The Toronto Varsity Blues women's ice hockey team represents the University of Toronto and competes in the Ontario University Athletics conference of Canadian Interuniversity Sport.
On December 12, 1922, the Lady Blues joined the Ladies Ontario Hockey Association and paid dues of eleven dollars (six dollars association fee, five dollars one time fee). The Lady Blues were the LOHA Provincial Champions in 1924. In 1925, the Lady Blues withdrew from the LOHA, and the reason was certain unsatisfactory aspects of competition. There were issues as to the acceptable definition of womanhood.
In 1993, (although the Lady Blues won 13 of the last 15 provincial championships), a task force recommended that the University of Toronto cut the team for financial reasons. Justine Blainey, a member of the team, organized a "Save the Team" night that raised over $8,000. She personally called 100 alumni during a one-week fundraising blitz. Blainey had previously earned national recognition as she endured five different court cases before finally having her case heard by the Supreme Court of Canada in 1986 because the Metro Toronto Hockey League denied her the opportunity to play hockey for them in 1981.
During the 2000-01 regular season, the Lady Blues accumulated an undefeated record with 22 wins and no losses or ties. They outscored all opponents by a 114-14 margin. In the OUA playoffs, the Lady Blues defeated Toronto rival York University by a 4-1 mark and shut out Laurier 5-0 to win the OUA championship.
Heading into the 2001 National Championships, the Lady Blues were seeded Number 1 overall. The Lady Blues first game was a 12-1 whitewash of the host school Calgary Dinos. In the semifinal, the Lady Blues would proceed to eliminate the McGill Martlets by a 4-1 tally. The championship game was a closer affair, with the Lady Blues besting the Regina Cougars in a 4-3 triumph. It was the Lady Blues first national championship in CIS women’s hockey. Of note, the Varsity Blues managed to defeat every other top team in the nation that season. The teams that were defeated included Regina, Concordia, Alberta, McGill and Saskatchewan, as the Lady Blues finished with an overall win loss record of 35-0-0.
On February 25, 1997, a little-known rule denies the Blues’ their second consecutive title. The OWIAA gold medal game in Waterloo, Ontario resulted in a controversial finish. Lady Blues player Jayna Hefford scored 23 seconds into overtime in the OWIAA gold medal game against the York Yeowomen at Waterloo Memorial Arena. The Lady Blues believed they had claimed the provincial championship.
OWIAA league rules indicated that the first five-minute overtime session in a playoff game must be played in its entirety (as a regular period). It was advised that the game would continue after Hefford's goal. York University (known as the Yeowomen at the time) tied the game with 1:47 left in the first overtime. Sari Krooks broke in on the right wing and scored on Keely Brown.
A second overtime period began and this overtime period was classified as sudden death. York skater Shanley White took advantage of a Lady Blues clearing error. She scored on the error and York prevailed by a 3-2 mark in double overtime to claim the OWIAA gold medal. The Lady Blues loss ended the Blues' undefeated season, and gave York its first championship in 10 years.
The two played a scoreless opening period, but the Lady Blues scored ten seconds into the second period when Hefford passed to linemate Laura Schuler, and beat goalie Debra Ferguson. York tied the game 26 seconds into the third period which led into overtime. Despite winning the silver medal, the Lady Blues ended its regular season with a 13-0-2 record. In the semifinal, the Lady Blues defeated the Guelph Gryphons by a 4-1 tally. In that game, Laura Schuler had a hat trick, while Hefford added three assists.
On February 11, 2000, the Ontario University Athletics women's ice hockey program saw its longest game take place. The University of Toronto's Rhonda Mitchell scored on a 35-foot slap shot. It was the 5:07 mark of the eighth period and the Varsity Blues defeated the York Lions women's ice hockey program. Although the victory allowed the U of T to advance to the OUA gold medal game, it was the longest in the history of Canadian women's hockey. The game lasted over five hours and ten minutes. York's player of the game was goaltender Debra Ferguson, as she valiantly made 63 saves over 125 minutes.
The Marion Hilliard Award is named in honour of former Toronto Lady Blues player Marion Hilliard. She played with the Lady Blues from 1922-27 and was a leading member of 6 championship teams. She was President of the University Hockey Club and was a member of the University of Toronto women’s Athletic Directorate for four years. The award is presented to reward excellence among a female ice hockey player from the CIS. The recipient exhibits outstanding achievement in three areas: hockey, academics and community involvement.
The following were selected in the 2010 CWHL Draft.
Awards and honours
Alison Houston, 2001 CIS Goaltending Champion (0.40 GAA)
Karen Hughes, 2001 OUA Coach of the Year
Karen Hughes, CIS coach of the Year, 2001
Sue McCutcheon, 2005 Marion Hilliard Award
Jenny McRae, 2003 Marion Hilliard Award
Jen Rawson, 2001 CIS Tournament MVP honors
Jen Rawson, 2001 OUA all-star
Jen Rawson, 2001 OUA Athlete of the Year
Bridget Bates, 1999 Marion Hilliard Award
Ali MacMillan, 1998 CIS Second Team All-Canadian
Sue Anne Van Damme, 1998 CIS Second Team All-Canadian
Urszula May, 1999 CIS First Team All-Canadian
Jen Rawson, 2000 CIS Second Team All-Canadian
Heather Vance, 2000 CIS Second Team All-Canadian
Alison Houston, 2001 CIS Second Team All-Canadian
Susie Laska, 2001 CIS Second Team All-Canadian
Jen Rawson, 2001 CIS Second Team All-Canadian
Alison Houston, 2003 CIS Second Team All-Canadian
Kim Malcher, 2003 CIS Second Team All-Canadian
Safiya Muharuma, 2004 CIS Second Team All-Canadian
Kim Devereaux, 2006 CIS Second Team All-Canadian
Stephanie Lockert, 2007 CIS Second Team All-Canadian
