Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
Encyclopedia
The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks is the name used by the varsity sports teams of Wilfrid Laurier University
in Waterloo, Ontario
, Canada
. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario University Athletics
conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport
and, where applicable, in the west division.
The football program has become one of the best in the conference, recently winning a Vanier Cup
national championship in 2005 to go along with their previous title in 1991. Since 2003, the team has not finished lower than fourth in the ten-team OUA conference under the guidance of head coach Gary Jeffries.
The women's varsity hockey team have become very successful, winning their first OUA championship in their 1998–1999 season, winning in 2002 and having won five consecutive years in a row (2003–2008). They also won Nationals in 2004–2005.
The Golden Hawk Cheerleading team has also risen to prominence in the last few years having won 3 national championship titles at the prestigious University National Cheerleading Championships conducted by Power Cheerleading Athletics. The Golden Hawk Cheerleaders have been ranked in the top five squads in the nation at least 8 times in the past 10 years, winning 3 national titles in 2007, 2008 (in the All-Female division) and 2009 (in the Small-Coed division).
championships, losing in 1966, 1968 and 1972, and winning the national title in 1991 and 2005. The team has also won seven Yates Cup
conference championships, most recently in 2004 and 2005. Their current head coach is Gary Jeffries, who became the interim head coach midway through the 2002 campaign before being named the full-time head coach for the 2003 season. Since then, he has only had 13 regular season losses. The Golden Hawks have had one Hec Crighton Trophy winner, Bill Kubas, a former quarterback
who won the award in 1994.
The program has become one of the strongest in the OUA
, as they have only finished below fourth place in the ten-team conference once as long as Jeffries has been the full-time head coach. The team completed two unbeaten regular seasons in 2004 and 2005, and one completely unbeaten season in the latter after going 12-0 and winning the 41st Vanier Cup
in 2005. The Golden Hawks had seven straight seasons of at least six wins between 2003 and 2009, but are coming off of back-to-back .500 seasons in 2010 and 2011. While the team had a four win season in 2010
, it should be noted that they forfeited a game they won against the Toronto Varsity Blues for using an ineligible player.
, five former Golden Hawks players are on CFL teams' rosters:
Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University is a university located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It also has campuses in Brantford, Ontario, Kitchener, Ontario and Toronto, Ontario and a future proposed campus in Milton, Ontario. It is named in honour of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the seventh Prime Minister of Canada....
in Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario University Athletics
Ontario University Athletics
Ontario University Athletics is a regional membership association for Canadian universities which assists in co-ordinating competition between their university level athletic programs and providing contact information, schedules, results, and releases about those programs and events to the public...
conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada, comprising the majority of degree granting universities in the country. Its equivalent body for organized sports at colleges in Canada is The Canadian Colleges Athletic Association...
and, where applicable, in the west division.
The football program has become one of the best in the conference, recently winning a Vanier Cup
Vanier Cup
The Vanier Cup is the name of the championship of Canadian Interuniversity Sport football and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is currently played between the winners of the Uteck Bowl and the Mitchell Bowl...
national championship in 2005 to go along with their previous title in 1991. Since 2003, the team has not finished lower than fourth in the ten-team OUA conference under the guidance of head coach Gary Jeffries.
The women's varsity hockey team have become very successful, winning their first OUA championship in their 1998–1999 season, winning in 2002 and having won five consecutive years in a row (2003–2008). They also won Nationals in 2004–2005.
The Golden Hawk Cheerleading team has also risen to prominence in the last few years having won 3 national championship titles at the prestigious University National Cheerleading Championships conducted by Power Cheerleading Athletics. The Golden Hawk Cheerleaders have been ranked in the top five squads in the nation at least 8 times in the past 10 years, winning 3 national titles in 2007, 2008 (in the All-Female division) and 2009 (in the Small-Coed division).
