York Lions
Encyclopedia
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.
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.
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.
The program has been one of futility, finishing out of the playoffs for the past seven 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. This format was discontinued after the 2003 season, so the Lions did not qualify for post-season play in 2005.
, three former Lions players are on CFL teams' rosters:
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, 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 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.
Interuniversity Sport Teams
- 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 CentreMetro Toronto Track and Field CentreThe Toronto Track and Field Centre is a city-owned athletic training centre in Toronto, Canada. It is located at York University's Keele campus in the north-west section of the city.-Description:...
- Football, rugby, and soccer games are played at York StadiumYork StadiumYork Stadium is an outdoor football and soccer stadium located at York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the home of the York Lions.-History:...
. - Hockey games are played at Canlan Ice Sports - York
- Tennis games are played at the Rexall CentreRexall CentreRexall Centre is a tennis stadium in Toronto, Ontario. Rexall Centre is the venue for the professional Canada Masters tournament, held annually. The facility also is a year-round tennis training facility. The main stadium is occasionally used for seasonal concerts...
Lions women's ice hockey
The York Lions women's ice hockey team competes in the 10-team Ontario University AthleticsOntario 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 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
The York Lions football team has been in continuous operation since 1969 and are one of three teams currently playing in CIS footballCIS football
Twenty-six universities across Canada compete in football under the auspices of Canadian Interuniversity Sport . The teams are divided into four conferences, drawing from the four regional associations of the CIS: Canada West Universities Athletic Association, Ontario University Athletics, Quebec...
to have never won a conference championship
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...
. 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.
The program has been one of futility, finishing out of the playoffs for the past seven seasons. While cross-town rival Toronto Varsity Blues used to be 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...
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
Queen's Golden Gaels
The 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....
and Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
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. This format was discontinued after the 2003 season, so the Lions did not qualify for post-season play in 2005.
Recent regular season results
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | OL | Pct % | PF | PA | Standing |
| 2001 | 8 | 3 | 5 | |||||
| 0.375 | 153 | 216 | 8th in OUA | |||||
| 2002 | 8 | 5 | 3 | |||||
| 0.625 | 121 | 113 | 4th in OUA | |||||
| 2003 | 8 | 3 | 5 | |||||
| 0.375 | 161 | 251 | 7th in OUA | |||||
| 2004 | 8 | 3 | 5 | |||||
| 0.375 | 220 | 237 | 6th in OUA | |||||
| 2005 | 8 | 3 | 5 | |||||
| 0.375 | 113 | 294 | 8th in OUA | |||||
| 2006 | 8 | 1 | 7 | |||||
| 0.125 | 134 | 224 | 9th in OUA | |||||
| 2007 | 8 | 1 | 7 | |||||
| 0.125 | 90 | 279 | 9th in OUA | |||||
| 2008 | 8 | 0 | 8 | |||||
| 0.000 | 32 | 471 | 10th in OUA | |||||
| 2009 | 8 | 0 | 8 | |||||
| 0.000 | 97 | 414 | 10th in OUA | |||||
| 2010 | 8 | 0 | 8 | |||||
| 0.000 | 73 | 416 | 9th in OUA | |||||
| 2011 | 8 | 1 | 7 | |||||
| 0.125 | 90 | 241 | 9th in OUA |
Recent playoff results
- 2001 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 quarter-final 62-0 - 2002 Defeated Ottawa Gee-Gees in quarter-final 12-4
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 semi-final 29-15 - 2003 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 27-6 - 2004 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 quarter-final 54-18 - 2005 Missed Playoffs
- 2006 Missed Playoffs
- 2007 Missed Playoffs
- 2008 Missed Playoffs
- 2009 Missed Playoffs
- 2010 Missed Playoffs
- 2011 Missed Playoffs
York Lions 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...
, three former Lions players are on CFL teams' rosters:
- Andre DurieAndre DurieAndre Durie is a professional Canadian football running back/slotback playing for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. He signed with the Argonauts on May 10, 2007 as a free agent after he went undrafted in the 2007 CFL Draft...
, Toronto ArgonautsToronto ArgonautsThe Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta... - Ricky FoleyRicky FoleyRicky Foley is a Canadian defensive end with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the BC Lions in the first round of the 2006 CFL Draft...
, Toronto Argonauts - Jeff Johnson, Toronto Argonauts