Toronto, ON- Something as sports fans that we all love is power rankings. Whether they are daily, weekly, monthly or yearly it does not matter, a true sports fan can’t deny the enjoyment of seeing their team ranked over a rival team. So that’s what we are going to do today but with a little twist.

DISCLAIMER: This is not my ranking system, this was developed by Bob Sturm now of the The Athletic way back in 2002 for the NFL, he brought it back in 2020 and The Athletic NHL used it for their Post-Lockout rankings between 2005 and 2020. In saying that, I am going to take the formula and give it nice U SPORTS Men’s Hockey Twist.

So here are the Ground Rules for the Power Rankings

Win the U SPORTS National Final: 11 Points

Make the U SPORTS National Final: 7 Points

Make U SPORTS Nationals: 5 Points

Make the Conference Final: 3 Points  

Make the Conference Final Four: 2 points

Make the Playoffs: 1 point

There is no double-dipping so the point total each year is what ever tier the team reached. (I.E if they reached the U SPORTS final they get 7 points not 18 which would be every level added together)

Since 2020-21 would have been the start of the newest decade of U SPORTS hockey lets take a look at how these teams fared in the 2010s.

Tier 1: The Heavyweights

1. UNB Reds – 79 Points

2011: AUS Gold, CIS Gold
2012: AUS Gold, CIS 2nd Pool B
2013: AUS Gold, CIS Gold
2014: AUS Semifinalist
2015: AUS Gold, CIS Silver
2016: AUS Silver, CIS Gold
2017: AUS Silver, U SPORTS Gold
2018: AUS Gold, U SPORTS Bronze
2019: AUS Gold, U SPORTS Gold
2020: AUS Gold, Made U SPORTS Championship

Of course we have to start with the UNB Reds. The pride of Fredericton, New Brunswick was Canada’s best university hockey team across the last 10 years and it is hard to argue with it. Just looking at the results you see AUS titles in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2018-20. This goes along with their country leading five U SPORTS titles in a 10 year span in 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017 and 2019.

2. Alberta Golden Bears – 64 Points

2011: Canada West Gold, CIS 3rd in Pool A
2012: Canada West Semifinalist
2013: Canada West Gold, CIS 2nd in Pool A
2014: Canada West Gold, CIS Gold
2015: Canada West Gold, CIS Gold
2016: Canada West Silver, CIS Quarterfinalist
2017: Canada West Gold, U SPORTS Quarterfinalist
2018: Canada West Gold, U SPORTS Gold
2019: Canada West Gold, U SPORTS Silver
2020: Canada West Semifinalist

The Alberta Golden Bears have been the class of Canada West across the last 10 seasons. What more is there to say? 10 Straight Playoff Appearances along with Canada West Titles in, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and U SPORTS Gold Medals in 2014, 2015, and 2018. The Golden Bears are Golden for a reason.

3. Saskatchewan Huskies – 47 Points

2011: Canada West Semifinalist
2012: Canada West Gold, CIS 3rd in Pool A
2013: Canada West Silver, CIS 3rd in Pool A
2014: Canada West Quarterfinalist, CIS Silver
2015: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2016: Canada West Gold, CIS 4th
2017: Canada West Silver, U SPORTS Silver
2018: Canada West Silver, U SPORTS 4th
2019: Canada West Silver, U SPORTS 4th
2020: Canada West Gold, Made U SPORTS Championship

While not quite at the Golden Bears level the Huskies easily clear the bar of being Canada West’s second best program. Playoff appearances in 10 straight years came along with three Canada West titles in 2012, 2016 and 2020 along with U SPORTS Silver Medals in 2014 and 2017.

4. McGill – 39 Points

2011: OUA Gold, CIS Silver
2012: OUA Gold, CIS Gold
2013: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2014: OUA Silver, CIS 2nd in Pool A
2015: OUA 4th
2016: OUA East Semifinalist
2017: OUA Bronze, U SPORTS Quarterfinalist
2018: OUA Gold, U SPORTS Quarterfinalist
2019: OUA East Semifinalist
2020: OUA East Quarterfinalist

McGill has been easily the strongest OUA program in the country across the past decade. Their three Queen’s Cup titles in (2011, 2012, and 2018) along with their 2012 U CUP help stake their claim.

