The St. Francis Xavier X-Women ice hockey team plays for St. Francis Xavier University, located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. The team competes in the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) conference of U Sports where they were an inaugural varsity member of U Sports women's ice hockey in the 1997âÂÂ98 season. Representing St. Francis Xavier Athletics, the X-Women have won the most AUS championships with 12 conference championship wins, most recently in 2025.
History
2010âÂÂ11 season
During the 2010âÂÂ11 season, the X-Women remained undefeated through the AUS regular schedule (24-0) and playoffs (3-0). The team won their first conference title since 2007âÂÂ08. On March 14, 2011, the X-Women played in the national championship game for the first time. However, the squad was bested by the McGill Martlets in a 5âÂÂ2 defeat. The silver medal finish is the program's highest in the U Sports women's ice hockey championship tournament.
Recent results
Prior to the 2013âÂÂ14 season, AUS teams played a round robin tournament with six teams split into two groups (two games played each). The winners of those games played for the AUS championship. Starting in 2013âÂÂ14, the AUS had teams play three-game series with seeding with the AUS championship also being awarded after a three-game series. Canadian Interuniversity Sport changed its name to U Sports in 2016. With the addition of the UNB Reds for the 2018âÂÂ19 season, all AUS teams went from playing 24 regular season games to playing 28 games.
The 2019âÂÂ20 team won the AUS championship after finishing the regular season on a 12-game winning streak and finished 4âÂÂ0 in the AUS playoffs. In the 2020 national championship, the X-Women were seeded third and defeated the Montreal Carabins in the quarterfinal. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, the remainder of the tournament was cancelled, bringing a halt to a promising finish for the team.
All-time scoring leaders
Awards and honours
U Sports
U Sports was known as the Canadian Interuniversity Athletics Union (CIAU; ) until 2001 and as Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS; ) from 2001 until the adoption of the current name in 2016.
Brodrick Trophy
The Brodrick Trophy is awarded to the player of the year in U Sports women's ice hockey. From 2017 to 2020, St. FX produced three Brodrick Trophy winners. Sarah Bujold (2016âÂÂ17) and Daley Oddy (2017âÂÂ18) represented back-to-back wins, while Tyra Meropoulis earned the honour in 2020. The first player in program history to capture the Brodrick Trophy was Brayden Ferguson, reaching the pinnacle in 2007âÂÂ08.
2007âÂÂ08: Brayden Ferguson
2016âÂÂ17: Sarah Bujold
2017âÂÂ18: Daley Oddy
2019âÂÂ20: Tyra Meropoulis
Rookie of the Year
The U Sports Rookie of the Year Award in women's hockey recognizes a "first-year player who has exhibited exemplary skill and leadership."
2010âÂÂ11: Alex Normore
2021âÂÂ22: Abby Lewis
All-Canadians
All-Canadian honours are awarded by U Sports to the most outstanding regular season players in women's ice hockey.
First Team
1998âÂÂ99: Leanne MacDonald (D)
2000âÂÂ01: Leanne MacDonald (D)
2007âÂÂ08: Brayden Ferguson (F)
2010âÂÂ11: Suzanne Fenerty (D)
2011âÂÂ12: Suzanne Fenerty (D), Alex Normore (F)
2013âÂÂ14: Alex Normore (F)
2016âÂÂ17: Sarah Bujold (F)
2018âÂÂ19: Lindsey Donovan (D)
2019âÂÂ20: Lindsey Donovan (D), Tyra Meropoulis (F)
Second Team
2005âÂÂ06: Rebecca Davies (F)
2006âÂÂ07: Marilynn Hay (D)
2007âÂÂ08: Marilynn Hay (D)
2010âÂÂ11: Alex Normore (F)
2012âÂÂ13: Alex Normore (F)
2013âÂÂ14: Jenna Pitts (D)
2014âÂÂ15: Alex Normore (F)
All-Rookies
U Sports All-Rookie Teams have recognized outstanding first-year players of the regular season since 2003âÂÂ04.
2003âÂÂ04: Katie Barrett (D), Rebecca Davies (F)
2005âÂÂ06: Laura Grant (D)
2009âÂÂ10: Abygail Laking (F)
2010âÂÂ11: Alex Normore (F), Jenna Pitts (D)
2017âÂÂ18: Emerson Elliott (F)
2018âÂÂ19: Tyra Meropoulis (F)
2019âÂÂ20: Jamie Johnson (G)
2021âÂÂ22: Amaya Giraudier (G), Abby Lewis (F)
Fair Play Award
A CIS Championship Fair Play Award was awarded until the 2009âÂÂ10 season. From 2010 to 2013, the player who "best exhibit[ed] the standards of fair play" throughout the CIS Championship tournament was recognized with the R.W. Pugh Fair Play Award. No fair play awards have been awarded since 2013.
