The St. Francis Xavier X-Women ice hockey team plays for St. Francis Xavier University, located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. The team competes in the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) conference of U Sports where they were an inaugural varsity member of U Sports women's ice hockey in the 1997–98 season. Representing St. Francis Xavier Athletics, the X-Women have won the most AUS championships with 12 conference championship wins, most recently in 2025.
History
2010–11 season
During the 2010–11 season, the X-Women remained undefeated through the AUS regular schedule (24-0) and playoffs (3-0). The team won their first conference title since 2007–08. On March 14, 2011, the X-Women played in the national championship game for the first time. However, the squad was bested by the McGill Martlets in a 5–2 defeat. The silver medal finish is the program's highest in the U Sports women's ice hockey championship tournament.
Recent results
Prior to the 2013–14 season, AUS teams played a round robin tournament with six teams split into two groups (two games played each). The winners of those games played for the AUS championship. Starting in 2013–14, the AUS had teams play three-game series with seeding with the AUS championship also being awarded after a three-game series. Canadian Interuniversity Sport changed its name to U Sports in 2016. With the addition of the UNB Reds for the 2018–19 season, all AUS teams went from playing 24 regular season games to playing 28 games.
The 2019–20 team won the AUS championship after finishing the regular season on a 12-game winning streak and finished 4–0 in the AUS playoffs. In the 2020 national championship, the X-Women were seeded third and defeated the Montreal Carabins in the quarterfinal. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, the remainder of the tournament was cancelled, bringing a halt to a promising finish for the team.
All-time scoring leaders
Awards and honours
Note: F = forward; D = defenceman; G = goaltender
U Sports
U Sports was known as the Canadian Interuniversity Athletics Union (CIAU; French: Union sportive interuniversitaire canadienne – USIC) until 2001 and as Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS; French: Sport interuniversitaire canadien – SIC) from 2001 until the adoption of the current name in 2016.
Brodrick Trophy
The Brodrick Trophy is awarded to the player of the year in U Sports women's ice hockey. From 2017 to 2020, St. FX produced three Brodrick Trophy winners. Sarah Bujold (2016–17) and Daley Oddy (2017–18) represented back-to-back wins, while Tyra Meropoulis earned the honour in 2020. The first player in program history to capture the Brodrick Trophy was Brayden Ferguson, reaching the pinnacle in 2007–08.
Rookie of the Year
The U Sports Rookie of the Year Award in women's hockey recognizes a "first-year player who has exhibited exemplary skill and leadership."
- 2010–11: Alex Normore
- 2021–22: Abby Lewis
All-Canadians
All-Canadian honours are awarded by U Sports to the most outstanding regular season players in women's ice hockey.
First Team
- 1998–99: Leanne MacDonald (D)
- 2000–01: Leanne MacDonald (D)
- 2007–08: Brayden Ferguson (F)
- 2010–11: Suzanne Fenerty (D)
- 2011–12: Suzanne Fenerty (D), Alex Normore (F)
- 2013–14: Alex Normore (F)
- 2016–17: Sarah Bujold (F)
- 2018–19: Lindsey Donovan (D)
- 2019–20: Lindsey Donovan (D), Tyra Meropoulis (F)
Second Team
- 2005–06: Rebecca Davies (F)
- 2006–07: Marilynn Hay (D)
- 2007–08: Marilynn Hay (D)
- 2010–11: Alex Normore (F)
- 2012–13: Alex Normore (F)
- 2013–14: Jenna Pitts (D)
- 2014–15: Alex Normore (F)
All-Rookies
U Sports All-Rookie Teams have recognized outstanding first-year players of the regular season since 2003–04.
- 2003–04: Katie Barrett (D), Rebecca Davies (F)
- 2005–06: Laura Grant (D)
- 2009–10: Abygail Laking (F)
- 2010–11: Alex Normore (F), Jenna Pitts (D)
- 2017–18: Emerson Elliott (F)
- 2018–19: Tyra Meropoulis (F)
- 2019–20: Jamie Johnson (G)
- 2021–22: Amaya Giraudier (G), Abby Lewis (F)
Fair Play Award
A CIS Championship Fair Play Award was awarded until the 2009–10 season. From 2010 to 2013, the player who "best exhibit[ed] the standards of fair play" throughout the CIS Championship tournament was recognized with the R.W. Pugh Fair Play Award. No fair play awards have been awarded since 2013.
Championship All-Stars
U Sports Championship All-Stars are awarded to the best players at the national tournament in women's ice hockey.
- 2000: Leanne MacDonald
- 2002: Amy Handrahan (G)
- 2006: Katie Harvieux (G)
- 2011: Carolyn Campbell (F), Suzanne Fenerty (D)
- 2013: Jenna Downey (D)
- 2015: Alex Normore (F)
AUS
- Female Athlete of the Year, Finalist: Tyra Meropoulis, 2019–20
Most Valuable Player
The recipient of the Most Valuable Player award becomes the AUS nominee for the U Sports Brodrick Trophy.
Rookie of the Year
The recipient of the AUS Rookie of the Year Award represents the conference as a finalist for the U Sports Rookie of the Year Award.
Coach of the Year
The recipient of the AUS Coach of the Year Award represents the conference as a finalist for the U Sports Coach of the Year Award.
Most Sportsmanlike Player
AUS Most Sportsmanlike Player "recognizes an individual who maintains the standards of fair play and treats those around her with respect at all times."
Top Defensive Player
Awarded since the 2016–17 season, the AUS Top Defensive Player has been recognizes a skater who consistently excels in defensive aspects of the game and displays strong play in all areas of the ice individually and as part of their team's defensive tactics.
