Banner Season: Defending champs welcome final four teams to Toronto for OUA finale

Burlington, Ont. – It’s down to four in field hockey. The top two teams in each division, including last year’s champion Toronto Varsity Blues, have one final weekend of conference play to go, as the season culminates in the 2024 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Field Hockey Championship.

Other semifinalists vying for the title include the Guelph Gryphons, York Lions, and Waterloo Warriors, with each squad needing just two more wins to be crowned as victors.

While each team has reasons to be hopeful that they can claim the banner, a big plus in host Toronto’s favour is their veteran play between the pipes.

Deepi Gill has been a formidable presence in net for the Varsity Blues throughout her five years with the team, and the senior from Brampton, Ont. is hoping to add to her illustrious marks. The OUA goalkeeper of the year will enter the banner season festivities having tallied six clean sheets on the year, making it 24 across 41 matches in her impressive varsity tenure.

Patrolling the midfield for the Blues, winners of two of the last three OUA titles, is senior McKinley Kennedy. A veteran leader with the team, the Vancouver, B.C. product’s strong play is instrumental in helping her team transition between offence and defence. Her contributions on the scoresheet – 14 career goals, including two more this season – are just another way that the talented midfielder can make a difference this weekend.

Much like a year ago, meanwhile, the undefeated Blues (9-0-1) will need to get through the Waterloo Warriors (6-4-0) to secure a spot in the 2024 finale, something they managed to do via shootout last season. The black and gold are looking to redeem themselves this time around and earn themselves the chance to play for their first OUA title since 2004.

Meagan Hobson, a hometown standout for the Warriors, will look to add another productive outing to her season’s resume in the hopes of turning the tides against Toronto. Among her top-tier performances this season was a six-point showing against McGill, including a hat trick, that helped anchor her six goals and 12 points on the season. Starting each game for the West Division’s second seed, Hobson was also a key contributor on the defensive end, and much like it has been in previous crucial moments, she will look to play a pivotal role as part of the weekend’s festivities.

Newer to the varsity stage is fellow Warrior Sierra Blackburn, but the second-year star from Kitchener, Ont. made quite an impression in her sophomore season. Just one goal off the conference lead with five, Blackburn maintained a perfect shot percentage along the way. Not only did she score frequently, but in timely spots as well, as her three game-winning tallies tied her for the league lead in that category.

Adding to the excitement of her standout season is the fact that she shares the field with her twin sister Sydney, and the two will eye a continued impact come banner season.

Finishing ahead of Waterloo this season in the West was the Guelph Gryphons, who gained top spot with their 7-1-2 record.

A contributing factor to that division-leading effort is the play of Elly Peters. The fourth-year standout from Kitchener, Ont., makes a difference off the field, having won the OUA and U SPORTS community service award a year ago, but the two-time all-star will look to shine on the field this weekend.

Peters’ six goals (T-1st in OUA) and 12 points (T-2nd in OUA) show that she has the offensive prowess to give her Gryphons a chance to claim their fifth conference title.

Fellow fourth-year senior Abby Warriner has also been an all-star for Guelph, and with two such accolades under her belt prior to this season, she took it up a notch in 2024. Named most valuable player in the OUA this year, the team will undoubtedly call upon the Newmarket, Ont. midfielder to make a difference on the banner season stage.

If the Gryphons are to make waves, they will first need to get by the York Lions (8-2-0), who are no stranger to the top of the OUA’s field hockey ranks. Champions in 2022 and finalists a year ago, the Lions are eyeing a third straight appearance in the gold medal game.

One way that the Lions might accomplish the feat is by relying on their stingy defensive play. The team allowed just two goals all season – a league low – with both coming in their pair of 1-0 losses at the hands of Toronto.

At the centre of this keen defensive prowess is Jade Lew, who has been a mainstay in net for her squad. In her six starts this season, Lew collected four clean sheets – good for second in the OUA – and since taking over the starting goalkeeper job last season, she has wracked up an impressive seven shutouts. Those two goals against are also tied for the fewest allowed among her fellow goalies, while her .833 save percentage is atop the provincial pack.

While Lew was among the leaders in net, her teammate Juliet Redelaar was among the best on offence.

The reigning OUA rookie of the year picked up right where she left off in her debut season, and the offensive force will be at the centre of York’s efforts therein. Such a role will be nothing new for the biology major from Whitby, Ont., as she was among the league leaders with six goals and 12 points across her 10 games played. If she is able to deliver in that type of fashion, she could very well lead York to their second title in the past three seasons.

York and Guelph will start the banner season slate with their semifinal bout, before Toronto and Waterloo take to the field next. The winners will advance to face off for the 2024 OUA field hockey banner.