2017 U Sports University Cup
Tournament details
Venue(s)Aitken Centre, Fredericton, New Brunswick
DatesMarch 16–19, 2017 (2017-03-16 – 2017-03-19)
Teams8
Final positions
ChampionsUNB Varsity Reds (6th title)
Runner-upSaskatchewan Huskies
Third placeAcadia Axemen
Fourth placeSt. Francis Xavier X-Men
Tournament statistics
Games played8
Attendance24,000 (3,000 per game)
MVPPhilippe Maillet

The 2017 U Sports Men's University Cup Hockey Tournament (55th Annual) was held March 16–19, 2017 in Fredericton, New Brunswick and played at the Aitken Centre on UNB's Fredericton campus. This event marked the first year of a successful two-year bid to host the 2017 and 2018 USports University Cup. This is the 3rd time UNB has hosted the University Cup - they first hosted a two-year bid in 2003 & 2004 and again in 2011 & 2012. UNB is the first program to host the event 3 times since the expanded format was introduced in 1998.

The UNB Varsity Reds won their 7th title (6th under head coach Gardiner MacDougall) and their first title defense over the Saskatchewan Huskies coached by Dave Adolph. The #5 seed has appeared in the finals six times since the expanded format started in 1998 and has won three titles; UNB in each case (2007, 2016 & 2017). The #6 seed has appeared in 4 finals and has not yet won.

UNB's title defense follows on the heels of Alberta's back-to-back titles in 2014 & 2015.

UNB and Alberta are the only two teams to host and win since the expanded format was introduced in 1998 - they each have two titles at home (Alberta - 2005 and 2006 / UNB - 2011 and 2017)

This is the 3rd straight appearance for UNB in the finals (2015-Silver, 2016-Gold & 2017 Gold). This has only occurred three other times going back to 1983 (34 years);
- UNB (2007-Gold, 2008-Silver, 2009-Gold)
- UQTR (2001-Gold, 2002-Silver, 2003-Gold)
- Saskatchewan (1981-Silver, 1982-Silver, 1983-Gold)

Road to the Cup

AUS playoffs

Quarter-finals (Best of 3) Semi-finals (Best of 5) AUS Championship (Best of 3)
1 UNB Varsity Reds 3
4 Saint Mary's Huskies 2 4 Saint Mary's Huskies 1
5 UPEI Panthers 1 1 UNB Varsity Reds 0
3 St. Francis Xavier X-Men 2
2 Acadia Axemen 0
3 St. Francis Xavier X-Men 2 3 St. Francis Xavier X-Men 3
6 Moncton Aigles Bleu Third place
2 Acadia Axemen 2
4 Saint Mary's Huskies 0

OUA playoffs

Division Quarter-finals (Best of 3)
OUA Sweet 16 		Division Semi-finals (Best of 3)
OUA Quarter-Finals 		Division Finals (Best of 3)
OUA Semi-Finals 		Queen's Cup (Single Game)
OUA Championship
            
1E McGill Redmen 2
8E Laurentian Voyageurs 0
1E McGill Redmen 2
5E UQTR Patriotes 0
4E Carleton Ravens 1
5E UQTR Patriotes 2
1E McGill Redmen 0
OUA East
3E Queen's Golden Gaels 2
2E Concordia Stingers 2
7E UOIT Ridgebacks 1
2E Concordia Stingers 1
3E Queen's Golden Gaels 2
3E Queen's Golden Gaels 2
6E Ottawa Gee Gees 1
3E Queen's Golden Gaels (V) 3
2W York Lions (H) 4
1W Ryerson Rams 2
8W Waterloo Warriors 1
1W Ryerson Rams 0
5W Windsor Lancers 2
4W Laurier Golden Hawks 1
5W Windsor Lancers 2
5W Windsor Lancers 1
OUA West
2W York Lions 2
2W York Lions 2
7W Lakehead Thunderwolves 0
2W York Lions 2
3W Guelph Gryphons 0
3W Guelph Gryphons 2
6W Brock Badgers 0
Bronze Medal (Single Game)
   
1E McGill Redmen (H) 6
5W Windsor Lancers (V) 3

Note: UQTR Patriotes forfeit all games from January 25, 2017 to February 25, 2017, as well as their first 13 games of the next season, due to an ineligible player.[1] There original 2016-17 record of 16-10-2 (34pts for 5th) was corrected to 13-13-2 (28pts for 7th). However, this change is not reflected here because the foul and subsequent forfeitures were not announced until January 18th, 2018 (the following season) when the infraction became known.

