The Nipissing Lakers women's ice hockey program represents Nipissing University in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) conference of U Sports. The Lakers first competed in OUA women's ice hockey in the 2013-14 season and qualified for the OUA playoffs in their second season. The team has played in three McCaw Cup finals and in two U Sports national tournaments, in 2022 and 2023. The team is led by head coach Darren Turcotte, a former NHL forward and North Bay Sports Hall of Fame member.
History Prior to their entry to U Sports (formerly Canadian Interuniversity Sport), the Lakers had fielded a women's ice hockey team that played in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association. On June 26, 2012, it was announced that the women's ice hockey team would compete in Ontario University Athletics beginning with the 2013-14 season. After conducting a search for a head coach for the team's first foray into the OUA, it was announced on August 16, 2012, that Darren Turcotte had been hired for the position for the 2013-14 season. The Nipissing Lakers advanced to the U Sports National Championship for the first time in 2022, where they returned to North Bay as National Silver Medalists.
OUA results Year Standing Postseason2013-14 24 5 0 17 2 12 12th in OUA Did not qualify for playoffs2014-15 24 6 6 9 3 27 7th in OUA Lost OUA Quarter-Final vs. Western 2015-16 24 12 1 6 5 44 5th in OUA Won OUA Quarter-Final vs. Queen's Lost OUA Semi-Final vs. Western 2016-17 24 15 2 5 2 51 2nd in OUA Won OUA Quarter-Final vs. Laurentian Won OUA Semi-Final vs. Toronto Lost McCaw Cup Championship (6–1) vs. Guelph2017-18 24 15 1 6 2 47 4th in OUA Won OUA Quarter-Final vs. Ryerson Lost OUA Semi-Final vs. Queen's 2018-19 24 11 3 7 3 40 6th in OUA Lost OUA Quarter-Final vs. Toronto 2019-20 24 16 0 7 1 47 2nd in OUA Won OUA Quarter-Final vs. Queen's Lost OUA Semi-Final vs. York 2020-21 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic2021-22 14 8 2 4 0 28 4th in OUA Won OUA Quarter-Final (3–1) vs. RyersonWon OUA Semi-Final (3–2) vs. TorontoLost McCaw Cup Championship (1–2) vs. Brock 2022-23 26 14 5 4 3 55 4th in OUA Won OUA Quarter-Final vs. Queen's Won OUA Semi-Final vs. Waterloo Lost McCaw Cup Championship (1–2) vs. Toronto 2023-24 24 16 6 2 4 62 2nd in OUA Lost OUA Quarter-Final vs. York
U Sports Tournament results Year Seed Round Opponent Result 2022 #6 First RoundSemi-FinalsGold Medal Game #3 UBC Thunderbirds#2 UNB Reds#1 Concordia StingersW 1–0W 4–0L 4-0 2023 #6 First RoundConsolation Semi-Finals #3 Concordia Stingers#7 St. Francis Xavier X-WomenL 5–1L 7–3
705 Challenge Cup First established as a challenge between the varsity soccer teams of two Northern Ontario universities (Laurentian vs. Nipissing), in which the winning team was awarded the Riley Gallo Cup, the rivalry expanded. Introducing the 705 Challenge Cup in 2016, the results of all regular season games between the Lakers and the Voyageurs varsity teams for men’s and women’s basketball, ice hockey and soccer, comprised the overall won-loss record in determining the annual Cup winner. The Lakers would win their first 705 Challenge Cup during the 2019-20 athletics season. Of note, the scores below reflect the women's ice hockey matchups since the 705 Challenge Cup was introduced. The series ended following the discontinuation of the Laurentian Voyageurs women's ice hockey team in 2021.
Team captains 2015-16: Carly Marchment 2016-17: Kaley Tienhaara 2017-18: Kaley Tienhaara and Jackie Rochefort (Co-captains), Zosia Davis and Brooklyn Irwin, (assistant captains) 2018-19: Kaley Tienhaara 2019-20: Jetta Derenoski (captain), Ava Keis, Katelyn Heppner, Madison Solie and Danika Ranger (assistant captains) 2021-22: Katelyn Heppner (captain), Madison Solie, Madison Laberge, Maggie McKee and Brianna Gaffney (assistant captains). 2022-23: Ally Hayhurst (captain), Madison Laberge, Maggie McKee, Maria Dominico and Katie Chomiak (assistant captains). 2023-24: Ally Hayhurst (captain), Madison Laberge, Maggie McKee, Ashley Taciuk and Katie Chomiak (assistant captains). 2024-25: Ally Hayhurst (captain), Madison Laberge, Maggie McKee, and Ashley Taciuk (assistant captains).
International Danika Ranger, Goaltender : 2017 IIHF World Women's U18 Championship Katelyn Heppner, Defence 2021-22 FISU Games Team Canada (event cancelled due to COVID-19) Maria Dominico, Forward 2021-22 FISU Games Team Canada (event cancelled due to COVID-19) Marilyn Fortin, Forward 2021-22 FISU Games Team Switzerland (event cancelled due to COVID-19) Madison Desmarais, Forward : Ice hockey at the 2025 Winter World University Games Mallory Domenico, Forward : Ice hockey at the 2025 Winter World University Games
Awards and honours Jackie Rochefort, 2016 Nipissing Lakers Athletics Female Athlete of the Year Maria Dominico, 2022 Nipissing Lakers Athletics Female Athlete of the Year
OUA honours Maria Dominico, 2017-18 OUA Rookie of the Year Zosia Davis, 2017-18 OUA Defensive Player of the Year Malory Dominico, 2019-20 OUA Rookie of the Year Maria Dominico, 2021-22 OUA East Player of the Year
OUA All-Stars Jacquline Rochefort, 2016-17 OUA Second Team All-Star Maria Dominico, 2019-20 OUA Second Team All-Star Katelyn Heppner, 2019-20 OUA Second Team All-Star Maria Dominico, 2021-22 OUA First Team All-Star Madison Laberge, 2021-22 OUA First Team All-Star Brianna Gaffney, 2021-22 OUA Second Team All-Star
OUA All-Rookie Malory Dominico, 2019-20 OUA All-Rookie Allison Hayhurst, 2019-20 OUA All-Rookie Maggie McKee, 2019-20 OUA All-Rookie Katie Chomiak, 2021-22 OUA All-Rookie Team
U Sports All Canadians Maria Dominico, 2021-22 U Sports First Team All Canadian
U Sports Performers of the Game Chloe Marshall, 2021-22 Quarter-Finals vs UBC (1-0 win) Ashlyn Zaharia, 2021-22 Semi-Finals vs UNB (4-0 win) Maria Dominico, 2021-22 Finals vs Concordia (4-0 loss)
U Sports Championship All-Star Team Madison Solie, 2021-22 U Sports All-Star Team (defence) Maria Dominico, 2021-22 U Sports All-Star Team (forward)
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