McGill Martlets ice hockey

The McGill Martlets ice hockey team represents McGill University, based in Montreal, Quebec in U Sports women's ice hockey. They are members of the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) and have won four U Sports women's ice hockey championships. Some players have participated internationally, including in the World Student Games. Home games are played at McConnell Arena.

McGill Martlets ice hockey
McGill Martlets athletic logo
UniversityMcGill University
ConferenceRSEQ
Head coachAlyssa Cecere (interim)
since 2020–21 season
ArenaMcConnell Arena
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
ColorsRed, white, and black[1]
     
U Sports Tournament championships
2008, 2009, 2011, 2014
U Sports Tournament appearances
1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022
Conference Tournament championships
1985, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020
Conference regular season championships
2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2022

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 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.[2] The ban was lifted a few years later.[2]

The McGill women's ice hockey team participated in the first Women Provincial Ontario Championship in 1914.[3] The university league was dissolved in 1933.[4] 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 began 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.[5] It is the largest 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.[5] In addition, the team was able to employ a scout for the Martlets in the recruitment of collegial players in Quebec.[6]

Despite winning the 1985 Quebec Championship, the Martlets only managed to reach the qualifying rounds only once in the next 13 years.[5] A turnaround for the Martlets began with the arrival of goalkeeper Kim St-Pierre in 1998.[5] 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.[7] Overall, the Martlets have won ten QSSF championships and three Canadian Interuniversity Sport women's ice hockey championship.

2006 and beyond
McGill Martlets lined up at centre ice in 2011

During the 2006–07 CIS season, the Martlets were ranked as the number one university team for the duration of the entire season. At the end of season, the Martlets were crowned Quebec champions and awarded a silver medal in the Canadian championships. In the CIS final, the Martlets were defeated by a 4–0 score versus the Alberta Pandas women's ice hockey club.[8] Of note, 9 of their 21 players were rookies.[5] The following season (2007–08), the Martlets enjoyed an undefeated season, with 33 wins.[9][10] In the 2008 postseason, the Martlets (with a record of 7 victories, 0 defeats), claimed the national title on March 10, 2008, in Ottawa, with a 2–0 victory against the Laurier Golden Hawks women's ice hockey program.[5]

At the end of the 2008–09 season, the Martlets were the national women's champions for the second consecutive year.[11] 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 streak ended in the 2009–10 season, the Martlets appeared in the 2010 championship game, but were defeated by the Alberta Pandas by a 2–0 tally.[12] Goaltender Charline Labonte and head coach Peter Smith were not with the club as they participated in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games.

McGill Martlets' in action during a 2012 game

In the 2010–11 season,[13] the Martlets won the QSSF and CIS titles. In addition, the Martlets enjoy another undefeated season with 33 victories and no losses.[14] With their 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.[15] 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.[16] It marked the Martlets first loss to a Quebec conference opponent for the first time in 108 games.[17]

The Martlets and Montreal Hockey
Martlets' former head coach Peter Smith

In August 2022, the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) unveiled the newest expansion team for the 2022–23 season, the Montreal Force.[18] In keeping with the Martlets longstanding history with Montreal women's hockey, several former Martlets members were signed to the new organisation including former head coach Peter Smith. He stepped into his role as head coach of the Force with four national championship victories with the Marlets under his belt.[19] Jade Downie-Landry, Ann-Sophie Bettez, and Tricia Deguire, all former Marlets, also signed with the Force in 2022.[20][21]

Awards and honours

RSEQ Awards
  • 2019-20 RSEQ LEADERSHIP AWARD: Emilia Cotter, McGill

Quebec Hall of Fame
  • 2021-2022 Charline Labonté, McGill [22]

Most Outstanding Player

Rookie of the Year
  • 2011-12 RSEQ Rookie of the Year: Mélodie Daoust[23]
  • 2016-17 RSEQ Rookie of the Year: Tricia Deguire, McGill

[24]

RSEQ All-Stars

First Team

  • 2011-12 RSEQ First Team All-Star: Charline Labonté[23]
  • 2013-14 RSEQ First Team All-Star: Katia Clement-Heydra
  • 2016-17 RSEQ First Team All-Star: Mélodie Daoust[24]
  • 2016-17 RSEQ First Team All-Star: Tricia Deguire
  • 2019-20 RSEQ First Team All-Star: Tricia Deguire
  • 2019-20 RSEQ First Team All-Star: Jade Downie-Landry

Second Team

  • 2016-17 RSEQ Second Team All-Star: Olivia Atkinson
  • 2016-17 RSEQ Second Team All-Star: Marie-Philip Lavoie
  • 2019-20 RSEQ Second Team All-Star: Kate Devries
  • 2019-20 RSEQ Second Team All-Star: Léa Dumais

