University of Waterloo to Host 2026 U SPORTS/FHC Field Hockey Championship
WATERLOO, Ont. - Field Hockey Canada, in partnership with the University of Waterloo and U SPORTS, is excited to announce the 2026 U SPORTS/FHC Field Hockey Championship will be hosted by the University of Waterloo from November 4-8, 2026.
The championship will bring together the top university field hockey teams from across Canada to compete for the national title at Warrior Field in Waterloo. Building on the success of the renewed national championship format introduced in 2024, the tournament continues to showcase the best of university field hockey and ensures national representation from coast-to-coast.
Last year’s championship saw the York Lions capture the national title, defeating the Victoria Vikes in the gold-medal match in Charlottetown. The 2026 championship will feature representatives from Ontario University Athletics, the Atlantic University Field Hockey League, and Canada West, along with the host Waterloo Warriors. Final participating teams will be determined through regular-season competition and conference qualification taking place throughout September and October.
The 2026 edition continues Field Hockey Canada’s long-term hosting strategy, designed to build a sustainable, inclusive, and nationally representative championship. The University of Waterloo will welcome student-athletes, coaches, officials, and supporters from across the country for four days of championship competition.
Susan Ahrens, CEO of Field Hockey Canada, is excited about the growth and the continued connectivity of the university pipeline with the Field Hockey Canada brand. The last two years at York and UPEI respectively have set an exciting precedent of university hockey championship events.
“Over the past two years, we have seen the excitement and enthusiasm grow for the newly created final-four style national championships in the university hockey space. I’m greatly looking forward to the event in Waterloo and excited to see this event continue to innovate and grow,” Ahrens said. “My many thanks go out to the University of Waterloo team for taking on this initiative and the Field Hockey Canada staff, especially Hailey Yhap for leading the LOC in delivery of a truly national university tournament.”
“We are thrilled to welcome the best university field hockey student-athletes in Canada to Waterloo in 2026. Hosting national championships is an opportunity to showcase not only outstanding competition, but also the exceptional experience our campus, community, and volunteers can provide. Building on the momentum and success of the 2025 and 2026 Miller Waste U SPORTS Women's Hockey Championships, we are excited to bring another premier U SPORTS event to Waterloo and create a memorable championship experience for everyone involved," said Roly Webster, Warriors Director of Athletics and Recreation.
"Field Hockey has a long and storied history at Waterloo, and recently our Warriors captured OUA gold in 2024 and OUA bronze on home turf in 2025. We can't wait to see the black and gold back on the national stage this fall.”
Stay tuned for updates on qualifying teams, the championship schedule, ticket information, and streaming details as the 2026 U SPORTS field hockey season unfolds.