{{Short description|Sports teams of York University in Toronto}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}{{Infobox college athletics | name = York Lions | logo = York Lions Logo.png | logo_width = 170 | university = York University | association = U Sports | conference = Ontario University Athletics | director = Steven Chuang, Executive Director of Athletics & Recreation / York Lions Athletic Director | location = Toronto, Ontario | teams = 19 | mens_teams = 9 | womens_teams = 10 | coed_teams = | stadium = York Lions Stadium | basketballarena = Tait McKenzie Centre | volleyballarena = Tait McKenzie Centre | icehockeyarena = Canlan Ice Sports – York | baseballfield = | softballstadium = | soccerstadium = York Lions Stadium | lacrossestadium = | natatorium = | tenniscourt = Sobeys Stadium | sailingvenue = | rowingvenue = | golfcourse = | trackvenue = Toronto Track and Field Centre | othersite label = Field hockey venue | othersite = Alumni Field | othersite label2 = Rugby venue | othersite2 = Alumni Field | mascot = Lion | nickname = Lions | colour1 = Red | hex1 = E31837 | colour2 = White | hex2 = FFFFFF | colour3 = Black | hex3 = 000000 | pageurl = https://yorkulions.ca/ | altlogo = 250px }}
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 U Sports and, where applicable, in the east division. The Lions' 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/sgc-cms/histoires_de_chez_nous-community_stories/pm_v2.php?id=story_line&lg=English&fl=0&ex=00000785&sl=8135&pos=1|title=From Rugby to Football: The History of Canadian Football York Yeomen|publisher=Canadian Football Hall of Fame|access-date=May 17, 2020}}</ref>
==Varsity teams==
{| class="wikitable"; style= "text-align: " ! width= 150px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|York Lions|border=1|color= white }}"| Men's sports ! width= 150px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|York Lions|border=1|color= white }}"| Women's sports |- | Basketball || Basketball |- | Cross Country || Cross Country |- | Football || Field hockey |- | Ice Hockey || Ice Hockey |- | Soccer || Rugby |- | Tennis || Soccer |- | Track and field || Tennis |- | Volleyball || Track and field |- | Wrestling || Volleyball |- | || Wrestling |}
===Football=== {{Main|York Lions football}}
The York Lions football team has been in operation since 1968 and currently compete in the 11-team Ontario University Athletics conference. The program is one of two in U Sports football to have never won a conference championship. Dexter Janke has been the team's head coach since January 22, 2024.<ref>{{cite web |access-date=February 3, 2025 |title=Dexter Janke |url=https://yorkulions.ca/staff-directory/dexter-janke/813 |publisher=York Lions}}</ref>
===Men's ice hockey=== [[File:York Lions 2012.JPG|thumb|Men's hockey road playoff game vs. Windsor Lancers February 16, 2012.]] {{Main|York Lions men's ice hockey}} The York Lions men's ice hockey team competes in the 20-team Ontario University Athletics conference. The team has won three national championships in 1985, 1988, and 1989.<ref name=champs>{{cite web|url=https://yorkulions.ca/sports/2013/3/21/HT_PastChamps.aspx |title=Past champions |publisher=York Lions |access-date=December 14, 2025}}</ref> The program has also yielded seven Queen's Cup conference championships, most recently in 2017.<ref name=champs/> The team's head coach has been Russ Herrington since 2017.