Varsity teams
Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks teams compete in:- BaseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
(m) - BasketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
(m/w) - Cross Country RunningCross country runningCross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
(m/w) - CurlingCurlingCurling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
(m/w) - Ice hockeyIce hockeyIce hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
(men/womenLaurier Golden Hawks women's ice hockeyThe Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks women's hockey team represented Wilfrid Laurier University in Canadian Interuniversity Sport. The Golden Hawks play their home games at Sunlife Financial Arena and are a a member of the Ontario University Athletics conference....
) - FootballCanadian footballCanadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
(m) - GolfGolfGolf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
(m/w) - LacrosseLacrosseLacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
(w) - RugbyRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
(m/w) - Soccer (m/w)
- SwimmingSwimming (sport)Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
(m/w) - VolleyballVolleyballVolleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
(m/w)
Golden Hawks football
The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks football team has appeared in five Vanier CupVanier Cup
The Vanier Cup is the name of the championship of Canadian Interuniversity Sport football and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is currently played between the winners of the Uteck Bowl and the Mitchell Bowl...
championships, losing in 1966, 1968 and 1972, and winning the national title in 1991 and 2005. The team has also won seven Yates Cup
Yates Cup
The Yates Cup is a Canadian sports trophy, presented annually to the winner of the Ontario University Athletics football conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport federation. It is the oldest still-existing football trophy in North America, dating back to 1898 and surpassing both the Grey...
conference championships, most recently in 2004 and 2005. Their current head coach is Gary Jeffries, who became the interim head coach midway through the 2002 campaign before being named the full-time head coach for the 2003 season. Since then, he has only had 13 regular season losses. The Golden Hawks have had one Hec Crighton Trophy winner, Bill Kubas, a former quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
who won the award in 1994.
The program has become one of the strongest in the OUA
Ontario University Athletics
Ontario University Athletics is a regional membership association for Canadian universities which assists in co-ordinating competition between their university level athletic programs and providing contact information, schedules, results, and releases about those programs and events to the public...
, as they have only finished below fourth place in the ten-team conference once as long as Jeffries has been the full-time head coach. The team completed two unbeaten regular seasons in 2004 and 2005, and one completely unbeaten season in the latter after going 12-0 and winning the 41st Vanier Cup
41st Vanier Cup
The 41st Vanier Cup was played on December 3, 2005, at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton, Ontario, and decided the CIS Football champion for the 2005 season. The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks completed a perfect season by defeating the previously undefeated Saskatchewan Huskies by a score of 24-23, on...
in 2005. The Golden Hawks had seven straight seasons of at least six wins between 2003 and 2009, but are coming off of back-to-back .500 seasons in 2010 and 2011. While the team had a four win season in 2010
2010 CIS football season
The 2010 CIS football season began on August 31, 2010 with the Windsor Lancers hosting the Ottawa Gee-Gees and the defending Vanier Cup champion Queen's Golden Gaels visiting the McMaster Marauders. The season concluded on November 27 at the PEPS stadium in Quebec City, Quebec with the Laval Rouge...
, it should be noted that they forfeited a game they won against the Toronto Varsity Blues for using an ineligible player.
Recent regular season results
Season | Games | Won | Lost | OL | Pct % | PF | PA | Standing |
2001 | 8 | 3 | 5 | |||||
0.375 | 104 | 138 | 6th in OUA | |||||
2002 | 8 | 1 | 7 | |||||
0.125 | 150 | 137 | 9th in OUA | |||||
2003 | 8 | 6 | 2 | |||||
0.750 | 313 | 158 | 3rd in OUA | |||||
2004 | 8 | 8 | 0 | |||||
1.000 | 343 | 142 | 1st in OUA | |||||
2005 | 8 | 8 | 0 | |||||
1.000 | 330 | 114 | 1st in OUA | |||||
2006 | 8 | 6 | 2 | |||||
0.750 | 253 | 142 | 2nd in OUA | |||||
2007 | 8 | 7 | 1 | |||||
0.875 | 278 | 124 | 2nd in OUA | |||||
2008 | 8 | 6 | 2 | |||||
0.750 | 235 | 191 | 3rd in OUA | |||||
2009 | 8 | 6 | 2 | |||||
0.750 | 210 | 136 | 2nd in OUA | |||||
2010 | 8 | 4 | 4 | |||||
0.500 | 250 | 172 | 4th in OUA | |||||
2011 | 8 | 4 | 4 | |||||
0.500 | 290 | 194 | 6th in OUA |
Recent playoff results
- 2001 Lost to Queen's Golden GaelsQueen's Golden GaelsThe Queen's Gaels are the athletic teams that represent Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Team colours are blue, red, and gold. Its main home is Richardson Memorial Stadium on West Campus....