2006: Kelly Boudreau
2008: Suzanne Fenerty
2009: Suzanne Fenerty
2010: Katie Harvieux
Championship All-Stars
U Sports Championship All-Stars are awarded to the best players at the national tournament in women's ice hockey.
2000: Leanne MacDonald
2002: Amy Handrahan (G)
2006: Katie Harvieux (G)
2011: Carolyn Campbell (F), Suzanne Fenerty (D)
2013: Jenna Downey (D)
2015: Alex Normore (F)
AUS
- Female Athlete of the Year, Finalist: Tyra Meropoulis, 2019âÂÂ20
Most Valuable Player
The recipient of the Most Valuable Player award becomes the AUS nominee for the U Sports Brodrick Trophy.
1998âÂÂ99: Leanne MacDonald
2007âÂÂ08: Brayden Ferguson
2011âÂÂ12: Alex Normore
2012âÂÂ13: Alex Normore
2013âÂÂ14: Alex Normore
2014âÂÂ15: Alex Normore
2016âÂÂ17: Sarah Bujold
2017âÂÂ18: Daley Oddy
2019âÂÂ20: Tyra Meropoulis
Rookie of the Year
The recipient of the AUS Rookie of the Year Award represents the conference as a finalist for the U Sports Rookie of the Year Award.
2003âÂÂ04: Rebecca Davies
2009âÂÂ10: Abygail Laking
2010âÂÂ11: Alex Normore
2017âÂÂ18: Emerson Elliott
2021âÂÂ22: Abby Lewis
2023âÂÂ24: Ireland McCloskey
Coach of the Year
The recipient of the AUS Coach of the Year Award represents the conference as a finalist for the U Sports Coach of the Year Award.
1999-2000: Frank Isherwood
2000âÂÂ01: Frank Isherwood
2003âÂÂ04: David Synishin
2004âÂÂ05: David Synishin
2007âÂÂ08: David Synishin
2012âÂÂ13: David Synishin
2014âÂÂ15: Ben Berthiaume
2017âÂÂ18: Ben Berthiaume
2022âÂÂ23: Ben Berthiaume
Most Sportsmanlike Player
AUS Most Sportsmanlike Player "recognizes an individual who maintains the standards of fair play and treats those around her with respect at all times."
2003âÂÂ04: Jill Bowie
2004âÂÂ05: Sheila Kelly
2009âÂÂ10: Suzanne Fenerty
2014âÂÂ15: Taylor Dale
2015âÂÂ16: Taylor Dale
2023âÂÂ24: Ireland McCloskey
Top Defensive Player
Awarded since the 2016âÂÂ17 season, the AUS Top Defensive Player has been recognizes a skater who consistently excels in defensive aspects of the game and displays strong play in all areas of the ice individually and as part of their team's defensive tactics.
2019âÂÂ20: Lydia Schurman
Student-Athlete Community Service Award
The recipient of the AUS Student-Athlete Community Service Award represents the conference as a finalist for the U Sports Marion Hilliard Award.
2004âÂÂ05: Colleen Wall
All-Stars
One AUS All-Star team per season was named through the 2000âÂÂ01. The AUS All-Star second team was introduced in the 2001âÂÂ02 season.