Canada West playoffs

Quarter-finals (Best of 3) Semi-finals (Best of 3) Canada West Championship (Best of 3)
1 Saskatchewan Huskies 2
4 Mount Royal Cougers 2 4 Mount Royal Cougers 0
5 Manitoba Bison 1 1 Saskatchewan Huskies 1
2 Alberta Golden Bears 2
2 Alberta Golden Bears 2
3 Calgary Dinos 2 3 Calgary Dinos 0
6 UBC Thunderbirds 0

University Cup tournament

The eight teams to advance to the tournament are listed below. The three(3) conference champions must be seeded 1-3 followed by the OUA Runner-up (seed #4). The remaining four seeds are for the AUS Finalist, Canada West Finalist, OUA Third-place and host. Their seedings are based on the pre-tournament rankings. Since UNB advanced as the AUS Runner-up, Acadia would represent the host.

Rank Seed Team Qualified
1 1 Alberta Golden Bears Canada West Champion
2 2 St. Francis Xavier X-Men AUS Champion
5 3 York Lions OUA Champion
6 4 Queen's Golden Gaels OUA Finalist
3 5 UNB Varsity Reds AUS Finalist
4 6 Saskatchewan Huskies Canada West Finalist
7 7 McGill Redmen OUA Third Place
8 8 Acadia Axemen Host

Weather

A Nor'easter traveled across Ontario, Quebec, New England and the Maritimes on Tuesday, two days before the tournament started. The storm cancelled flights east out of Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. This impacted Queen's who had scheduled to leave on Tuesday by bus to Toronto where they would fly to Fredericton. They were informed their flight was cancelled and they instead booked a bus to Fredericton leaving Tuesday afternoon. They got as far as Quebec City where they stayed the night. McGill had also started their journey by bus on Tuesday and got as far as Riviere-du-Loup.

Poor road conditions and road closures stranded both teams for the entire day on Wednesday in their respective locations. As such they were not able to attend the UCup Gala on Wednesday night. They continued their journeys on Thursday and both arrive mid-day on Thursday. This had the biggest impact on Queen's who was scheduled to play UNB that night at 7pm local (AST). The game was delayed by 1 hour to 8pm to provide Queen's some additional time to prepare. The travel impact was less for McGill whose first game wasn't until Friday.

Saskatchewan Huskies arrived on Monday but not all of their equipment did - they had to purchase a sizable amount of equipment from a local sporting goods store to outfit the team for their first practice on Tuesday. The missing bags did arrive late Wednesday.

Tournament format

The tournament is a traditional 8 team, single elimination ladder with Bronze medal game between the two semi-final losers. Games that are tied after regulation play a 10-minute overtime period following the 3rd period. If there is no score after the first overtime, the ice is cleaned and they would play 20 minute periods (with ice cleaned between periods) until there is a winner.

The higher seed is the 'Home' team for each game (the home team must wear their 'white' jerseys and will get the last change during stoppages of play).

The UNB Varsity Reds played as the visitor in games 1 but as the home team in games 2 & 3. The Saskatchewan Huskies were the visitor in all three of their games.

