Toronto Varsity Blues

The Toronto Varsity Blues are the intercollegiate sports program at the University of Toronto. Its 43 athletic teams regularly participate in competitions held by Ontario University Athletics and U Sports. The Varsity Blues trace their founding to 1877, with the formation of the men's football team.[1] Since 1908, Varsity Blues athletes have won numerous medals in Olympic and Paralympic Games and have also long competed in International University Sports Federation championships, Commonwealth Games, and Pan American Games.[2]

Toronto Varsity Blues
Logo
UniversityUniversity of Toronto
AssociationU Sports, CUFLA
ConferenceOUA
Athletic directorBeth Ali
LocationToronto, Ontario
Varsity teams43
Football stadiumVarsity Stadium
ArenaVarsity Arena
(Hockey)
FieldDan Lang Field
(Baseball)
Other venuesGoldring Centre for High Performance Sport
(Basketball & Volleyball)
SymbolTrue Blue
MascotTrue Blue
NicknameVarsity Blues
Fight songThe Blue and White
ColoursBlue and White
   
Websitewww.varsityblues.ca

The Varsity Blues program has teams in badminton, baseball, basketball, cross country running, curling, fastpitch softball, fencing, field hockey, figure skating, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, mountain biking, nordic skiing, rowing, rugby, soccer, squash, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, water polo, and wrestling.

Men's ice hockey
Main article: Toronto Varsity Blues men's ice hockey

The men's ice hockey team plays in the Ontario University Athletics conference and is coached by Ryan Medel. The team is based at Varsity Arena. The current Varsity Blues have won ten U Sports Championships.[3] The men's ice hockey team was founded in 1891.[4] The Varsity Blues senior team won the Allan Cup in 1921 and 1927 and won the gold medal at the 1928 Winter Olympics. Conn Smythe (U of T 1920), the principal owner of the NHL Toronto Maple Leafs (1927–61) and builder of Maple Leaf Gardens (1931), chose Royal Blue and White as his team's colours to honour his alma mater. The Maple Leafs are popularly known as "The Blue and White" by many of their older fans.

Men's soccer
Main article: Toronto Varsity Blues men's soccer

Women's ice hockey
Main article: Toronto Varsity Blues women's ice hockey

Women's track & field

Middle and long distance runner Sasha Gollish was named 2015 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Female Athlete of the Year (track events) for her performance at the CIS Championships, winning three gold medals in the 1000m, 3000m, and 4x800 m relay events and two silver medals in the 600m and 1500m events, the most individual medals ever won by a distance athlete.[5][6][7] She was also named MVP of the 2015 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Championships after winning three individual gold medals in the 600m, 1500m, and 3000m events.[5] In November 2015, she was named one of the Top 8 Academic All-Canadians by Canadian Interuniversity Sport.[8]

Football
Main article: Toronto Varsity Blues football

Nordic skiing

The Nordic skiing team competes against Ontario universities each year at the OUA Championships in February after qualifying races earlier in the season. The team has steadily grown in size and experience since Hans Fischer stepped up to the position of coach in the 2005–06 season.

Rowing

The University of Toronto Rowing Club represents the Varsity Blues at local and international regattas. The UTRC was founded on February 10, 1897, and throughout the years has had many successes, including Royal Canadian Henley Regatta victories, OUA titles, and a silver medal at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Volleyball

The volleyball team has been coached by, among others, Olympian Sam Schachter.[9][10][11]

Awards and honours
  • Kylie Masse: U Sports Female Athlete of the Month, February 2018.[12]

Lieutenant Governor Athletic Awards
  • 2016: Kylie Masse (Swimming)[13]
  • 2002: Elizabeth Warden (Swimming)[14]
  • 1998: Foy Williams (Track & Field)
  • 1996: Justine Ellison (Basketball)

Athletes of the year
YearFemale athleteSportMale athleteSport
2012–13  Zack ChetratSwimming
2013–14Nicole Kesteris[15]HockeyZack ChetratSwimming
2014–15Sasha GollishTrack & FieldEli WallSwimming
2015–16Kylie MasseSwimmingSacha SmartTrack & Field
2016–17Kylie Masse[16]SwimmingRostam TurnerTrack & Field
2017–18Kylie MasseSwimmingEli WallSwimming
2018–19Kylie MasseSwimmingEzana DebalkewTrack & Field
2019–20[17]Lucia StaffordCross countryDavid ThomsonHockey

See also

References
  1. University of Toronto Varsity Blues – Football History
  2. University of Toronto Olympians
  3. www.azhockey.com
  4. Toronto Marlboros history
  5. "Sasha Gollish". July 3, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  6. "Sasha Gollish wins Indianapolis Monumental Half, breaks course record," Canadian Running Magazine.
  7. "Distance runner Sasha Gollish, 33, recognized as Athlete of the Year", City Centre Mirror.
  8. "Sasha Gollish honoured as one of the Top 8 Academic All-Canadians," U of T Engineering News.
  9. Mewhirter, Travis (March 16, 2022). "Sam Schachter and Dan Dearing: Considering retirement to honeymooning".
  10. "Sam Schachter - Men's Volleyball - Assistant Coach - Staff Directory". University of Toronto Athletics.
  11. "George Brown College Athletics". George Brown College Athletics.
  12. "February 2018 — Kylie Masse". usports.ca/. April 2, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  13. "24th Annual BLG Awards: Toronto's Masse, Calgary's Buckley named CIS athletes of the year". presto-en.usports.ca/. March 2, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  14. "Hall of Fame: Elizabeth Warden". varsityblues.ca/. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  15. Helen Picard (March 31, 2014). "Kesteris, Chetrat named Varsity Blues athletes of the year". thevarsity.ca/. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  16. Braden Keith (April 1, 2017). "KYLIE MASSE NAMED UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO ATHLETE OF THE YEAR". swimswam.com/. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  17. "STAFFORD, THOMSON NAMED VARSITY BLUES ATHLETES OF THE YEAR". varsityblues.ca/. April 8, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
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