1998âÂÂ99: Leanne MacDonald (D)
1999-2000: Cindy Clarke (F), Amy Handrahan (G), Leanne MacDonald (D)
2000âÂÂ01: Michelle Fortier (F), Amy Handrahan (G), Leanne MacDonald (D)
First Team
2001âÂÂ02: Michelle Fortier (F), Gayle MacDonald (D)
2002âÂÂ03: Tracy Sullivan (F)
2003âÂÂ04: Katie Barrett (D), Rebecca Davies (F), Amy Handrahan (G), Tracy Sullivan (F)
2004âÂÂ05: Candace Ernst (F), Sheila Kelly (D)
2005âÂÂ06: Rebecca Davies (F), Laura Grant (D)
2006âÂÂ07: Marilynn Hay (D), Sheila Kelly (D)
2007âÂÂ08: Brayden Ferguson (F), Marilynn Hay (D)
2008âÂÂ09: Christina Davis (F), Brayden Ferguson (F), Laura Grant (D), Marilynn Hay (D)
2009âÂÂ10: Suzanne Fenerty (D), Marilynn Hay (D)
2010âÂÂ11: Suzanne Fenerty (D), Alex Normore (F), Janelle Parent (F)
2011âÂÂ12: Suzanne Fenerty (D), Alex Normore (F), Janelle Parent (F)
2012âÂÂ13: Jenna Downey (D), Alex Normore (F)
2013âÂÂ14: Alex Normore (F), Jenna Pitts (D)
2014âÂÂ15: Jenna Downey (D), Alex Normore (F), Sojung Shin (G)
2016âÂÂ17: Sarah Bujold (F)
2017âÂÂ18: Sarah Bujold (F), Lindsey Donovan (D), Daley Oddy (F)
2018âÂÂ19: Sarah Bujold (F), Lindsey Donovan (D)
2019âÂÂ20: Lindsey Donovan (D), Tyra Meropoulis (F)
2021âÂÂ22: Maggy Burbidge (F), Lauren Dabrowski (D)
2022âÂÂ23: Maggy Burbidge (F), Lauren Dabrowski (D), Lea MacLeod (F)
Second Team
2001âÂÂ02: Amy Handrahan (G)
2002âÂÂ03: Cindy Connors (F), Leanne MacDonald (D)
2004âÂÂ05: Brayden Ferguson (F), Tracy Sullivan (F)
2005âÂÂ06: Candace Ernst (F), Brayden Ferguson (F)
2006âÂÂ07: Kelly Boudreau (F), Christina Davis (F), Brayden Ferguson (F)
2007âÂÂ08: Suzanne Fenerty (D), Jessica Shanahan (F)
2009âÂÂ10: Carolyn Campbell (F), Jessica Shanahan (F)
2010âÂÂ11: Marilynn Hay (D)
2011âÂÂ12: Jenna Pitts (D)
2012âÂÂ13: Taylor Dale (F), Kristy Garrow (G), Jenna Pitts (D)
2013âÂÂ14: Daley Oddy (F)
2014âÂÂ15: Daley Oddy (F)
2015âÂÂ16: Daley Oddy (F)
2016âÂÂ17: Daley Oddy (F)
2017âÂÂ18: Carley Molnar (G)
2018âÂÂ19: Tyra Meropoulis (F)
2021âÂÂ22: Lea MacLeod (F), Tyra Meropoulis (F)
2022âÂÂ23: Josie Chisholm (D)
2023âÂÂ24: Maggy Burbidge (F)
All-Rookies
2006âÂÂ07: Marilynn Hay (D), Jessica Shanahan (F)
2007âÂÂ08: Suzanne Fenerty (D), Catie Gavin (F)
2008âÂÂ09: Erin Brophy (F)
2009âÂÂ10: Jenna Downey (D), Abygail Laking (F)
2010âÂÂ11: Kristy Garrow (G), Alex Normore (F), Jenna Pitts (D)
2012âÂÂ13: Schyler Campbell (F), Taylor Dale (F)
2013âÂÂ14: Nicole Corcoran (F), Daley Oddy (F)
2014âÂÂ15: Nicole Halladay (D)
2016âÂÂ17: Lindsey Donovan (D)
2017âÂÂ18: Emerson Elliott (F), Amy Graham (D)
2018âÂÂ19: Tyra Meropoulis (F)
2019âÂÂ20: Jamie Johnson (G)
2021âÂÂ22: Amaya Giraudier (G), Abby Lewis (F), Ella VandeSompel (D)
2022âÂÂ23: Kya Moss (D)
2023âÂÂ24: Mackenzie Lothian (D), Ireland McCloskey (F)
St. Francis Xavier University awards
Student-Athlete of the Year
2008: Brayden Ferguson
2011: Suzanne Fenerty
2014: Alex Normore
2017: Sarah Bujold
2018: Daley Oddy
2020: Tyra Meropoulis
2023: Maggie Burbidge
Sports Hall of Fame
The StFX Sports Hall of Fame honours student-athletes, builders, and teams who made outstanding contributions through sport at St. Francis Xavier University.
X-Women in professional hockey
- Suzanne Fenerty was selected by the Brampton Thunder in the fifth round of the 2012 CWHL Draft, but never appeared with the team.
International
- Brayden Ferguson : 2009 Winter Universiade
- Jenna Downey, Defense : 2011 Winter Universiade
- Suzanne Fenerty, Defense : 2011 Winter Universiade
- Alex Normore â StFX : 2015 Winter Universiade
- Daley Oddy, : 2015 Winter Universiade
- Daley Oddy, Forward : 2017 Winter Universiade
See also
References
External links