It's an exciting day for St. Thomas University (STU), it's Athletics department, and the Women's hockey program in particular with today's announcement from Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) that STU has been awarded the opportunity to host the 2014 CIS Women's Hockey Championship. The event marks the first time that STU will host a CIS championship tourney and will be held March 5-9, 2014 at the new Grant*Harvey Centre.
St. Thomas University president and Vice-Chancellor Dennis Cochrane calls the announcement "great news for our university and our student athletes", adding "our new hockey facility at Grant Harvey will be an ideal venue for a national championship and this event will have a particular resonance with our community as our enrolment is 70% female."
STU will build off its experience hosting national championships at the ACAA level. Director of Athletics Mike Eagles says “We’ve hosted two other national championships, but this is our first for the CIS. With the opportunity to host the pre-eminent women’s hockey competition in the country, we want to stage an unforgettable event that is focused on the student athlete and will further raise the profile of women’s hockey in the region.”
"CIS is delighted that the STU will host our women's hockey championship," said Marg McGregor, chief executive officer of CIS. "While this will be STU's first CIS championship, they have been very successful at hosting events in the past and our student-athletes will benefit from that experience."
The University of Alberta will host the women's tourney in 2012, followed by the University of Toronto in 2013. The University of Calgary was awarded hosting duties for the 2015 event today as well.
LINKS
STU Release: STU Awarded Canadian Interuniversity Sport Women’s Hockey Championship for 2014
CIS Release: Alberta, St. Thomas, Calgary to host national championships
DG Article: STU to host women's hockey nationals in 2014
Announcements in the Gleaner today should be great news for Tommies Nation.
ReplyDeleteStephen Sanza should turn out to be some combination of .Mike Hansen and Mat HOGAN of previous era's.
Brian Wright,former STU scout reports that VanLaren is a solid stay at home Dman.both these gents represent the quality of recruits needed and kudos to the new order in landing them both,
If the 5 or 6 others who have yet to commit opt for STU then the end of our "winters of discontent" will be over and a very,very interesting campaign is in store.
Congrats to Coaches Ryan and Bissonnette.A GREAT START!