===Women's ice hockey=== {{Main|York Lions women's ice hockey}}
The York Lions women's ice hockey team competes in the 13-team Ontario University Athletics conference. The team's head coach is Dan Church, who has been in that position since 2004 and is the longest-serving active head coach at York. The team was won three McCaw Cup conference championships, coming in 1983, 1987, and 1997.<ref name=champs/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oua.ca/sports/wice/past_champions|title=Hockey (W): Past Champions|publisher=Ontario University Athletics|access-date=May 17, 2020}}</ref>
===Men's soccer=== <!--{{Main|York Lions men's soccer}}--> The York Lions men's soccer team has won six U Sports national championships and seven OUA conference championships.<ref name=champs/> Since the hiring of head coach Carmine Isacco in 2007, the Lions have won six of these conference championships (2007, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018) and five national championships (2008, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2025). The Lions' 2008 U Sports championship was York's first national championship in any sport in 18 years, and their first soccer championship since 1977.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://oua.ca/sports/msoc/2008-09/releases/3493.html|title=York wins 2008 CIS men's soccer crown|publisher=Ontario University Athletics|date=November 10, 2008|access-date=May 17, 2020}}</ref> Playing for the Lions, in 2010 Alon Badat was named a U Sports Championship All Star, and the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) West Rookie of the Year, and in 2011 he was a First-Team OUA All-Star.<ref name="auto3a">{{cite web|url=https://usports.ca/uploads/cis/Championships/MSOC/2018-19/York_MG.pdf|title=2018 York Lions|access-date=2023-08-30|archive-date=September 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220911005220/https://usports.ca/uploads/cis/Championships/MSOC/2018-19/York_MG.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="auto1a">{{Cite web|url=https://yorkulions.ca/sports/mens-soccer/roster/alon-badat/4337|title=Alon Badat - Men's Soccer|website=York University Athletics}}</ref> The team currently competes in the 18-team Ontario University Athletics conference.
===Women's soccer=== The York Lions women's soccer team currently competes in the 19-team Ontario University Athletics conference. The program has had four conference championship winners, coming in 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2019.<ref name=champs/> Carmine Isacco has been the team's head coach since 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yfile.news.yorku.ca/2012/03/06/carmine-isacco-named-master-coach-of-york-soccer-program/ |title=Carmine Isacco named master coach of York soccer program |publisher=York University |date=March 6, 2012}}</ref>
===Men's volleyball=== The York Lions men's volleyball team currently competes in the 13-team Ontario University Athletics conference. The program has featured 13 conference championship winners, most recently in 2005.<ref name=champs/> The highest that the team has finished in the national championship tournament was a second-place finish in 1974.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.canadawesthalloffame.org/post/winnipeg-wesmen-1970-74-mvb-team|title=Winnipeg Wesmen 1970-74 (MVB Team)|publisher=Canada West Hall of Fame|date=October 17, 2019|access-date=June 2, 2021}}</ref><ref name=ymvb>{{cite web|url=https://yorkulions.ca/sports/2013/4/10/MVBL_0410135155.aspx|title=York Lions Men's Volleyball Champions & Award Winners|publisher=York Lions|access-date=May 17, 2020}}</ref> Jordan Taylor was named the team's head coach on July 21, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yorkulions.ca/news/2023/7/21/mens-volleyball-lions-name-jordan-taylor-as-mens-volleyball-head-coach.aspx |title=Lions name Jordan Taylor as men's volleyball head coach |publisher=York Lions |date=July 21, 2023}}</ref>