5. St F.X. X-Men – 38 Points

2011: AUS Silver, CIS 2nd Pool A
2012: AUS Quarterfinalist
2013: AUS Quarterfinalist
2014: AUS Quarterfinalist
2015: AUS Semifinalist, CIS Semifinalist
2016: AUS Gold, CIS Silver
2017: AUS Gold, U SPORTS 4th
2018: AUS Silver, U SPORTS Silver
2019: AUS Silver, U SPORTS Bronze
2020: AUS Quarterfinalist

St. Francis Xavier has not hit the ultimate U SPORTS National title goal since winning it all in 2004 but they had a very strong 2010s. 10 straight playoff appearances were punctuated by back to back AUS titles in 2016 and 2017 along with five straight trips to the U SPORTS National Championships between 2015 and 2019 including a pair of silvers in 2016 and 2018 along with a 2019 bronze medal.

6. Acadia Axemen – 32 Points

2011: AUS Semifinalist
2012: AUS Quarterfinalist
2013: AUS Semifinalist
2014: AUS Gold, CIS 3rd in Pool B
2015: AUS Silver, CIS Quarterfinalist
2016: AUS Quarterfinalist
2017: AUS Bronze U SPORTS Bronze
2018: AUS Bronze, U SPORTS Quarterfinalist
2019: AUS Quarterfinalist
2020: AUS Silver, Made U SPORTS Championship

The Axemen had quite a few close calls in the 2010s but were only able to pick up one championship in the decade. Across 10 playoff appearances the Axemen made the National Championship 5 times between 2014 and 2020 and did pick up hardware including AUS Silver in 2015 and 2020 along with AUS Bronze in 2017 and 2018 and U SPORTS Bronze in 2017. Their peak those was their Gold Medal in the 2014 AUS Championship.

7. Saint Mary’s Huskies – 32 Points

2011: AUS Semifinalist
2012: AUS Semifinalist
2013: AUS Silver, CIS Silver
2014: AUS Silver
2015: AUS Semifinalist
2016: AUS Semifinalist, CIS Bronze
2017: AUS 4th
2018: AUS 4th
2019: AUS Semifinalist
2020: AUS Bronze, Made U SPORTS Championship

Saint Mary’s had an overall a strong overall 10 years. Another school that made the playoffs each season the Huskies never won a title in the decade but picked up a lot of hardware including AUS Silver in 2013 and 2014 along with U SPORTS Silver in 2013 and U SPORTS Bronze in 2016 and AUS Bronze in 2020. This was a strong run that really started before the turn of the 2010s with back to back AUS titles in 2009 and 2010 and a U SPORTS Gold in 2010.

Tier 2: The Light Heavyweights

8. Western Mustangs – 28 Points

2011: OUA Silver, CIS 2nd in Pool B
2012: OUA Silver, CIS Silver
2013: OUA West Semifinalist
2014: OUA West Semifinalist
2015: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2016: OUA Silver, CIS Quarterfinalist
2017: Missed Playoffs
2018: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2019: OUA 4th
2020: OUA Bronze, Made U SPORTS Championship

The Western Mustangs had a very strong decade even if they never won a title. They started it off with OUA Silver in 2011 and 2012 along with CIS Silver in 2012. They made the playoffs multiple times in between and ended it this year with a wild run to the OUA West Bronze Medal upsetting the 1^st and 2^nd seed teams as the 8^th seed in the OUA West division.

9. Calgary Dinos – 28 Points

2011: Canada West Silver, CIS 3rd in Pool B
2012: Canada West Silver
2013: Canada West Semifinalist
2014: Canada West Silver
2015: Canada West Silver, CIS Quarterfinalist
2016: Canada West Semifinalist
2017: Canada West Semifinalist
2018: Canada West Semifinalist
2019: Canada West Semifinalist
2020: Canada West Semifinalist

The Calgary Dinos have not had a title since 1996 but they had a strong overall decade. Backboned by 10 straight playoff appearances Calgary hit highs of a Canada West Silver in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015 with the 2011 and 2015 Dino teams earning U SPORTS National berths.

10. UQTR Patriotes – 26 Points

2011: OUA East Finalist
2012: OUA Bronze, CIS 3rd in Pool B
2013: OUA Gold, CIS 2nd in Pool B
2014: OUA East Semifinalist
2015: OUA Silver, CIS 4th
2016: OUA Gold, CIS Quarterfinalist
2017: OUA East Semifinalist
2018: Missed Playoffs
2019: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2020: OUA East Semifinalist

The Patriotes have had some low moments including the ineligible player debacle in 2018 but they had a strong decade overall. Four trips to the U SPORTS nationals and Queen’s Cup titles in 2013 and 2016 punctuate one of the OUA’s better overall results.

