Misplaced Pages

Toronto Varsity Blues
University	University of Toronto
Association	U Sports, CUFLA
Conference	OUA
Athletic director	Beth Ali
Location	Toronto, Ontario
Varsity teams	43
Football stadium	Varsity Stadium
Arena	Varsity Arena (Hockey)
Field	Dan Lang Field (Baseball)
Other venues	Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport (Basketball & Volleyball)
Symbol	True Blue
Mascot	True Blue
Nickname	Varsity Blues
Fight song	The Blue and White
Colours	Blue and White
Website	www.varsityblues.ca

The Toronto Varsity Blues are the intercollegiate sports program at the University of Toronto. Its 43 athletic teams regularly participate in competitions held by Ontario University Athletics and U Sports. The Varsity Blues trace their founding to 1877, with the formation of the men's football team. Since 1908, Varsity Blues athletes have won numerous medals in Olympic and Paralympic Games and have also long competed in International University Sports Federation championships, Commonwealth Games, and Pan American Games.

Varsity sports

The Varsity Blues program has teams in badminton, baseball, basketball, cross country running, curling, fastpitch softball, fencing, field hockey, figure skating, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, mountain biking, nordic skiing, rowing, rugby, soccer, squash, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, water polo, and wrestling.

Men's basketball

The Varsity Blues men's basketball team competes in the 18-team Ontario University Athletics conference, in the Central division. The team has won 14 Wilson Cup conference championships, second only to the Western Mustangs, including the first ever awarded for the 1908–09 season. The team most recently won the Wilson Cup in 1995. The team has yet to play in a national championship gold medal game. The team's head coach has been Madhav Trivedi since 2022.

Women's basketball

The Varsity Blues women's basketball team competes in the 18-team Ontario University Athletics conference, in the Central division. The team has won nine Critelli Cup conference championships, most recently in 2002. The team won a national championship in 1986 and also won silver medals in 1994 and 1996. Tamara Tatham was appointed the team's head coach in April 2021 after serving as the interim head coach during the 2020-21 season.

Football

The Varsity Blues football team was first organized in 1877 and hold the distinction of winning the first Grey Cup in 1909 and the first Vanier Cup in 1965. The team won national dominion championships in 1895, 1905, 1909, 1910, 1911, and 1920 when university teams played against other amateur clubs. The team also won the first Yates Cup conference championship in 1898 and has won 25 overall, which are the second-most in U Sports, but have not won since 1993, when they also won the 29th Vanier Cup.

Men's ice hockey

The Varsity Blues men's ice hockey team plays in the Ontario University Athletics conference and is coached by Ryan Medel. The team is based at Varsity Arena. The current Varsity Blues have won ten U Sports Championships. The men's ice hockey team was founded in 1891. The Varsity Blues senior team won the Allan Cup in 1921 and 1927 and won the gold medal at the 1928 Winter Olympics. Conn Smythe (U of T 1920), the principal owner of the NHL Toronto Maple Leafs (1927–61) and builder of Maple Leaf Gardens (1931), chose Royal Blue and White as his team's colours to honour his alma mater. The Maple Leafs are popularly known as "The Blue and White" by many of their older fans.

Women's ice hockey

The Varsity Blues women's ice hockey team competes in the 18-team Ontario University Athletics conference, in the OUA East division. The team has won 19 McCaw Cup conference championships, most recently in 2023. The team won a national championship in 2001 and also won silver medals in 1998 and 2003. Vicky Sunohara has served as the team's head coach since the 2011–12 season.

Nordic skiing

The Nordic skiing team competes against Ontario universities each year at the OUA Championships in February after qualifying races earlier in the season. The team has steadily grown in size and experience since Hans Fischer stepped up to the position of coach in the 2005–06 season.

Rowing

The University of Toronto Rowing Club represents the Varsity Blues at local and international regattas. The UTRC was founded on February 10, 1897, and throughout the years has had many successes, including Royal Canadian Henley Regatta victories, OUA titles, and a silver medal at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Men's soccer

The Varsity Blues men's soccer team competes in the 18-team Ontario University Athletics conference, in the East division. The team has won 50 Blackwood Cup conference championships, including seasons where they were co-champions and division champions. The team won a national championship in 1988. Ilya Orlov has been the team's head coach since January 2019.

Women's soccer

The Varsity Blues women's soccer team competes in the 18-team Ontario University Athletics conference, in the East division. The team has yet to win a conference championship or a national championship. The team is led by associate head coach Angelo Cavalluzzo.

Women's track & field

Middle and long distance runner Sasha Gollish was named 2015 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Female Athlete of the Year (track events) for her performance at the CIS Championships, winning three gold medals in the 1000m, 3000m, and 4x800 m relay events and two silver medals in the 600m and 1500m events, the most individual medals ever won by a distance athlete. She was also named MVP of the 2015 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Championships after winning three individual gold medals in the 600m, 1500m, and 3000m events. In November 2015, she was named one of the Top 8 Academic All-Canadians by Canadian Interuniversity Sport.