===Women's volleyball=== The York Lions women's volleyball team currently competes in the 14-team Ontario University Athletics conference. The program has had a school-record 15 conference championships with the most recent occurring 2009.<ref name=champs/> In the national championship tournament, the Lions have won five bronze medals, most recently in 1991.<ref name=ywvb>{{cite web|url=https://yorkulions.ca/sports/2013/4/10/WVBL_0410130658.aspx|title=York Lions Women's Volleyball Champions & Award Winners|publisher=York Lions|access-date=May 17, 2020}}</ref> The team has been led by head coach Jennifer Neilson since 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yorkulions.ca/news/2018/7/4/womens-volleyball-wvb-coach.aspx?path=wvolleyball |title=Neilson named head coach of women's volleyball team |publisher=York Lions |date=July 4, 2018}}</ref>
==Championships== [[File:2025 York Lions men’s soccer champions.jpg|thumb|The Lions Men's soccer team celebrates their 2025 championship.]] ===National championships=== As of December 2025, York Lions teams and athletes have won 39 national championships.<ref name=champs/>
*'''Men's (28)''' **Gymnastics (15): 1971, 1973, 1975–1987 **Ice hockey (3): 1985, 1988, 1989 **Indoor Track & Field (3): 1983, 1984, 2014 **Soccer (6): 1977, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2025 **Wrestling (1): 1989
*'''Women's (11)''' **Field hockey (1): 2025 **Gymnastics (5): 1971, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1984 **Indoor Track & Field (3): 1984, 1988, 1990 **Tennis (2): 2015, 2016
===Conference championships=== *'''Men's''' **Badminton (3): 1968, 1970, 1983 **Basketball (7): 1978–1982, 1984, 1985 **Cross Country (4): 1967–1970 **Curling (3): 1981, 1982, 1986 **Fencing (1): 1970 **Golf (1): 1979 **Gymnastics (19): 1972–1985, 1988–1992 **Ice Hockey (7): 1970, 1985–1988, 2004, 2017 **Rugby (3): 1973, 1976, 1984 **Soccer (7): 1977, 2007, 2013–2015, 2017, 2018 **Skiing (1): 1970 **Squash (2): 1970, 1971 **Swimming (2): 1968, 1969 **Table Tennis (1): 1971 **Tennis (11): 1968–1970, 1975, 1978, 1991, 1994, 1996, 2005, 2007, 2009 **Volleyball (13): 1968–1971, 1973, 1974, 1980–1982, 1989, 1993, 1994, 2005 **Water Polo (4): 1981, 1997, 1999, 2000 **Wrestling (2): 1987, 1989
*'''Women's''' **Badminton (1): 1968 **Basketball (2): 1982, 2007 **Field Hockey (11): 1980, 1981, 1984, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2025 **Figure Skating (2): 1984, 1990 **Ice Hockey (3): 1983, 1987, 1997 **Indoor Hockey (8): 1990–1993, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2005 **Gymnastics (17): 1969–1979, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1990–1992 **Soccer (4): 2005, 2007, 2009, 2019 **Squash (4): 1977, 1978, 1981, 1983 **Synchronized Swimming (6): 1968–1970, 1986, 1988, 1989 **Track & Field (2): 1988, 1990 **Tennis (8): 1968, 1969, 1982, 1995, 2001–2003, 2014 **Volleyball (15): 1979, 1982–1985, 1987, 1988, 1990–1995, 1997, 2009 **Water Polo (5): 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002
==Facilities== {{multiple image | header = | align = | direction = | total_width = 400 | perrow = | image1 = York Lions Stadium prior to a Toronto Arrows match (photo by Djuradj Vujcic).jpg | caption1 = York Lions Stadium | image2 = Alumni_Field_York.jpg | caption2 = Alumni Field | footer = }} {| class="wikitable"; style= "text-align: " ! width= 200px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|York Lions|border=1|color= white }}"| Venue ! width= 120px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|York Lions|border=1|color= white }}"| Sport(s) ! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|York Lions|border=1|color= white }}"| Ref. |- | York Lions Stadium || Football <br> Soccer || <ref>[https://yorkulions.ca/sports/2017/7/11/york-lions-stadium.aspx YORK LIONS STADIUM]</ref><ref>[https://yorkulions.ca/sports/football/schedule 2025 football schedule]</ref><ref>[https://yorkulions.ca/sports/mens-soccer/schedule 2025 soccer schedule]</ref> |- | Alumni Field || Field hockey <br> Rugby || <ref>[https://yorkulions.ca/sports/2012/11/29/GEN_1129122429.aspx?tab=directionsparking2 Alumni Field]</ref><ref>[https://yorkulions.ca/sports/womens-rugby/schedule 2924 rugby schedule]</ref> |- | Tait McKenzie Centre || Basketball <br> Volleyball<br> Wrestling || <ref>[https://yorkulions.ca/sports/wrestling/schedule 2024-25 wrestling schedule]</ref> |- | Canlan Sports{{refn|group=n|name=notwon}} || Ice hockey || <ref>[https://yorkulions.ca/sports/2013/4/12/GEN_0412134245.aspx CANLAN SPORTS]</ref> |- | Mayfair Clubs{{refn|Not owned by the university.