There's still plenty of playoff action that will decide the remaining berths in the 2025 Miller Waste U SPORTS Women's Hockey Championship, but organizers are already putting the finishing touches on the five-day celebration of hockey in Waterloo Region.
The action on the ice is only part of the equation, as the tournament week promises to be a first-class experience for the participating student-athletes and the thousands of fans that will flock to the Woolwich Memorial Centre in Elmira from March 20-23. Each day promises to bring more excitement, culminating in a national champion being crowned at centre ice of the Dan Snyder Arena.
Wednesday, March 19: 2025 Miller Waste U Sports Awards Banquet presented by Melloul-Blamey
After the participating teams funnel into Waterloo Region early in the week, the first set of hardware will be handed out a day ahead of puck drop. The awards ceremony will be hosted at Fed Hall on the University of Waterloo's main campus, and will be presented by Melloul-Blamey Construction, Inc. It will be a chance for the U SPORTS hockey community to celebrate the individual award winners, All-Rookie team members, and All-Canadians, culminating in the presentation of the Brodrick trophy for U SPORTS Outstanding Player of the Year.
"Melloul-Blamey Construction is proud to sponsor the 2025 Miller Waste U SPORTS Women's Hockey Championship, bringing Canada's top university athletes to the Waterloo Region," said Jeffrey B. Shantz, Vice-President, Project Development for Melloul-Blamey Construction, Inc. "As a company committed to building strong communities, and with close ties to the town of Elmira, we are thrilled to support the next generation of female hockey players competing at the highest level in Canada. Best of luck to all teams as they chase the national title!"
Thursday, March 20 and Friday, March 21: National quarter-final games
The action begins on Thursday at 1pm with the first of four quarter-final matchups on the ice. The opening ceremonies will take place on Thursday night at 7pm, followed by the host Warriors hitting the ice for quarter-final number two. Thursday's action is presented with the support of McDonald Benefit Advisors.
"Participating in university athletics is a unique experience. Expectations of student-athletes are daunting, with full-time academic schedules, on/off ice training, practice, video session and game competition, all while trying to maintain balance," said Mike McDonald, President & Founder, McDonald Benefit Advisors. "As a past varsity athlete myself, I fully appreciate the sacrifice that it takes in working to achieve elite sporting excellence without sacrificing your scholastic pursuits. Therefore, supporting 150+ Student Athletes in pursuit of greatness simply seems like a no-brainer for myself and all our staff at McDonald Benefit Advisors."
Friday's schedule will look the same, with quarter-final games going at 1pm and 7pm. The crowds for the afternoon quarter-final matchups on Thursday and Friday will be extra-boisterous, as hundreds of school-age kids will be on hand in Elmira via the tournament's school day program. The program allows students from area elementary schools to attend for just $2 per student, with the balance covered by a local sponsor. Thursday's school day game is sponsored by Wallenstein Feed & Supply Co., while Friday's students will attend thanks to the support of AMI Attachments.
Saturday March 22: All eight teams in action
Super Saturday begins with the consolation semifinals, at 10 am and 1pm, respectively. The championship semifinals take centre stage on Saturday afternoon, when Thursday's quarter-final winners face off for a spot in the national title game at 4pm. Then, Friday's winners will battle for the second championship berth at 7pm.
In addition to the action at the Dan Snyder Arena, fans can head over to the Lions Hall inside the Woolwich Memorial Centre to take in the Hockey Hall of Fame exhibit at Fan Fest, which runs from 12-5pm. The exhibit will be a primer of U SPORTS and OUA hockey history, alongside exhibits that focus on the PWHL, Team Canada, and diversity in hockey. All four games and the Hockey Hall of Fame exhibit are presented by TD Insurance.
"We're thrilled to sponsor the 2025 Miller Waste U SPORTS Women's Hockey Championship, which showcases the next generation of elite athletes in Canada," said Steve Laurin, Vice President, Affinity Market Group, TD Insurance. "At TD Insurance, we're committed to supporting the advancement of women to help build a more inclusive tomorrow, and through this sponsorship, we're able to support these incredible athletes and highlight the importance of girls and women in sport."
Sunday, March 23: Champions crowned
Championship Sunday gets going at 10 am, as the two consolation semifinal winners will square off in the consolation final, with a fifth-place finish on the line. At 2pm, a pair of teams will fight for the podium in the bronze medal game, leading into the tournament's grand finale: the national gold medal game, at 6pm. All the action on Sunday is presented by Doane Grant Thornton LLP, who are also sponsoring the Player of the Game awards for all 11 tournament games.
"We are proud to sponsor the Miller Waste U SPORTS Women's Hockey Championship, celebrating the skill, dedication, and leadership of women in hockey," said Heather Andrews, Senior Manager, Independent Business Group, Doane Grant Thornton LLP. "Supporting these athletes aligns with our commitment to strengthening our community in Waterloo and beyond."
Ticket packages available now
Tournament packages and single-day tickets are still available, but moving fast - a trend that will no doubt grow as some teams go deeper into their playoff runs. In continuing with the theme of "See Them, Be Them," the Warriors have partnered with local minor hockey associations to provide discounts and fundraising through a promo code. To take advantage, just get the promo code from your minor hockey association and enter it online when buying your tickets. You'll receive a discounted ticket rate, and a portion of your ticket purchase will go right back to your minor hockey association. Ticket discounts are also available for alumni across Canada who have an affinity partnership with TD insurance.
