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 the Canadian Interuniversity Sport 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. In 2008, the York Lion's men's soccer team won the Canadian men's soccer championship, York's first national championship in any sport in 18 years, and their first soccer championship since 1977.[1]
Interuniversity Sport Teams
Men's team's goalie during 2012 playoffs.
- Badminton, basketball, volleyball, water polo, and swimming are played at the Tait McKenzie Centre.
- Cross Country and track & field events are held at the Metro Toronto Track and Field Centre
- Football, rugby, and soccer games are played at York Stadium.
- Hockey games are played at Canlan Ice Sports - York
- Tennis games are played at the Rexall Centre
Lions women's ice hockey
The York Lions women's ice hockey team competes in the 10-team Ontario University Athletics conference and finished their 2010-11 season with an 11-16 record. The team's head coach is Dan Church, who is entering his eighth year with the team in the 2011-12 season.
Lions football
| York Lions |
|
|
| First season | 1969 |
|
| Athletic director | Jennifer Myers |
| Head coach |
Warren Craney |
| |
3rd year, 5–27–0 (.156) |
| Other staff | Michael Comeau (OC) |
| Home stadium |
York Stadium |
|
| Year built | 1995 |
| Stadium capacity |
5000 |
| Stadium surface |
FieldTurf |
| Location | Toronto, Ontario |
| League | CIS |
| Conference |
OUA (1980 - present) |
| Past associations | CCIFC (1969-1970)
OUAA (1971-1973)
OQIFC (1974-1979) |
| All-time record |
– |
| Postseason record |
– |
|
| Vanier Cups |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Yates Cups |
0 |
|
|
| Hec Crighton winners |
0 |
| Current uniform |
 |
|
| Colours |
Red and White
|
|
|
| Outfitter | Adidas |
| Rivals | Toronto Varsity Blues |
| Website | yorkulions.ca |
The York Lions football team has been in continuous operation since 1969 and are one of three teams currently playing in CIS football to have never won a conference championship. The other two teams, the Montreal Carabins and Sherbrooke Vert et Or, did not begin their current programs until 2002 and 2003 respectively. Their current head coach is Warren Craney, who became the team's head coach before the 2010 season.[2]
The program has been one of futility, finishing out of the playoffs for the past eight seasons. While cross-town rival Toronto Varsity Blues used to be the OUA basement-dweller, their progression has sent York to the bottom of the standings, having won just one game in the past four seasons. After Queen's and Ottawa joined the OUA in 2001, the playoffs were expanded to include eight teams, meaning that the Lions would make the playoffs for four consecutive seasons.[3] This format was discontinued after the 2003 season, so the Lions did not qualify for post-season play in 2005. In 2012, the Lions finished with a 2-6 record, the most wins for the program since 2005 and in 7th place, their highest finish in eight years. In 2013, the team finished 8th overall in the OUA, matching their previous season's record of 2-6. Following the 2013 season, Head Coach Warren Craney signed a contract extension with York University to remain at the helm of the program.[4]
Season-by-season record
The following is the record of the York Lions football team in the last ten seasons of play:
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | Pct % | PF | PA | Standing | Playoffs |
| 2003 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0.375 | 161 | 251 | 7th in OUA | Lost to Queen's Golden Gaels in quarter-final 27-6 |
| 2004 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0.375 | 220 | 237 | 6th in OUA | Lost to Western Mustangs in quarter-final 54-18 |
| 2005 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0.375 | 113 | 294 | 8th in OUA | Did not qualify |
| 2006 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0.125 | 134 | 224 | 9th in OUA | Did not qualify |
| 2007 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0.125 | 90 | 279 | 9th in OUA | Did not qualify |
| 2008 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0.000 | 32 | 471 | 10th in OUA | Did not qualify |
| 2009 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0.000 | 97 | 414 | 10th in OUA | Did not qualify |
| 2010 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0.000 | 73 | 416 | 9th in OUA | Did not qualify |
| 2011 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0.125 | 90 | 241 | 9th in OUA | Did not qualify |
| 2012 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0.250 | 192 | 274 | 7th in OUA | Did not qualify |
| 2013 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0.250 | 179 | 332 | 8th in OUA | Did not qualify |
York Lions in the CFL
As of the start of the 2013 CFL season, three former Lions players are on CFL teams' rosters:
York Lions in national teams
See also
References
- ↑ http://www.yorku.ca/sprtyork/MediaReleases/Archive/Release.asp?Release=2622
- ↑ http://www.yorkulions.ca/sports/fball/coaches/index
- ↑ http://oua.ca/sports/football/results/
- ↑ http://yfile.news.yorku.ca/2013/11/20/york-university-extends-warren-craneys-term-as-head-coach-of-the-football-program/
External links
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| | AUS |
- Acadia Axemen
- Mount Allison Mounties
- Saint Mary's Huskies
- St. Francis Xavier X-Men
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| | Canada West | |
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| | OUA |
- Carleton Ravens
- Guelph Gryphons
- McMaster Marauders
- Ottawa Gee-Gees
- Queen's Golden Gaels
- Toronto Varsity Blues
- Waterloo Warriors
- Western Ontario Mustangs
- Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
- Windsor Lancers
- York Lions
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|---|
| | RSEQ |
- Bishop's Gaiters
- Concordia Stingers
- Laval Rouge et Or
- McGill Redmen
- Montreal Carabins
- Sherbrooke Vert et Or
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| | Championships | |
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| | Awards | |
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| | All-Canadian Teams | |
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| | Seasons | |
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