What to know about (and how to watch) the 2025 U Sports hockey championships

Ontario universities host both the men's and women's U Sports hockey championship tournaments this week, but teams from New Brunswick and Alberta enter as the top seeds with games set to begin on Thursday.

The men will play their University Cup games at The Arena at TD Place in Ottawa with the seeding order as follows:

1. UNB (AUS champions: 28-1-1 regular season, 5-0 playoffs)
2. Saskatchewan Huskies (CW champions: 23-5-0, 4-2)
3. Concordia Stingers (OUA champions: 21-5-2, 5-1)
4. Toronto Metropolitan Bold (OUA finalists: 17-10-1, 4-2)
5. Mount Royal Cougars (CW finalists: 22-6-0, 3-3)
6. Moncton Aigles Bleus (AUS finalists: 19-9-2, 3-4)
7. Queen's Gaels (OUA bronze medallists: 22-6-0, 3-2)
8. Ottawa Gee-Gees (hosts: 19-6-3, 2-2)

In men's hockey, the three conference champions are seeded in the top three based on their final national ranking, while the OUA finalist is automatically placed in the No. 4 spot. The remaining teams are then placed to avoid intraconference matchups in the first round.

The quarterfinals will be played on Thursday and Friday, as follows:

• Thursday, 1 p.m. ET: No. 5 Mount Royal vs. No. 4 Toronto Metropolitan
• Thursday, 7 p.m. ET: No. 1 UNB at No. 8 Ottawa
• Friday, 1 p.m. ET: No. 6 Moncton vs. No. 3 Concordia
• Friday, 7 p.m. ET: No. 7 Queen's vs. No. 2 Saskatchewan 

The semifinals will take place on Saturday at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. On Sunday, the bronze medal game is set for at 11 a.m. with the championship game at 5 p.m. 

Pandas the team to beat on women's side

The women's tournament is being held at the Woolwich Memorial Centre in Elmira, Ont., and the seeding is as follows:

1. Alberta Pandas (CW Champions: 24-3-1 regular season, 4-1 playoffs)
2. Toronto Varsity Blues (OUA champions: 17-8-1, 5-0)
3. Bishop's Gaiters (RSEQ champions: 10-8-3, 4-1)
4. STFX X-Women (AUS champions: 18-5-5, 5-2)
5. Concordia Stingers (RSEQ finalists: 20-1-0, 3-2)
6. UBC Thunderbirds (CW finalists: 24-5-1, 2-2)
7. UNB (AUS finalists: 21-5-2, 3-2)
8. Waterloo Warriors (hosts: 18-2-6, 4-1)

In women's hockey, the four conference champions are seeded in the top four based on their final national ranking. The four other participants are placed so that each side of the draw includes one team from each conference.

The quarterfinals will be played on Thursday and Friday, as follows:

• Thursday, 1 p.m. ET: No. 5 Concordia vs. No. 4 STFX
• Thursday, 7 p.m. ET: No. 1 Alberta at No. 8 Waterloo
• Friday, 1 p.m. ET: No. 6 UBC vs. No. 3 Bishop's
• Friday, 7 p.m. ET: No. 7 UNB vs. No. 2 Toronto

Saturday's action starts with two consolation games at 10 a.m. ET and 1 p.m. ET, with the semifinals set for 4 p.m. ET and 7 p.m. ET. On Sunday, the bronze-medal game begins at 2 p.m. ET and the championship at 6 p.m. ET. 

Games from both tournaments will be broadcast live on CBC Sports digital platforms (CBCSports.ca, CBC Gem, CBC Sports YouTube channel) in English. For the full CBC Sports broadcast schedule, click here.

In French, the games will be carried on Radio Canada's digital platforms, with Sunday's gold-medal games to be aired on TVA Sports.