Quarter-finals
(Single Game) 		Semi-finals
(Single Game) 		Championship final
(Single Game)
         
1 Alberta Golden Bears 1
8 Acadia Axemen 4
8 Acadia Axemen 0
Thursday
5 UNB Varsity Reds 3
4 Queen's Golden Gaels 1
5 UNB Varsity Reds 5
5 UNB Varsity Reds 5
6 Saskatchewan Huskies 3
2 St. Francis Xavier X-Men 4
7 McGill Redmen 1
2 St. Francis Xavier X-Men 0
Friday
6 Saskatchewan Huskies 8
3 York Lions 0
6 Saskatchewan Huskies 1 OT1
Bronze Medal (Single Game)
   
8 Acadia Axemen 7
2 St. Francis Xavier X-Men 3

Bronze game

March 19, 2017
09:30 (local)		Acadia Axemen #87-3
(2-0, 4-2, 1-1)		St. Francis Xavier X-Men #2Aitken Centre, Fredericton
Attendance: 2,624 (80.0%)
Game reference
Robert Steeves (1-1)GoaliesChase Marchand (1-1)Referees:
Korey Bannerman
Colin Watt
Linesmen:
David Geris
Jesse Marquis
M. Clarke (1) (M. Pufahl) - 01:131-0
M. Clarke (2) (M. McNulty) (PP) - 16:012-0
2-120:14 - S. Studnicka (1) (M. Tremaine)
B. Leier (1) (B. Thompson) (SH) - 32:033-1
L. Maaskant (1) (D. Pettersson) - 32:344-1
D. Pettersson (1) (B. Leier, T. Makin) - 33:305-1
5-238:26 - E. Locke (1) (H. Cook, K. Kontos )
D. Pettersson (2) (A. Lepkowski, M. Clarke) - 39:386-2
6-343:25 - N. Pancel (1) (R. Spears, C. Macdonald )
T. Makin (1) (S. Trask, D. Pettersson) - 59:447-3
5 for 10 minPenalties6 for 20 min
34Shots29
Game MVPs: Michael Clarke (ACD) & Eric Locke (SFX)

Championship final

March 19, 2016
1:00 (local)
Sportsnet 360
TVA Sports 2		UNB Varsity Reds #55-3
(2-1, 4-2, 5-3)		Saskatchewan Huskies #6Aitken Centre, Fredericton
Attendance: 3374 (102.9%)
Game reference
Etienne Marcoux (2-0)GoaliesJordon Cooke (2-0)Referees:
Stephen Starzomski
Jonathan Alarie
Linesmen:
Mike MacDonnell
Josh DeYoung
C. Braes (1) (P. Maillet, C. Clappert) - 4:041-0
1-110:47 - C. Gay (1) (unassisted)
M. Simpson (1) (P. Halley, M. Petgrave) - 12:192-1
C. Braes (2) (P. Maillet, C. Clappert) - 23:173-1
C. Braes (3) (P. Maillet, R. Mignardi) (PP) - 26:164-1
4-228:25 - J. Fransoo (C. Gay & A. Johnson) (PP)
4-344:17 - Kohl Bauml (C. Gay & L. McVeigh) (PP)
C. Braes (4) (J. Murray, P. Maillet) (PP) - 48:505-3
6 for 20 minPenalties3 for 6 min
36Shots21
Game MVPs: Cam Braes (UNB) & Connor Gay (USK)

Tournament All-Stars

Philippe Maillet, from the UNB Varsity Reds, was selected as the Major W.J. 'Danny' McLeod Award for U Sports University Cup MVP. Maillet had 4 goals and 6 assist for 10 points in 3 games. 3 of his goals were scored in their quarter-final game vs Queen's[2] (a hat trick) and 4 of his assists were scored in the gold medal game.[3]

Joining Maillet on the tournament all-star team were:[4]
Forward Cam Braes (UNB Varsity Reds)
Forward Levi Cable (Saskatchewan Huskies)
Defenceman Geoff Schemitsch (Acadia Axemen)
Defenceman Jesse Forsberg (Saskatchewan Huskies)
Goalie Étienne Marcoux (UNB Varsity Reds)

References

  1. ↑ "UQTR men's hockey forfeits 20 games due to ineligibility". www.oua.ca. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  2. ↑ Box-score: Quarter-final #2 http://en.usports.ca/championships/mice/2017/boxscores_champ/20170316_cd09.xml
  3. ↑ Box-score: Gold medal game http://en.usports.ca/championships/mice/2017/boxscores_champ/20170319_0d0a.xml
  4. ↑ Gold Medal Summary http://en.usports.ca/sports/mice/2016-17/releases/20170319nhinma
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