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York Lions

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York Lions
Logo
UniversityYork University
AssociationU Sports
ConferenceOntario University Athletics
Athletic directorAlex Dominato
LocationToronto, Ontario
Varsity teams9 men, 9 women
Football stadiumAlumni Field
ArenaCanlan Ice Sports – York
Tennis courtSobeys Stadium
Other venuesTait McKenzie Centre, Toronto Track and Field Centre, York Lions Stadium
MascotLion
NicknameLions
ColoursRed, White, and Black
     
Websitewww.yorkulions.ca

The York Lions is the official name for the athletic varsity teams that represent York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of U Sports and, where applicable, in the east division. The Lion's logo features a red lion from the school's logo with the university's colours, red and white.

York's former teams were known as the York Yeomen and York Yeowomen, but changed their name to the gender-neutral Lions in 2003.[1]

Interuniversity sport teams

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Lions football

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Main article: York Lions football

The York Lions football team has been in operation since 1968 and currently compete in the 11-team Ontario University Athletics conference. The program is one of two in U Sports football to have never won a conference championship. Frank Cosentino was Professor, Chair  and Athletic director from 1976 to 1980 - after two years of losses in '76 and '77 with Dick Aldridge as head coach. Cosentino, who had a football background, moved to York from Western where he suggested that he would coach for three years in the hope that he could see where things might need to be changed - they had a 12 and 12 season. Cosentino stepped down in 1980 from Chair of PE, and Dave Pickett took over as coach. Stu Robbins became Chair of PE and asked Cosentino to get involved in football again. Robbins suggested that Cosentino be named Head Coach. Again the Yeomen had 12 wins and12 losses. Cosentino's total years coaching Football at York includes 78, 79, 80 ...84,85,86,87.  The team's associate head coaches since the 2023 season are Brian Jones and Nathaniel Griffith.[2]

Men's road playoff game vs. Windsor Lancers February 16, 2012.

Lions men's ice hockey

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The York Lions men's ice hockey team competes in the 20-team Ontario University Athletics conference. The team has won three national championships in 1985, 1988, and 1989.[3] The program has also yielded seven Queen's Cup conference championships, most recently in 2017.[3] The team's head coach has been Russ Herrington since 2017.

Lions women's ice hockey

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Main article: York Lions women's ice hockey

The York Lions women's ice hockey team competes in the 13-team Ontario University Athletics conference. The team's head coach is Dan Church, who has been in that position since 2004 and is the longest-serving active head coach at York. The team was won three McCaw Cup conference championships, coming in 1983, 1987, and 1997.[3][4]

York Lions at the Tait McKenzie Centre.

Lions men's soccer

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The York Lions men's soccer team has won five U Sports national championships and seven OUA conference championships.[3] Since the hiring of head coach Carmine Isacco in 2007, the Lions have won six of these conference championships (2007, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018) and four national championships (2008, 2010, 2014, 2015). The Lions' 2008 U Sports championship was York's first national championship in any sport in 18 years, and their first soccer championship since 1977.[5] Playing for the Lions, in 2010 Alon Badat was named a U Sports Championship All Star, and the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) West Rookie of the Year, and in 2011 he was a First-Team OUA All-Star.[6][7] The team currently competes in the 18-team Ontario University Athletics conference.

Lions women's soccer

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The York Lions women's soccer team currently competes in the 19-team Ontario University Athletics conference. The program has had four conference championship winners, coming in 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2019.[3] Carmine Isacco has been the team's head coach since 2012.[8]

Lions men's volleyball

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The York Lions men's volleyball team currently competes in the 13-team Ontario University Athletics conference. The program has featured 13 conference championship winners, most recently in 2005.[3] The highest that the team has finished in the national championship tournament was a second-place finish in 1974.[9][10] Jordan Taylor was named the team's head coach on July 21, 2023.[11]

Lions women's volleyball

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The York Lions women's volleyball team currently competes in the 14-team Ontario University Athletics conference. The program has had a school-record 15 conference championships with the most recent occurring 2009.[3] In the national championship tournament, the Lions have won five bronze medals, most recently in 1991.[12] The team has been led by head coach Jennifer Neilson since 2018.[13]