11. Guelph Gryphons – 24 points

2011: OUA West Finalist
2012: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2013: OUA West Semifinalist
2014: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2015: OUA Gold, CIS Bronze
2016: OUA 4th
2017: OUA West Semifinalist
2018: OUA West Semifinalist
2019: OUA Silver, U SPORTS Quarterfinalist
2020: OUA Gold, Made U SPORTS Championship

The Guelph Gryphons had a very successful decade and in the last two seasons have been the OUAs best team. Their first Queen’s Cup title of the decade came in 2015 and then in 2019 they reached the finals and settled for silver before returning to the finals this past season to take a 3OT win for the Queen’s Cup.

The Middleweights

12. Carleton Ravens – 23 Points

2011: OUA East Semifinalist
2012: OUA East Semifinalist
2013: OUA East Finalist
2014: OUA Bronze, CIS 3rd in Pool A
2015: OUA East Semifinalist
2016: OUA Bronze, CIS Quarterfinalist
2017: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2018: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2019: OUA Bronze, U SPORTS Quarterfinalist
2020: OUA East Semifinalist

The Carleton Ravens have not reached that title peak in the last 10 years but they have come so close so many times. They have been forced to settle for OUA Bronze in 2014, 2016 and 2019 which earned them three trips to the National Championships.

13. Windsor Lancers – 22 Points

2011: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2012: OUA 4th
2013: OUA Silver
2014: OUA Gold, CIS 2nd in Pool B
2015: OUA Bronze, CIS Quarterfinalist
2016: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2017: OUA 4th
2018: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2019: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2020: OUA West Quarterfinalist

The Windsor Lancers had a consistent decade that was relatively strong. They made the playoffs every season and reached the National Championship in 2014 and 2015 with the 2014 Queen’s Cup title their shining moment of the 2010s.

14. Queen’s Gaels – 18 Points

2011: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2012: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2013: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2014: OUA East Semifinalist
2015: OUA East Semifinalist
2016: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2017: OUA Silver, U SPORTS Quarterfinalist
2018: OUA East Semifinalist
2019: OUA Gold, U SPORTS Quarterfinalist
2020: OUA East Quarterfinalist

The Queen’s Gaels had a really respectable decade making the playoffs in every season that had some big highs. The first being in 2017 with the Gaels reaching the Queen’s Cup final before losing to York and  in 2019 the Gaels reached the Final again, this time beating the Guelph Gryphons to win the Queen’s Cup

15. UBC Thunderbirds – 15 Points

2011: Missed Playoffs
2012: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2013: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2014: Canada West Semifinalist
2015: Canada West Semifinalist
2016: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2017: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2018: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2019: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2020: Canada West Silver, Made U SPORTS Championship

For most of the decade the Thunderbirds were fine but never quite hit their stride, with playoff appearances in every season since 2012 but only semifinal appearances in 2014 and 2015. This past season the 5^th place Thunderbirds surprised everybody storming their way to the Canada West Final and taking the silver which qualified them for the Nationals that never happened.

16. Concordia Stingers – 13 Points

2011: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2012: Missed Playoffs
2013: Missed Playoffs
2014: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2015: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2016: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2017: OUA East Semifinalist
2018: OUA Bronze, U SPORTS Quarterfinalist
2019: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2020: OUA 4th

Concordia had some highs and lows across the decade. The program made the playoffs 8 times and peaked in 2018 with an OUA Bronze Medal which earned them a trip to the U SPORTS National Championship.

17. York Lions – 13 points

2011: Missed Playoffs
2012: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2013: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2014: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2015: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2016: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2017: OUA Gold, U SPORTS Quarterfinalist
2018: OUA 4th
2019: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2020: Missed Playoffs

The York Lions across the 2010s made the playoffs seven times with the highlight of their decade of course being their 2017 Queen’s Cup Championship.

Tier 4: The Welterweights

18. UPEI Panthers – 13 Points

2011: AUS Quarterfinalist
2012: AUS Semifinalist
2013: AUS Semifinalist
2014: AUS Quarterfinalist
2015: AUS Quarterfinalist
2016: AUS Semifinalist
2017: AUS Quarterfinalist
2018: AUS Quarterfinalist
2019: AUS Quarterfinalist
2020: AUS Quarterfinalist

The UPEI Panthers decade was straightforward. 10 straight playoff appearances but reaching only as far as the AUS semi-final in 2012, 2013, and 2016.