RSEQ All-Rookies
  • 2016-17 RSEQ All-Rookie Team: Tricia Deguire
  • 2016-17 RSEQ All-Rookie Team: Jade Downie-Landry

U Sports awards
Kim St-Pierre was on more than four All-Star teams during her tenure as a Martlet
  • Kim St. Pierre, 2000, MVP at the CIS Women's Ice Hockey Championship Tournament[25]
  • Catherine Ward, 2007 CIS Rookie of the Year[26]
  • Catherine Ward, 2007 CIS Tournament All-Star Team[26]
  • Ann-Sophie Bettez, 2008 CIS Rookie of the Year, BLG Award (CIS Female Athlete of the Year) 2011–12
  • Marie-Andrée Leclerc-Auger, 2009 CIS Rookie of the Year [27]
    • Leclerc-Auger became the third member of the Martlets in three years to be named as the top rookie in CIS women’s hockey. This marked the first time in CIS history that players from the same school in a team sport were honoured as the nation’s best freshman for three consecutive years. Catherine Ward and Ann-Sophie Bettez received the award in 2006–07 and 2007–08.[28]
  • Charline Labonté, 2009 BLG Award nominee (honouring the top CIS female and male athletes)
  • Ann-Sophie Bettez, CIS Player of the Year (Brodick Trophy) (2011–12)
  • Melodie Daoust, CIS Rookie of the Year (Tissot Award) (2011–12)
  • Katia Clement-Heydra, 2014 BLG Award nominee (honouring the top CIS female and male athletes)
  • Katia Clement-Heydra, CIS Player of the Year (Brodick Trophy) (2013–14)

USports Awards
  • Mélodie Daoust, 2013 Brodrick Trophy winner[29]
  • Mélodie Daoust, 2013 RSEQ scoring champion

All-Canadians

First Team

  • Mélodie Daoust, 2012-13 USports First Team All-Canadian

Second Team

  • Jade Downie-Landry, 2019-20 U Sports Second Team All-Canadian
  • Katia Clement-Heydra, 2012-13 USports Second Team All-Canadian[29]
  • Brittney Fouracres, 2015-16 U Sports Second Team All-Canadian[30]

U Sports All-Rookie
  • Gabrielle Davidson: 2012-13 USports All-Rookie Team
  • Jade Downie-Landry, 2017 USports All-Rookie Team[31]
  • Tricia Deguire, 2017 USports All-Rookie Team
  • Goaltender – Charline Labonté, 2009 First Team
  • Defence – Catherine Ward, 2009 First Team
  • Forward – Ann-Sophie Bettez, 2009 First Team
  • Defence – Cathy Chartrand, 2009 Second Team
  • Forward – Vanessa Davidson, 2009 Second Team
  • Forward – Marie-Andrée Leclerc-Auger, 2009 All-Rookie Team[32]
  • Ann-Sophie Bettez, All-Canadian First Team (2011–12)[33]
  • Melodie Daoust, 2015-16 U Sports First Team All-Canadian[34]

Team awards
Goaltender Charline Labonté also played for the Canada women's national ice hockey team
  • Goaltender Charline Labonté and forward Ann-Sophie Bettez of Sept-Iles, Quebec, shared the honor as co-MVPs of the 2009 McGill women's hockey team
  • Chantal Gauvin, 2009 Most dedicated player honours
  • Marie-Andrée Leclerc-Auger, 2009 Martlets rookie-of-the-year honours
  • Marie-Andrée Leclerc-Auger, 2009 Martlets top sniper
  • Rebecca Martindale, 2009 Most improved player
  • Catherine Ward, 2009 Most outstanding defenceman award

Notable Martlets

Several former McGill Martlets have gone on to become professional ice hockey players, including Ann-Sophie Bettez, Charline Labonté, Kim St-Pierre, and Catherine Ward.

Martlets in professional hockey

Four former Marlets are playing with the Premier Hockey Federation's 2022 expansion team, the Montreal Force, in its debut season: Ann-Sophie Bettez, Tricia Deguire, Jade Downey-Landry, and Laura Jardin.[35]

= CWHL All-Star = NWHL All-Star = Clarkson Cup Champion = Isobel Cup Champion
PositionTeam(s)League(s)YearsTitles
Ann-Sophie BettezForwardCanadiennes de MontréalCWHL2017 Clarkson Cup
Montreal ForcePHF
Katia Clement-HeydraForwardCanadiennes de MontréalCWHL2017 Clarkson Cup
CoachMontreal ForcePHF
Alyssa CecereDefenceMontreal StarsCWHL2012 Clarkson Cup
Vanessa DavidsonForwardMontreal StarsCWHL2012 Clarkson Cup
Tricia DeguireGoaltenderMontreal ForcePHF
Jade Downie-LandryForwardMontreal ForcePHF
Brittney FouracresDefenceCalgary InfernoCWHL1 (2017-18)
Charline LabontéGoaltenderCanadiennes de MontréalCWHL2017 Clarkson Cup
Kim St-PierreGoaltenderMontreal StarsCWHL2009 Clarkson Cup
2011 Clarkson Cup
2012 Clarkson Cup
Olivia SutterForwardTeam AlbertaCWHL
Catherine WardDefenceMontreal StarsCWHL