- 2019–20: Lydia Schurman
Student-Athlete Community Service Award
The recipient of the AUS Student-Athlete Community Service Award represents the conference as a finalist for the U Sports Marion Hilliard Award.
- 2004–05: Colleen Wall
All-Stars
One AUS All-Star team per season was named through the 2000–01. The AUS All-Star second team was introduced in the 2001–02 season.
- 1998–99: Leanne MacDonald (D)
- 1999-2000: Cindy Clarke (F), Amy Handrahan (G), Leanne MacDonald (D)
- 2000–01: Michelle Fortier (F), Amy Handrahan (G), Leanne MacDonald (D)
First Team
- 2001–02: Michelle Fortier (F), Gayle MacDonald (D)
- 2002–03: Tracy Sullivan (F)
- 2003–04: Katie Barrett (D), Rebecca Davies (F), Amy Handrahan (G), Tracy Sullivan (F)
- 2004–05: Candace Ernst (F), Sheila Kelly (D)
- 2005–06: Rebecca Davies (F), Laura Grant (D)
- 2006–07: Marilynn Hay (D), Sheila Kelly (D)
- 2007–08: Brayden Ferguson (F), Marilynn Hay (D)
- 2008–09: Christina Davis (F), Brayden Ferguson (F), Laura Grant (D), Marilynn Hay (D)
- 2009–10: Suzanne Fenerty (D), Marilynn Hay (D)
- 2010–11: Suzanne Fenerty (D), Alex Normore (F), Janelle Parent (F)
- 2011–12: Suzanne Fenerty (D), Alex Normore (F), Janelle Parent (F)
- 2012–13: Jenna Downey (D), Alex Normore (F)
- 2013–14: Alex Normore (F), Jenna Pitts (D)
- 2014–15: Jenna Downey (D), Alex Normore (F), Sojung Shin (G)
- 2016–17: Sarah Bujold (F)
- 2017–18: Sarah Bujold (F), Lindsey Donovan (D), Daley Oddy (F)
- 2018–19: Sarah Bujold (F), Lindsey Donovan (D)
- 2019–20: Lindsey Donovan (D), Tyra Meropoulis (F)
- 2021–22: Maggy Burbidge (F), Lauren Dabrowski (D)
- 2022–23: Maggy Burbidge (F), Lauren Dabrowski (D), Lea MacLeod (F)
Second Team
- 2001–02: Amy Handrahan (G)
- 2002–03: Cindy Connors (F), Leanne MacDonald (D)
- 2004–05: Brayden Ferguson (F), Tracy Sullivan (F)
- 2005–06: Candace Ernst (F), Brayden Ferguson (F)
- 2006–07: Kelly Boudreau (F), Christina Davis (F), Brayden Ferguson (F)
- 2007–08: Suzanne Fenerty (D), Jessica Shanahan (F)
- 2009–10: Carolyn Campbell (F), Jessica Shanahan (F)
- 2010–11: Marilynn Hay (D)
- 2011–12: Jenna Pitts (D)
- 2012–13: Taylor Dale (F), Kristy Garrow (G), Jenna Pitts (D)
- 2013–14: Daley Oddy (F)
- 2014–15: Daley Oddy (F)
- 2015–16: Daley Oddy (F)
- 2016–17: Daley Oddy (F)
- 2017–18: Carley Molnar (G)
- 2018–19: Tyra Meropoulis (F)
- 2021–22: Lea MacLeod (F), Tyra Meropoulis (F)
- 2022–23: Josie Chisholm (D)
- 2023–24: Maggy Burbidge (F)
All-Rookies
- 2006–07: Marilynn Hay (D), Jessica Shanahan (F)
- 2007–08: Suzanne Fenerty (D), Catie Gavin (F)
- 2008–09: Erin Brophy (F)
- 2009–10: Jenna Downey (D), Abygail Laking (F)
- 2010–11: Kristy Garrow (G), Alex Normore (F), Jenna Pitts (D)
- 2012–13: Schyler Campbell (F), Taylor Dale (F)
- 2013–14: Nicole Corcoran (F), Daley Oddy (F)
- 2014–15: Nicole Halladay (D)
- 2016–17: Lindsey Donovan (D)
- 2017–18: Emerson Elliott (F), Amy Graham (D)
- 2018–19: Tyra Meropoulis (F)
- 2019–20: Jamie Johnson (G)
- 2021–22: Amaya Giraudier (G), Abby Lewis (F), Ella VandeSompel (D)
- 2022–23: Kya Moss (D)
- 2023–24: Mackenzie Lothian (D), Ireland McCloskey (F)
St. Francis Xavier University awards
Student-Athlete of the Year
Note:
Sports Hall of Fame
The StFX Sports Hall of Fame honours student-athletes, builders, and teams who made outstanding contributions through sport at St. Francis Xavier University.
X-Women in professional hockey
- Suzanne Fenerty was selected by the Brampton Thunder in the fifth round of the 2012 CWHL Draft, but never appeared with the team.
International
- Brayden Ferguson Canada: 2009 Winter Universiade
- Jenna Downey, Defense Canada: 2011 Winter Universiade
- Suzanne Fenerty, Defense Canada: 2011 Winter Universiade
- Alex Normore – StFX Canada: 2015 Winter Universiade
- Daley Oddy, Canada: 2015 Winter Universiade
- Daley Oddy, Forward Canada: 2017 Winter Universiade
See also
- St. Francis Xavier X-Men ice hockey
References
External links
- Official website
