Waterloo region to host U SPORTS Women’s Hockey Championship for second-straight year
Waterloo Region is a hot bed of university hockey and fans in the region can rejoice that they’ll have a chance to see the best university women’s hockey teams in back-to-back years as U SPORTS awarded the University of Waterloo the right to host the 2026 U SPORTS women’s hockey championship in Elmira, Ont.
U SPORTS announced last January that the University of Waterloo would host the 2025 tournament at the Woolwich Memorial Centre but is providing the local organizing committee the opportunity to host for a second straight year in 2026. To celebrate the announcement, the Warriors will be hosting the Queen’s Gaels in a regular season OUA game at the Woolwich Memorial Centre on Saturday October 19.
“We are excited to be able to announce today that the U SPORTS women’s hockey championship will be hosted in back-to-back years in Waterloo Region,” said U SPORTS CEO Pierre Arsenault. “Our partnership with University of Waterloo and Woolwich Township and 2025 title partner Miller Waste Services is an example of how communities can work with a member university and corporate partners to build successful U SPORTS championships. We are thankful to have such great partners working on this event and know that fans and participating teams will have a first class experience this season and next.”
U SPORTS and the University of Waterloo also introduced NHL Official Garrett Rank as the Honourary Chair for both championships. Hailing from Elmira, Ont., Rank has officiated over 600 NHL games since joining the league in 2015. His link with university sport dates to the early 2010s when he was a two-sport athlete with the Waterloo Warriors. A member of the Warriors men’s hockey team, the future NHL official was the University’s 2012 male athlete of the year in golf, after capturing the 2012 Canadian University/College Individual Championship.
The host committee also announced on Wednesday the launch of the “See Them, Be Them” local hockey association ticket sales fund raising program where local hockey programs will have the opportunity to sell tickets to the 2025 Miller Waste Services U SPORTS championship with a portion of the sales being returned to that organization. More information about the program will be available in December when single day passes go on sale.
QUOTES
Roly Webster, Athletic Director – University Of Waterloo
Through the efforts of our host committee and partnerships in Waterloo Region, we continue to see a groundswell of support for this event. With a priority of creating a great student-athlete experience, we feel well-positioned alongside the City of Waterloo, Township of Woolwich, and the surrounding communities, all of which are excited to embrace and showcase the national championships in our region over the next two years.
Garrett Rank, Honourary Chairperson - 2025 U SPORTS Championship
Bringing this Championship to Elmira is a huge honour not just for myself, but for the entire community. It fosters a sense of pride, unity and inspiration among volunteers and young athletes alike. I’m excited to witness the positive impact it will have on future talent, showcasing what’s possible. I know it will help cultivate the next generation of athletes and I’m proud be of part of a tournament that champions the Town of Elmira and the University of Waterloo. Two communities who are directly responsible for my development and dreams. Go Warriors/ Woolwich Wild Go!
Tickets for the 2025 Miller Waste Services U SPORTS Women’s Hockey Championship are available at USPORTSTickets.ca, while information about volunteer opportunities and the “See Them, Be Them,” ticket fundraising initiatives (coming in December), please visit: [https://athletics.uwaterloo.ca/feature/seethembethem].
For exciting updates as Waterloo prepares to welcome the best in Canadian university women’s hockey, visit USPORTS.ca.
Facility and event photos are available for download at USPORTSMedia.ca.