Building a Sport and Creating a Legacy
The 1960-61 and the 1961-62 Varsity Blues intercollegiate women’s ice hockey teams served as a foundation for an athletic legacy that has continued to grow for nearly 50 years. After a decade-long hiatus from intercollegiate competition, this group of dedicated athletes was responsible for reviving women’s ice hockey at the varsity level and establishing a record of excellence that has inspired the success of generations of women’s hockey teams at U of T.
During the 1960-61 season, Linda Maki, Laurel Ball, Nancy Darling and Lee Pickrell provided most of the goals while Sue McNeel and Sue Robertson protected goalie Phyllis Hart. With the addition of some fresh talent in the following season and under the continuing leadership of Mary Foster, the 1961-62 team went on to win the Intercollegiate Invitational Hockey Tournament in February of 1962.
These winning teams include U of T Sports Hall of Fame inductees Gill Fisher (1996) and Linda (Maki) Pella (2008). Coach Mary Foster was inducted in 1994, for her major contributions to the continuing success of the Varsity Blues Intercollegiate program, the WIAU and later the OWIAA and OUA.
1960-61 Women’s Hockey Team
Team members (in alphabetical order): Laurel Ball, Nancy Darling, Gill Fisher, Phyllis Hart, Jean MacDonald, Linda Maki, Sue McNeel, Sharon Milgram, Doris Miller,
Judy Pennington, Lee Pickrell (Captain), Judy Pullen, Sue Robertson, Mary Russell,
Maureen Thomson, Laurann Van Volkanberg.
Mary Foster (Coach), Mary Sellers (Manager)
1961-62 Women’s Hockey Team
Team members (in alphabetical order): Laurel Ball, Nancy Darling, Gill Fisher, Sue Griffin, Heather Harman, Phyllis Hart, Jean MacDonald, Jan McAdam, Jean McKenzie, Sue Robertson, Sue Rose, Anita Szlazak, Maureen Thomson.
Mary Foster (Coach), Pat Humphreys (Manager)