19. Manitoba Bisons  – 13 Points

2011: Canada West Semifinalist
2012: Canada West Semifinalist
2013: Canada West Semifinalist
2014: Canada West Semifinalist
2015: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2016: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2017: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2018: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2019: Missed Playoffs
2020: Canada West Quarterfinalist

The Bisons have consistently iced good teams in the 2010s including the top team in the regular season in 2012 but have never quite been able to finish with semifinal losses in 2011 through 2014 representing the high point of their decade.

20. Brock Badgers – 12 Points

2011: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2012: OUA West Semifinalist
2013: Missed Playoffs
2014: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2015: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2016: Missed Playoffs
2017: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2018: OUA Silver, U SPORTS Quarterfinalist
2019: OUA West Semifinalist
2020: OUA West Semifinalist

Brock had a decade that is not out of the ordinary. Good seasons most years, make the playoffs 8 out of 10 years. In 2018 the Badgers had their magical run going all the way to the Queen’s Cup final for the first time since 2008 and getting an OUA Silver Medal and a trip to the U SPORTS nationals.

21. Ottawa Gee-Gees – 12 Points

2011: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2012: OUA East Semifinalist
2013: OUA East Semifinalist
2014: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2015: Program Suspended
2016: Program Suspended
2017: Program Relaunched- OUA East Quarterfinalist
2018: OUA East Semifinalist
2019: OUA East Semifinalist
2020: OUA Silver, Made U SPORTS Championship

The Gee-Gees total could potentially have been different, had they not withdrawn from the OUA in the middle of the decade but nevertheless their peak came this past season with a wild run to the Queen’s Cup Final and a trip to the national championships.

22. Mount Royal Cougars – 12 Points

2013: Missed Playoffs
2014: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2015: Canada West Semifinalist
2016: Canada West Semifinalist
2017: Canada West Semifinalist
2018: Canada West Semifinalist
2019: Canada West Semifinalist
2020: Canada West Quarterfinalist

Since joining Canada West in 2013 the Cougars have never finished above 3^rd in the division but they have made the playoffs in all but one year reaching the Canada West Semi-finals 5 times in a row between 2015 and 2019.

23. Moncton Aigles Bleus – 12 Points

2011: Missed Playoffs
2012: AUS Silver
2013: AUS Quarterfinalist
2014: AUS Semifinalist
2015: AUS Quarterfinalist
2016: AUS Quarterfinalist
2017: AUS Quarterfinalist
2018: Missed Playoffs
2019: AUS Quarterfinalist
2020: AUS 4th

Moncton had an up and down decade. They hit a low in 2018 with a 3-24-3 record but had some highs including an AUS Silver Medal in 2012 and a 4^th place finish this past season.

24. Waterloo Warriors – 10 Points

2011: OUA West Semifinalist
2012: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2013: OUA Silver, CIS 3rd in Pool A
2014: Missed Playoffs
2015: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2016: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2017: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2018: Missed Playoffs
2019: Missed Playoffs
2020: Missed Playoffs

The Waterloo Warriors have struggled of late, missing the playoffs in the previous three seasons but they were consistent in the early half of the 2010s. They had their strongest showing with an OUA Silver Medal in 2013 that earned then a Nationals berth.

25. Ryerson Rams – 9 Points

2011: Missed Playoffs
2012: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2013: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2014: OUA West Semifinalist
2015: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2016: OUA West Semifinalist
2017: OUA West Semifinalist
2018: OUA West Semifinalist
2019: OUA West Semifinalist
2020: OUA West Semifinalist

The Ryerson Rams have made the Playoffs every season since 2011 but have only ever reached the OUA West Semifinals losing in them six out of the last seven seasons. Perhaps the ultimate “what could have been” team across the last 5 seasons.

The Lightweights

26. Lakehead Thunderwolves – 9 Points

2011: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2012: OUA West Semifinalist
2013: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2014: OUA 4th
2015: OUA West Semifinalist
2016: Missed Playoffs
2017: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2018: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2019: Missed Playoffs
2020: OUA West Quarterfinalist

Lakehead’s last true peak came in the 2010 playoffs when they picked up the OUA Silver Medal and got a trip to the National Championship. Since I can’t count that they end up with 9 points off of some strong seasons but also some upsets, losing in the quarterfinals as a 3^rd seed multiple times.

27. Ontario Tech Ridgebacks – 9 Points

2011: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2012: Missed Playoffs
2013: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2014: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2015: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2016: OUA East Semifinalist
2017: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2018: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2019: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2020: OUA East Quarterfinalist

The Ridgebacks have found minimal playoff success in the OUA but they are a grinding team that each of the 9 times they have made the playoffs truly have made their opponents work to get to the next round. Something they did themselves in 2016 with their best result reaching the OUA East Semifinal.