in quarter-final 29-27 - 2002 Missed Playoffs
- 2003 Defeated Ottawa Gee-Gees in quarter-final 38-17
Defeated Queen's Golden GaelsQueen's Golden GaelsThe Queen's Gaels are the athletic teams that represent Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Team colours are blue, red, and gold. Its main home is Richardson Memorial Stadium on West Campus....
in semi-final 36-33
Lost to McMaster MaraudersMcMaster MaraudersThe McMaster Marauders are the athletic teams that represent McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Athletics at McMaster is currently managed by the university's student affairs, under their athletics & recreation department. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario...
in Yates CupYates CupThe Yates Cup is a Canadian sports trophy, presented annually to the winner of the Ontario University Athletics football conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport federation. It is the oldest still-existing football trophy in North America, dating back to 1898 and surpassing both the Grey...
41-15 - 2004 Defeated Ottawa Gee-Gees in semi-final 46-7
Defeated McMaster MaraudersMcMaster MaraudersThe McMaster Marauders are the athletic teams that represent McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Athletics at McMaster is currently managed by the university's student affairs, under their athletics & recreation department. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario...
in Yates CupYates CupThe Yates Cup is a Canadian sports trophy, presented annually to the winner of the Ontario University Athletics football conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport federation. It is the oldest still-existing football trophy in North America, dating back to 1898 and surpassing both the Grey...
31-19
Lost to Laval Rouge et Or in Uteck BowlUteck BowlThe Uteck Bowl is one of the two semifinals in Canadian Interuniversity Sport men's football, held in the easternmost of the two semifinal venues. The Uteck Bowl champion moves on to face the Mitchell Bowl champion for the Vanier Cup...
30-11 - 2005 Defeated McMaster MaraudersMcMaster MaraudersThe McMaster Marauders are the athletic teams that represent McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Athletics at McMaster is currently managed by the university's student affairs, under their athletics & recreation department. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario...
in semi-final 43-21
Defeated Western Ontario MustangsWestern Ontario MustangsThe Western Ontario Mustangs are the athletic teams that represent the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada...
in Yates CupYates CupThe Yates Cup is a Canadian sports trophy, presented annually to the winner of the Ontario University Athletics football conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport federation. It is the oldest still-existing football trophy in North America, dating back to 1898 and surpassing both the Grey...
29-11
Defeated Acadia AxemenAcadia AxemenIn their history, the Axemen Canadian football teams have appeared in four Vanier Cup national championships, winning two of those in 1979 and in 1981...
in Uteck BowlUteck BowlThe Uteck Bowl is one of the two semifinals in Canadian Interuniversity Sport men's football, held in the easternmost of the two semifinal venues. The Uteck Bowl champion moves on to face the Mitchell Bowl champion for the Vanier Cup...
31-10
Defeated Saskatchewan HuskiesSaskatchewan HuskiesThe University of Saskatchewan began in 1907 and has operated teams that compete with others since 1911. The term Huskie Athletics is defined as those student athletes from the University of Saskatchewan that compete in elite interuniversity competition administered by Canadian Interuniversity...
in 41st Vanier Cup41st Vanier CupThe 41st Vanier Cup was played on December 3, 2005, at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton, Ontario, and decided the CIS Football champion for the 2005 season. The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks completed a perfect season by defeating the previously undefeated Saskatchewan Huskies by a score of 24-23, on...
