University McGill University Arena McConnell Arena Colors Red, White, Black | Location Montreal, Quebec Head coach Peter Smith | |
Conference Quebec Student Sport Federation | ||
The McGill Martlets are a women's ice hockey team based out of Montreal, Quebec. The Martlets defend the colors of McGill University, and are members of the Quebec Student Sports Federation ( RSEQ), and compete for the Canadian Interuniversity Sport women's ice hockey championship. Some players have participated internationally, including the World Student Games. Home games are contested at McConnell Arena. In addition, the Martlets are connected to the McGill Redmen (the male ice hockey team), and are subject to the same direction and management of McGill Athletics and Recreation.
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Origin name
The origin of name ' Martlet ' is used in reference to the coat of arms of McGill University, which includes three birds. These birds were originally a part of the family crest of James McGill, founder of the university . The McGill Martlet Foundation, created in 1954, uses this heraldic symbol. The foundation is a philanthropic organization aimed at helping student athletes at McGill. In 1976, various women's teams at McGill University adopted the use of the name "Martlets".
History
Since 1896, women’s ice hockey has existed at McGill University. In the course of decades, there have been various changes. In the early years of ice hockey play at McGill University, women dressed in long skirts and males were not allowed to attend. The only exceptions were the referee and the arena employees who guarded the main entrance. The ban was lifted a few years later
The McGill women's ice hockey team participated in the first Women Provincial Ontario Championship in 1914. In 1921, the University of Toronto defeated them in the finale of the first women university championship. The university league was dissolved in 1933. From 1936 to 1948, followed by the time period of 1951 to 1960, there was no competition in the Women Interuniversity Athletics Union (WIAU).
A renewal showed itself in the 1960s. In 1963, David Kerr, a male member of the McGill Redmen agreed to assist in the revival of the McGill women’s ice hockey team. In 2006, Kerr and his wife Sheryl Drysdale, (the couple met at McGill) donated $1 million for the hockey program. It is the biggest donation ever made for a female sporting program in Canadian university history. The donation allowed the team’s trainers to assume a full-time role with the team. In addition, the team was able to employ a scout for the Martlets in the recruitment of collegial players in Quebec.
Despite winning the 1985 Quebec Championship, the Martlets only managed to reach the qualifying rounds only once in the next 13 years. A turnaround for the Martlets began with the arrival of goalkeeper, Kim St-Pierre in 1998. Her performance during four seasons helped Martlets become competitive in the Quebec Student Sports Federation, while qualifying for the playoff rounds of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport women's ice hockey championship. Martlets goaltender Kim St. Pierre also played a game for the McGill Redmen. She was the first woman in Canadian Interuniversity Sports history to win a men’s regular season game when McGill University defeated Ryerson University on November 15, 2003 by a score of 5–2. Overall, the Martlets have gained ten QSSF championships and three Canadian Interuniversity Sport women's ice hockey championship.
During the 2006–07 CIS season, the Martlets are ranked as the number one university team for the duration of the entire season. At the end of season, the Martlets are crowned Quebec champions and awarded a silver medal in the Canadian championships. In the CIS final, the Martlets are defeated by a 4–0 mark versus the Alberta Pandas women's ice hockey club). Of note, 9 of their 21 players were rookies The following season (2007–08), the Martlets enjoy an undefeated season, with 33 triumphs, compared to 0 losses.,. In the 2008 postseason, the Martlets (with a record of 7 victories, 0 defeats), claim the national title on March 10, 2008, in Ottawa, with a 2–0 victory against the Laurier Golden Hawks women's ice hockey program.
At the end of the 2008–09 season, the Martlets are national women's champions for the second consecutive year. In a rematch of the previous final, the Martlets defeat the Laurier Golden Hawks women's ice hockey team by a score of 3–1. The 2009–10 season results in the Martlets not winning their third championship. The Martlets appear in the 2010 championship game, but are defeated by the Alberta Pandas by a 2–0 tally. Goaltender Charline Labonte and head coach Peter Smith were not with the club as they participated in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games. In the 2010–11 season, the Martlets obtained the QSSF and CIS titles. In addition, the Martlets enjoy another undefeated season with 33 victories and no losses. With this third Canadian championship in four years, the McGill Martlets hockey team become the most decorated in the history of McGill University. On October 1, 2011, the Martlets defeated the Vermont Catamounts women's ice hockey program by a 3–2 tally. With the win, coach Peter Smith earned the 300th victory of his coaching career. Twenty-eight days later (on October 29, 2011), Montreal Carabins women's ice hockey skater Ariane Barker scored with 71 seconds left to give the squad a 3–2 win at McConnell Arena. Martlets goaltender Charline Labonte took the loss for the Martlets, giving her a 69–2 overall record in her CIS career. It marked the Martlets first loss to a Quebec conference opponent for the first time in 108 games.
Awards and honors
CIS awards
Team awards
All-Canadian honors
Notable Martlets
Several former players McGill Martlets becomes famous in the professional hockey among others Kim St-Pierre, Catherine Ward.