major awards and all-stars announced". Atlantic University Sport (Press release). 21 February 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2024. "Awards – Sport Awards". U Sports. Retrieved 21 July 2020. "AUS Women's Hockey Major Awards – Rookie of the Year". Atlantic University Sport. Retrieved 30 March 2024. "AUS Women's Hockey Major Awards – Coach of the Year". Atlantic University Sport. March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024. "AUS Women's Hockey Major Awards – Most Sportsmanlike Player". Atlantic University Sport. March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024. "AUS Women's Hockey Major Awards – Top Defensive Player". Atlantic University Sport. March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024. "AUS Women's Hockey Major Awards – Student-Athlete Community Service Award". Atlantic University Sport. March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024. . Atlantic University Sport. 23 February 2010. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011. "Women's Hockey – 2023-24 Atlantic University Sport All-Stars". Atlantic University Sport. Retrieved 29 March 2024. . St. Francis Xavier University Athletics. 4 July 2011. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2011. "StFX Sports Hall of Fame". St. Francis Xavier University Athletics. Retrieved 28 March 2024. "StFX Sports Hall of Fame: Leanne MacDonald". St. Francis Xavier University Athletics. 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2024. "StFX Sports Hall of Fame: Beth McCharles". St. Francis Xavier University Athletics. 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2024. "Brampton bolsters CWHL roster". bramptonguardian.com. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2021. "CAN Announces Women's Ice Hockey Team for Harbin". fisu.net. 9 January 2009. Retrieved 4 May 2021. . Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2011. "2015 Winter Universiade: CIS announces Canadian women's hockey roster". universitysport.prestosports.com. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2021. "2017 Winter Universiade: Canadian women's hockey team announced". canadawest.org. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2021. External links Official website