Men's volleyball

The Varsity Blues men's volleyball team competes in the 13-team Ontario University Athletics conference. The team has won 15 Forsyth Cup conference championships, most recently in 2004. The team most recently won the Wilson Cup in 1995. In the national championship tournament, the team won a silver medal in 1991 and a bronze medal in 1985. The team has been led by head coach John Barrett since the 2011-12 season.

Women's volleyball

The Varsity Blues women's volleyball team competes in the 14-team Ontario University Athletics conference. The team has won 12 Quigley Cup conference championships, most recently in 2020. The team won a national championship in 2016, becoming the first OUA team to win since 1976, and also won a silver medal in 1971. Kristine Drakich has served as the team's head coach since the 1989-90 season and was named U Sports coach of the year in 2015.

Awards and honours

Lieutenant Governor Athletic Awards

Five Varsity Blues athletes have won Lois and Doug Mitchell U Sports Athletes of the Year Awards.

• 1996: Justine Ellison (Basketball)
• 1998: Foy Williams (Track & Field)
• 2002: Elizabeth Warden (Swimming)
• 2016: Kylie Masse (Swimming)
• 2023: Gabriel Mastromatteo (Swimming)

Athletes of the year

See also

• List of University of Toronto people

References

1. ^ "Football History". Toronto Varsity Blues. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
2. University of Toronto Olympians
3. "2023-24 OUA Men's Basketball Standings". Ontario University Athletics. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
4. ^ "Awards". Toronto Varsity Blues. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
5. "Madhav Trivedi". Toronto Varsity Blues. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
6. "2023-24 OUA Women's Basketball Standings". Ontario University Athletics. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
7. ^ "Awards". Toronto Varsity Blues. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
8. "Tamara Tatham". Toronto Varsity Blues. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
9. ^ "Toronto Varsity Blues All-Time Game Results" (PDF). Toronto Varsity Blues. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
10. www.azhockey.com
11. Toronto Marlboros history
12. "2023-24 OUA Women's ice hockey standings". Ontario University Athletics. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
13. ^ "Awards". Toronto Varsity Blues. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
14. "Vicky Sunohara". Toronto Varsity Blues. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
15. "2023-24 OUA Men's Soccer Standings". Ontario University Athletics. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
16. ^ "Awards". Toronto Varsity Blues. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
17. "Ilya Orlov". Toronto Varsity Blues. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
18. "2023-24 OUA Women's Soccer Standings". Ontario University Athletics. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
19. "Awards". Toronto Varsity Blues. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
20. "Angelo Cavalluzzo". Toronto Varsity Blues. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
21. ^ "Sasha Gollish". July 3, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
22. "Sasha Gollish wins Indianapolis Monumental Half, breaks course record," Canadian Running Magazine.
23. "Distance runner Sasha Gollish, 33, recognized as Athlete of the Year", City Centre Mirror.
24. "Sasha Gollish honoured as one of the Top 8 Academic All-Canadians," U of T Engineering News.
25. "Men's Volleyball Standings". U Sports. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
26. ^ "Awards". Toronto Varsity Blues. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
27. "CIS Championship Results" (PDF). usports.ca. U Sports. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
28. "John Barrett". Toronto Varsity Blues. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
29. "Women's Volleyball Standings". U Sports. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
30. ^ "Awards". Toronto Varsity Blues. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
31. "Tamara Tatham". Toronto Varsity Blues. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
32. "Awards Athletes of the Year". U Sports. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
33. "Hall of Fame: Elizabeth Warden". varsityblues.ca/. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
34. "24th Annual BLG Awards: Toronto's Masse, Calgary's Buckley named CIS athletes of the year". presto-en.usports.ca/. March 2, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
35. Helen Picard (March 31, 2014). "Kesteris, Chetrat named Varsity Blues athletes of the year". thevarsity.ca/. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
36. Braden Keith (April 1, 2017). "KYLIE MASSE NAMED UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO ATHLETE OF THE YEAR". swimswam.com/. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
37. "STAFFORD, THOMSON NAMED VARSITY BLUES ATHLETES OF THE YEAR". varsityblues.ca/. April 8, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2021.