28. Laurier Goldenhawks – 8 Points

2011: OUA West Semifinalist
2012: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2013: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2014: Missed Playoffs
2015: Missed Playoffs
2016: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2017: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2018: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2019: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2020: OUA West Quarterfinalist

Laurier is pretty straightforward, the Goldenhawks made the playoffs for 8 of 10 seasons and bowed out in the first round seven times. Sometimes as the lower season but sometimes like 2018 being swept as the higher seed in 4^th place.

29. Toronto Varsity Blues – 8 Points

2011: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2012: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2013: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2014: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2015: OUA West Semifinalist
2016: OUA West Semifinalist
2017: Missed Playoffs
2018: Missed Playoffs
2019: OUA West Quarterfinalist
2020: OUA West Quarterfinalist

One of the teams with the most history in U SPORTS, the Blues had an ok decade. They made the OUA playoffs 8 times but only got as far as the OUA West Semifinals in 2015 and 2016. 2020 looked to have good hopes but the Blues collapsed against the Western Mustangs losing back to back games 2 and 3 in their Quarterfinal Matchup.

30. Nipissing Lakers – 7 Points

2011: OUA East Semifinalist
2012: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2013: OUA East Semifinalist
2014: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2015: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2016: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2017: Missed Playoffs
2018: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2019: Missed Playoffs
2020: Missed Playoffs

The Lakers are another team often stuck in the mushy middle of the lower half of the OUA. Never quite the lowest ranked team but also not winning a playoff game since 2013 despite qualifying in 7 seasons across the decade.

31. Lethbridge Pronghorns – 6 Points

2011: Missed Playoffs
2012: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2013: Missed Playoffs
2014: Missed Playoffs
2015: Missed Playoffs
2016: Missed Playoffs
2017: Missed Playoffs
2018: Missed Playoffs
2019: Canada West Quarterfinalist, U SPORTS Quarterfinalist
2020: Missed Playoffs

Being totally honest the Pronghorns get a “hosted the Nationals in 2019” boost as they only made the playoffs twice in the decade. They also do not exist anymore.

32. Laurentian Voyageurs – 5 Points

2014: Missed Playoffs
2015: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2016: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2017: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2018: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2019: OUA East Quarterfinalist
2020: Missed Playoffs

Laurentian has only been in the OUA East since 2014 and have always had to fight for a seed across 5 playoff appearances which in 2020 they gave up to the RMC Paladins.

33. Dalhousie Tigers – 2 Points

2011: AUS Quarterfinalist
2012: Missed Playoffs
2013: Missed Playoffs
2014: Missed Playoffs
2015: Missed Playoffs
2016: Missed Playoffs
2017: Missed Playoffs
2018: AUS Quarterfinalist
2019: Missed Playoffs
2020: Missed Playoffs

There is not another way to describe Dalhousie outside of struggling. The Tigers have not have not had a winning season since their run to the AUS Final in 2004. In the last decade, they reached the playoffs only twice falling in the quarterfinal in 2011 and 2018.

34. Regina Cougars – 1 point

2011: Missed Playoffs
2012: Missed Playoffs
2013: Canada West Quarterfinalist
2014: Missed Playoffs
2015: Missed Playoffs
2016: Missed Playoffs
2017: Missed Playoffs
2018: Missed Playoffs
2019: Missed Playoffs
2020: Missed Playoffs

The Regina Cougars program is a long way away from the 1978 through 1980 championships. The program’s only high of the decade was a 2013 playoff appearance in which they got swept.

35. RMC Paladins – 1 Point

2011: Missed Playoffs
2012: Missed Playoffs
2013: Missed Playoffs
2014: Missed Playoffs
2015: Missed Playoffs
2016: Missed Playoffs
2017: Missed Playoffs
2018: Missed Playoffs
2019: Missed Playoffs
2020: OUA East Quarterfinalist

I feel bad doing this to the Paladins but it is true that until they managed to snag the 2020 OUA East 8^th seed they missed the playoffs in every other year so unfortunately, they only get a single point.

So that is all of U SPORTS Men’s Hockey ranked by their success across the last 10 years. Undoubtedly this formula is not perfect but I think it gives an idea of how truly great some programs have been across the last 10 years. What do you think? Is your school higher or lower than you expected? Let me know in the comments below.

Cover Photo Credits: The Canadian Press, U SPORTS, McGill Athletics, Thunderwolves Hockey, UNB Athletics