International competition

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This is an incomplete list

Awards and honours

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  • Lauren Golding, U Sports Athlete of the Month, January 2020[16]

Athletes of the Year

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This is an incomplete list

Year Female Athlete Sport Male Athlete Sport Ref.
2009–10 Heather Hamilton Track & Field Tyrone Halstead Track & Field [17]
2010–11 Effie Petrou Field Hockey Adrian Pena Soccer [18]
2011–12 Melissa Humana-Paredes Volleyball Dontae Richards-Kwok Track & Field [19]
2012–13 Cynthia Appiah Track & Field David McKay Track & Field [20]
2013–14 Khamica Bingham Track & Field Dontae Richards-Kwok Track & Field [21]
2014–15 Brittany Crew Track & Field Jarek Whiteman Soccer [22]
2015–16 Brittany Crew Track & Field Michael Cox Soccer [23]
2016–17 Holly Pitters Track & Field Jonathan Lao Soccer [24]
2017–18 Holly Pitters Track & Field Kayden Johnson Track & Field
Football 		[25]
2018–19 Brittany Crew Track & Field Pierce Lepage Track & Field [26]
2019–20 Teni Odetoyinbo Soccer Daniel Gleason Track & Field [27]
2020–21 Not awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021–22 Leah Jones Track & Field Dieu Merci Yuma Soccer [28]
2022–23 Jotam Chouhan Soccer Soji Olatoye Soccer [29]

References

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  1. ^ "From Rugby to Football: The History of Canadian Football York Yeomen". Canadian Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  2. ^ "Lions finalize associate head coaches for 2023". York Lions. August 14, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "York Lions Past Champions". York Lions. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  4. ^ "Hockey (W): Past Champions". Ontario University Athletics. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  5. ^ "York wins 2008 CIS men's soccer crown". Ontario University Athletics. November 10, 2008. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  6. ^ "2018 York Lions" (PDF). Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  7. ^ "Alon Badat - Men's Soccer". York University Athletics.
  8. ^ "Carmine Isacco named master coach of York soccer program". York University. March 6, 2012.
  9. ^ "Winnipeg Wesmen 1970-74 (MVB Team)". Canada West Hall of Fame. October 17, 2019. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  10. ^ "York Lions Men's Volleyball Champions & Award Winners". York Lions. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  11. ^ "Lions name Jordan Taylor as men's volleyball head coach". York Lions. July 21, 2023.
  12. ^ "York Lions Women's Volleyball Champions & Award Winners". York Lions. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  13. ^ "Neilson named head coach of women's volleyball team". York Lions. July 4, 2018.
  14. ^ "CAN Announces Women's Ice Hockey Team for Harbin". fisu.net. January 9, 2009. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  15. ^ "Canada's Brittany Crew captures shot put gold at Summer Universiade". Canadian Press. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. August 27, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  16. ^ "January 2020 — Lauren Golding". usports.ca/. February 7, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  17. ^ "2009-10 York Award Winners". yorkulions.ca. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  18. ^ "2010-11 York Award Winners". yorkulions.ca. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  19. ^ "2011-12 York Award Winners". yorkulions.ca. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  20. ^ "2012-13 York Award Winners". yorkulions.ca. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  21. ^ "2013-14 YORK AWARD WINNERS". yorkulions.ca. July 2, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  22. ^ "2014-15 YORK AWARD WINNERS". yorkulions.ca. April 5, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  23. ^ "2015-16 York Award Winners". yorkulions.ca. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  24. ^ "2016-17 YORK AWARD WINNERS". yorkulions.ca. April 11, 2017. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  25. ^ "2017-18 YORK AWARD WINNERS". yorkulions.ca. April 17, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  26. ^ "2018-19 YORK AWARD WINNERS". yorkulions.ca. May 22, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  27. ^ "GLEASON, ODETOYINBO NAMED YORK ATHLETES OF THE YEAR". yorkulions.ca. April 22, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  28. ^ "2021-22 York Award Winners". yorkulions.ca. May 16, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  29. ^ "Athletics awards return in-person at annual banquet". yorku.ca. April 11, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
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