International

A number of Martlets have represented Canada in international competition, including with the Canadian national ice hockey team at the Winter Olympic Games and IIHF Women's World Championship, with the Canadian national university team at the Winter Universiade, and with the Canadian national developmental (under-22) ice hockey team at the Nations Cup (previously known as the Air Canada Cup, MLP Nations Cup, and Meco Cup), among other international competitions.

Olympics

Winter Universiade

Other international

See also

References
  1. McGill University Brand Guide (PDF). Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  2. "Brian McFarlane, Library and Archives Canada, Women's Hockey: A Proud Past, A Bright Future". Archived from the original on October 13, 2012.
  3. M. Ann Hall, Immodest and Sensational: 150 Years of Canadian Women in Sport, James Lorimer & Company Ltd. Toronto 2008, page 30. ISBN 978-1-55277-021-4
  4. (in French)Hockey-Canada,l'Histoire du Hockey féminin
  5. "Net gains". mcgillnews-archives.mcgill.ca.
  6. "Loading..." www.martlethockey.com.
  7. "Notable Women's Hockey Players". Hockey Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on July 6, 2010. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
  8. "Simply the Best". mcgillnews-archives.mcgill.ca.
  9. (in French)Finale de SIC: Les Martlets conservent le titre canadien
  10. "Mississauga Breaking News - Mississauga's Online Newspaper". Mississauga.com.
  11. We are the champions…again!
  12. Final: CIS championship: Pandas put an end to Martlets 86-game winning streak with a 2–0 win
  13. "Loading..." www.martlethockey.com.
  14. "Les Martlets couronnées au terme d'une saison parfaite".
  15. https://www.mcgill.ca/athletics/newsroom/spotlight/item/?item_id=185333%5B%5D
  16. https://montrealgazette.com/McGill+hockey+Martlets+game+streak+comes/5628886/story.html%5B%5D
  17. https://www.mcgill.ca/athletics/newsroom/spotlight/item/?item_id=211663%5B%5D
  18. "Montreal Force to enter as PHF's seventh team". ESPN.com. August 30, 2022.
  19. "News: MONTREAL FORCE ANNOUNCE INAUGURAL COACHING STAFF - PREMIER HOCKEY FEDERATION".
  20. "News: PHF MONTREAL ANNOUNCES FIRST SEVEN SIGNED PLAYERS - PREMIER HOCKEY FEDERATION".
  21. "McGill goalie grad Deguire signs with Montreal franchise in Premier Hockey Federation".
  22. "McGill hockey grad Charline Labonté among new inductees to Quebec Sports Hall of Fame". McGill University Athletics.
  23. "Bettez named league MVP as five Martlets merit all-star honours". mcgillathletics.ca/. February 21, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  24. "McGill's Daoust and Deguire among major award winners as RSEQ all-stars announced". mcgillathletics.ca/. February 22, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  25. "Past Award Winners: 2007 CIS Women's Hockey Championships". Archived from the original on March 3, 2007. Retrieved March 27, 2011.
  26. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 29, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  27. "Press Release Service | Press Releases | SIRC". Archived from the original on March 31, 2012. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  28. https://www.mcgill.ca/channels/spotlight/item/?item_id=105532%5B%5D
  29. "McGill's Daoust named player of the year". presto-en.usports.ca. March 6, 2013. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  30. "2015-16 U Sports Women's Hockey Awards and All-Canadians". presto-en.usports.ca. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  31. "U SPORTS Women's Hockey: StFX's Bujold named Player of the Year". usports.ca. March 15, 2017. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  32. "2009 Women's Hockey Championship - Awards and all canadians". Archived from the original on April 16, 2009. Retrieved November 17, 2009.
  33. http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/wice/2011-12/releases/20120307-awards
  34. "2015-16 U Sports Women's Hockey Awards and All-Canadians". presto-en.usports.ca. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  35. "Montreal Force Announce Five Player Signings". Premier Hockey Federation (Press release). October 12, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  36. "CAN Announces Women's Ice Hockey Team for Harbin". fisu.net. January 9, 2009. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  37. "2015 Winter Universiade: CIS announces Canadian women's hockey roster". universitysport.prestosports.com. October 24, 2014. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  38. "View". Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved November 17, 2009.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to McGill Martlets ice hockey.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.