External links

• Official website

v t e University of Toronto
Campuses	St George Scarborough Mississauga
Colleges	Innis Knox Massey New Regis St. Michael's Trinity University Victoria Emmanuel Woodsworth Wycliffe
Faculties	Applied Science and Engineering Arts and Science Astronomy and Astrophysics Architecture, Landscape and Design Medieval Studies Mathematics Public Health Dentistry Fields Institute Information Law Medicine Global Affairs Music Pharmacy Mediaeval Studies Public Policy and Governance Education Child Study Management Theology
Places	Libraries Gerstein Mississauga Robarts Thomas Fisher Annesley Hall Back Campus Fields Bahen Centre Chestnut Residence Convocation Hall Goldring Centre Graduate House Hart House Koffler Student Centre Massey Building Newman Centre Philosopher's Walk President's Estate Queen's Park Soldiers' Tower 1 Spadina Crescent Stewart Observatory Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre Varsity Arena Varsity Stadium
Culture	Coat of arms Students' Union The Varsity The Newspaper The Medium Massey Lectures Watts Lectures CIUT-FM Hart House Theatre Hart House Review Varsity Blues Football Men's ice hockey Women's ice hockey Rowing Men's soccer Jennings Cup Blue Sky Solar Racing Toronto School
Related	Press Schools Theoretical Astrophysics Koffler Scientific Reserve SciNet Consortium University Health Network Unity Health Toronto
People	Alumni Faculty Presidents Chancellors

v t e Sports teams based in Ontario
Australian football	AFLO Central Blues Etobicoke Kangaroos Grand River Gargoyles Hamilton Wildcats High Park Demons Ottawa Swans Toronto Downtown Dingos Toronto Eagles Toronto Rebels
Baseball	MLB Toronto Blue Jays Frontier League Ottawa Titans IBL Barrie Baycats Brantford Red Sox Chatham-Kent Barnstormers Guelph Royals Hamilton Cardinals Kitchener Panthers London Majors Toronto Maple Leafs Welland Jackfish
Basketball	NBA Toronto Raptors WNBA Toronto Tempo (beginning in 2026) NBA G League Raptors 905 BSL KW Titans London Lightning Sudbury Five Windsor Express CEBL Brampton Honey Badgers Niagara River Lions Ottawa BlackJacks Scarborough Shooting Stars
Esports	CDL Toronto Ultra OWL Toronto Defiant
Football	CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats Ottawa Redblacks Toronto Argonauts CJFL GTA Grizzlies Hamilton Hurricanes London Beefeaters Ottawa Sooners Quinte Skyhawks St. Clair Fratmen QJFL Cumberland Panthers Ottawa Junior Riders
Ice hockey	NHL Ottawa Senators Toronto Maple Leafs PWHL Ottawa Charge Toronto Sceptres AHL Belleville Senators Toronto Marlies OHL Barrie Colts Guelph Storm Brantford Bulldogs Kingston Frontenacs Kitchener Rangers London Knights Mississauga Steelheads Niagara IceDogs North Bay Battalion Oshawa Generals Ottawa 67's Owen Sound Attack Peterborough Petes Sarnia Sting Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Sudbury Wolves Windsor Spitfires Other junior leagues CCHL CCHL2 CPJHL GMHL GOJHL LJHL NOJHL OJHL PJHL SIJHL
Lacrosse	NLL Toronto Rock Ottawa Black Bears
Roller derby	WFTDA Forest City Roller Derby Hammer City Roller Derby Hogtown Roller Derby Ottawa Valley Roller Derby Renegade Derby Dames Royal City Roller Derby Toronto Roller Derby Tri-City Roller Derby Windsor Roller Derby
Rugby league	Toronto Wolfpack
Rugby union	MLR Toronto Arrows NWL Ontario Ontario U23 Ontario U20
Ringette	NRL Cambridge Turbos Nepean Ravens Waterloo Wildfire
Soccer	MLS Toronto FC CPL Atlético Ottawa Forge FC York United FC NSL AFC Toronto Ottawa Rapid FC MLSNP Toronto FC II USL2 Thunder Bay Chill L1O Alliance United FC Burlington SC Darby FC FC London Guelph United F.C. Hamilton United Master's FA North Mississauga SC North Toronto Nitros Oakville SC Pickering FC ProStars FC Scrosoppi FC Sigma FC Simcoe County Rovers FC St. Catharines Roma Wolves Toronto Skillz FC Unionville Milliken SC Vaughan Azzurri Waterloo United Windsor City FC Woodbridge Strikers L1OW Guelph United F.C. NDC Ontario Tecumseh SC L1Q Ottawa South United CSL Brantford Galaxy FC Continentals Hamilton City SC Scarborough SC Serbian White Eagles
Swimming	ISL Toronto Titans
Ultimate	AUDL Toronto Rush
U Sports	Brock Badgers Carleton Ravens Guelph Gryphons Lakehead Thunderwolves Laurentian Voyageurs McMaster Marauders Nipissing Lakers Ontario Tech Ridgebacks Ottawa Gee-Gees Queen's Golden Gaels Royal Military College Paladins TMU Bold Trent Excalibur Toronto Varsity Blues Waterloo Warriors Western Mustangs Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks Windsor Lancers York Lions

• Toronto Varsity Blues
• U Sports teams
• University of Toronto
• Sports clubs and teams in Toronto