|group=n|name=notwon}} || Tennis || <ref>[https://yorkulions.ca/sports/tennis/schedule 2024 tennis schedule]</ref><ref>[https://www.mayfairclubs.com/ Mayfair Clubs]</ref> |- | Toronto Track and Field Centre || Track and field || <ref>[https://yorkulions.ca/sports/track-and-field/schedule 2024-25 Track & Field Schedule]</ref> |}
;Notes {{reflist|group=n}}
==International competition== ''This is an incomplete list'' *Kelsey Webster, Ice Hockey, 2009 Winter Universiade,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.fisu.net/news/winter-fisu-world-university-games/can-announces-women-s-ice-hockey-team-for-harbin|title=CAN Announces Women's Ice Hockey Team for Harbin|website=fisu.net|date=January 9, 2009|access-date=May 4, 2021|language=en|archive-date=May 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504161033/https://www.fisu.net/news/winter-fisu-world-university-games/can-announces-women-s-ice-hockey-team-for-harbin|url-status=dead}}</ref> {{gold1}} *Courtney Unruh, Ice Hockey, 2011 Winter Universiade, {{gold1}} *Kelsey Webster, Ice Hockey, 2011 Winter Universiade, {{gold1}} *Kiri Langford, Ice Hockey, 2011 Women's World Ice Hockey Championships – Division IV, {{gold1}} *Autumn Mills: Baseball, 2015 Pan American Games, {{silver2}} *Brittany Crew, Track and Field, 2017 Summer Universiade (Won gold with a best throw of 18.34 meters)<ref>{{cite news|date=27 August 2017|title=Canada's Brittany Crew captures shot put gold at Summer Universiade|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/article/canadas-brittany-crew-captures-shot-put-gold-at-summer-universiade/|work=Canadian Press|location=Toronto, Ontario, Canada|access-date=1 June 2019}}</ref> {{gold1}} *Melissa Humana-Paredes, Volleyball, 2018 Commonwealth Games {{gold1}}, 2019 Beach Volleyball World Championships {{gold1}}
==Awards and honours== ===Athletes of the Year=== ''This is an incomplete list'' {|class="wikitable" width="60%" |- align="center" style=" background:#E31837;color:#FFFFFF;" | '''Year''' || '''Female Athlete''' || '''Sport''' || '''Male Athlete''' || '''Sport''' |'''Ref.''' |- align="center" bgcolor="" |2009–10||Heather Hamilton ||Track & Field || Tyrone Halstead || Track & Field |<ref>{{Cite news |title=2009-10 York Award Winners |url=https://yorkulions.ca/sports/2014/6/23/HT_0623144244.aspx?id=271 |access-date=2021-06-22 |website=yorkulions.ca |language=en}}</ref> |- align="center" bgcolor="" |2010–11 || Effie Petrou ||Field Hockey ||Adrian Pena ||Soccer |<ref>{{Cite news |title=2010-11 York Award Winners |url=https://yorkulions.ca/sports/2014/6/23/HT_0623144907.aspx?id=272 |access-date=2021-06-22 |website=yorkulions.ca |language=en}}</ref> |- align="center" bgcolor="" |2011–12||Melissa Humana-Paredes ||Volleyball || Dontae Richards-Kwok || Track & Field |<ref>{{Cite news |title=2011-12 York Award Winners |url=https://yorkulions.ca/sports/2014/6/23/HT_0623145158.aspx?id=274 |access-date=2021-06-15 |website=yorkulions.ca |language=en}}</ref> |- align="center" bgcolor="" |2012–13|| Cynthia Appiah|| Track & Field || David McKay|| Track & Field |<ref>{{Cite news |title=2012-13 York Award Winners |url=https://yorkulions.ca/sports/2014/6/23/HT_0623145029.aspx?id=275 |access-date=2021-06-24 |website=yorkulions.ca |language=en}}</ref> |- align="center" bgcolor="" |2013–14 || Khamica Bingham || Track & Field || Dontae Richards-Kwok || Track & Field |<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-07-02 |title=2013-14 YORK AWARD WINNERS |url=https://yorkulions.ca/sports/2014/7/2/HT_0702140833.aspx?id=277 |access-date=2021-06-15 |website=yorkulions.ca |language=en}}</ref> |- align="center" bgcolor="" |2014–15|| Brittany Crew || Track & Field || Jarek Whiteman || Soccer |<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-04-05 |title=2014-15 YORK AWARD WINNERS |url=https://yorkulions.ca/sports/2016/4/5/2014-15-york-award-winners.aspx?id=350 |access-date=2021-06-15 |website=yorkulions.ca |language=en}}</ref> |- align="center" bgcolor="" |2015–16 ||Brittany Crew || Track & Field || Michael Cox|| Soccer |<ref>{{Cite news |title=2015-16 York Award Winners |url=https://yorkulions.ca/sports/2012/11/21/HT_1121123331.aspx?id=3 |access-date=2021-06-24 |website=yorkulions.ca |language=en}}</ref> |- align="center" bgcolor="" |2016–17|| Holly Pitters || Track & Field || Jonathan Lao || Soccer |<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-04-11 |title=2016-17 YORK AWARD WINNERS |url=https://yorkulions.ca/sports/2017/4/11/HT_1121123331.aspx?id=400 |access-date=2021-06-10 |website=yorkulions.ca |language=en}}</ref> |- align="center" bgcolor="" |2017–18||Holly Pitters || Track & Field || Kayden Johnson || Track & Field<br>Football |<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-04-17 |title=2017-18 YORK AWARD WINNERS |url=https://yorkulions.ca/sports/2018/4/17/HT_1121123331.aspx?id=438 |access-date=2021-06-10 |website=yorkulions.ca |language=en}}</ref> |- align="center" bgcolor="" | 2018–19||Brittany Crew || Track & Field || Pierce Lepage || Track & Field |<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-05-22 |title=2018-19 YORK AWARD WINNERS |url=https://yorkulions.ca/sports/2019/5/22/2018-19-york-award-winners.aspx |access-date=2021-06-10 |website=yorkulions.ca |language=en}}</ref> |- align="center" bgcolor="" |2019–20|| Teni Odetoyinbo || Soccer || Daniel Gleason || Track & Field |<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-04-22 |title=GLEASON, ODETOYINBO NAMED YORK ATHLETES OF THE YEAR |url=https://yorkulions.ca/news/2020/4/22/womens-soccer-gleason-odetoyinbo-named-york-athletes-of-the-year.aspx |access-date=2021-06-10 |website=yorkulions.ca |language=en}}</ref> |- align="center" bgcolor="" |2020–21 || colspan="12" | ''Not awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic.'' |- align="center" bgcolor="" |2021–22|| Leah Jones || Track & Field || Dieu Merci Yuma || Soccer |<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 16, 2022 |title=2021-22 York Award Winners |url=https://yorkulions.ca/sports/2022/5/16/2021-22-york-award-winners.aspx |access-date=November 1, 2023 |website=yorkulions.ca}}</ref> |- align="center" bgcolor="" |2022–23|| Jotam Chouhan || Soccer || Soji Olatoye || Soccer |<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 11, 2023 |title=Athletics awards return in-person at annual banquet |url=https://yfile.news.yorku.ca/2023/04/11/athletics-awards-return-in-person-at-annual-banquet/ |access-date=November 1, 2023 |website=yorku.ca}}</ref> |- align="center" bgcolor="" |2023–24|| Kaitlin Brooks || Track & Field || Christian Zeppieri || Soccer |<ref name=MAofY>{{Cite web |url=https://yorkulions.ca/sports/2013/1/30/HT_0130135601.aspx |title=Men's Athlete of the Year |publisher=York Lions |access-date=December 14, 2025}}</ref><ref name=WAofY>{{Cite web |url=https://yorkulions.ca/sports/2013/1/30/HT_0130132542.aspx |title=Women's Athlete of the Year |publisher=York Lions |access-date=December 14, 2025}}</ref> |- align="center" bgcolor="" |2024–25|| Nia Fleming-Thompson || Soccer || Christian Zeppieri || Soccer |<ref name=MAofY/><ref name=WAofY/> |}
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{official website}}
{{York University}} {{Toronto Sports}} {{Ontario Sports}} {{Ontario University Athletics}} {{Navboxes | title = U Sports navboxes | state = collapsed | titlestyle = background:white; color:black; border: 2px solid #FF322D; | list1 = {{U Sports basketball}} {{U Sports men's ice hockey}} {{U Sports soccer}} {{U Sports volleyball}} }}
Category:York Lions Category:U Sports teams Category:Sports clubs and teams in Toronto Lions