TORONTO, ON – As Stephane Huard’s shot skipped past UBC’s Cole Schweibuss and put McGill up 3-2 in the U SPORTS Men’s Hockey quarterfinal, it marked the next critical era for one of Canada’s oldest men’s hockey programs.
Founded in 1877, the McGill hockey team has experienced dozens of great eras. Although it boasts just a single championship from 2012, it established itself as one of the great university hockey powers over two centuries and took strides in the right direction on Friday night.
While the program has gone through a dark few years, not qualifying for the U CUP since 2018 and not making a final four since 2014, the 2024 tournament sees the return of its prowess and a chance to establish itself as a consistent contender.
Huard’s goal proved the eventual winner, clinching McGill a rematch of the OUA East Final against the UQTR Patriotes in the U SPORTS semifinal, with their last time among the top four in 2014 when the U CUP featured a six-team tournament and no semifinal.
Through the quarterfinal matchup with the Canada West champion Thunderbirds, McGill matched pace with pace and made the most of their chances despite often having to rely on an outstanding performance from goaltender Alexis Shank, who ended the night with 35 saves, outduelling Schweibuss at the other end.
“You don’t know what it’s like to play at the [U CUP] until you’re here. You’re here with all the best teams in the country; every single team is good, and there’s no opportunity to take your foot off the gas,” said head coach Dave Uruqhart, who played with McGill from 2005-2008, captaining them in his senior season. “You’ll learn that pretty fast, and at the start of the game, we may have some jitters.”
Maturing Redbirds group ready for U SPORTS semis
For a fresh-faced Redbirds group that has never been to the national championship before, it’s a milestone moment. After years of heartbreak and disappointment in the OUA East playoffs, the Redbirds looked like a veteran team against UBC, pushing themselves through the final moments and seeing out a one-goal lead like a team that’s done it before at this stage of the season.
“Today was about living to fight another day, focusing on the next game, and remembering that you don’t have to score on every shift,” defenceman Scott Walford said, citing NFL coaching legend Bill Belichick. “All we can do is play a mature game, and you can’t win until you keep away from losing, so that’s what we brought today.”
Friday marked the end and the halt in an era that’s seen a dip in results for the Redbirds as they reestablished themselves among premier hockey schools, which holds extra importance.
While every team in U SPORTS can dream and work towards playing in the U CUP semifinals, few will resonate worldwide as McGill does. With an extensive alumni group and an intensive alumni connections program, nearly every former McGill player knew the importance of this year’s return to the U CUP.
“We were getting texts from alumni in Europe, the U.S., Western Canada, Montreal, Toronto, the Prairies, and all over, so we felt a lot of love today,” Urquhart said, his smile brimming with pride as an alumnus himself. “When you’re a part of such a storied program, you get that alumni, and it just becomes such a big family.”
Not only did the former team members zone in on the performance, but a sizeable McGill contingent made their way out to the former Maple Leaf Gardens to watch the game, reconnecting with their institution that now boasts a student body of roughly 40,000.
So, while the McGill Fight Band, which enchanted the stands on Friday, may not be in the crowd for the full tournament, the support from the alumni and the importance of writing the latest chapter in McGill hockey history remain—not only for the players but also for a coach who never got the chance to raise the national title.
“When I was a player, I probably didn’t handle it as well as some of these guys do now, but the biggest thing is being in the moment and enjoying it,” Urquhart said, knowing even more eyes would be on the semifinal matchup. “When you enjoy the moment, and you’re focused on the present, that’s what can get you to success.”