24-23 - 2006 Defeated Windsor LancersWindsor LancersThe Windsor Lancers are the varsity athletic teams that represent the University of Windsor in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.The Lancers compete in Ontario University Athletics as part of Canadian Interuniversity Sport ....
in quarter-final 38-29
Defeated Western Ontario MustangsWestern Ontario MustangsThe Western Ontario Mustangs are the athletic teams that represent the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada...
in semi-final 20-15
Lost to Ottawa Gee-Gees in Yates CupYates CupThe Yates Cup is a Canadian sports trophy, presented annually to the winner of the Ontario University Athletics football conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport federation. It is the oldest still-existing football trophy in North America, dating back to 1898 and surpassing both the Grey...
32-14 - 2007 Lost to Guelph GryphonsGuelph GryphonsThe Guelph Gryphons are the athletic teams that represent the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport and, where applicable, in the west division.-Varsity...
in semi-final 38-31 - 2008 Defeated McMaster MaraudersMcMaster MaraudersThe McMaster Marauders are the athletic teams that represent McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Athletics at McMaster is currently managed by the university's student affairs, under their athletics & recreation department. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario...
in quarter-final 29-0
Lost to Western Ontario MustangsWestern Ontario MustangsThe Western Ontario Mustangs are the athletic teams that represent the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada...
in semi-final 36-28 - 2009 Lost to Western Ontario MustangsWestern Ontario MustangsThe Western Ontario Mustangs are the athletic teams that represent the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada...
in semi-final 26-16 - 2010 Defeated Guelph GryphonsGuelph GryphonsThe Guelph Gryphons are the athletic teams that represent the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport and, where applicable, in the west division.-Varsity...
in quarter-final 42-10
Lost to Ottawa Gee-Gees in semi-final 32-31 - 2011 Lost to Queen's Golden GaelsQueen's Golden GaelsThe Queen's Gaels are the athletic teams that represent Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Team colours are blue, red, and gold. Its main home is Richardson Memorial Stadium on West Campus....
in quarter-final 14-10
Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks in the CFL
As of the end of the 2011 CFL season2011 CFL season
The 2011 CFL season was the 58th season of modern Canadian professional football. Officially, it was the 54th season of the league. The complete schedule was released on February 18 and featured the defending Grey Cup champion Montreal Alouettes opening the season against the visiting BC Lions on...
, five former Golden Hawks players are on CFL teams' rosters:
- Taurean AllenTaurean AllenTaurean Allen is a professional Canadian football defensive back for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted thirteenth overall by the Stampeders in the 2010 CFL Draft and signed a contract with the team on May 17, 2010. He played college football for the Wilfrid...
, Calgary StampedersCalgary StampedersThe Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium... - Yannick CarterYannick CarterYannick Carter is a professional Canadian football linebacker for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted in the third round of the 2007 CFL Draft by the Saskatchewan Roughriders...
, Hamilton Tiger-CatsHamilton Tiger-CatsThe Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium... - Ian LoganIan LoganIan Logan is a professional Canadian football safety for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the Blue Bombers as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played CIS football at Wilfrid Laurier.-College career:Logan played for the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks...
, Winnipeg Blue BombersWinnipeg Blue BombersThe Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded... - Justin PhillipsJustin PhillipsJustin Phillips is a Canadian football linebacker for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted with the fifth overall pick in the 2007 CFL Draft by the Calgary Stampeders. He played CIS Football with Wilfrid Laurier University.-External links:*...
, Calgary Stampeders - Chima IhekwoabaChima IhekwoabaChima Ihekwoaba is a professional Canadian football defensive end for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted 14th overall by the Alouettes in the 2010 CFL Draft and signed with the team after spending time with the NFL's Detroit Lions...
, Montreal AlouettesMontreal AlouettesThe Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...