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The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's hockey team opens their 2013-14 regular season campaign with the 2013 Downtown Showdown Hockey School Day in Toronto versus the Ryerson Rams this Thursday, October 3.

Over 4,000 children from the TDSB and TCDSB will converge on Varsity Arena when the puck drops at 11 a.m.

The Blues also play host to the UOIT Ridgebacks on Saturday, October 5 at 4 p.m. The game will be streamed live via GoBlues.tv and advanced tickets for both games are on sale here.

U of T finished last season with a 15-8-3 record in fifth place and fell to the Western Mustangs in an OUA quarter-final series. Toronto redeemed themselves as the host of the CIS national championship, taking all three games to overtime en route to a fourth-place finish.

After a taste of the national stage, the Blues are hungry to extend post-season play and earn their spot in the CIS tournament this year. 

"I think last season was a great stepping stone for our program," said Vicky Sunohara, who enters her third season as Varsity Blues bench boss this season. "We earned some respect from other teams across the CIS and proved that we could compete with the best in the country. We gained some much needed confidence which leaves us in a great position to start the season."

Back to lead the Blues between the pipes is fourth-year netminder Nicole Kesteris. The Aurora, Ont., native posted a 0.916 regular season save percentage and ended the season with a career-high 53-save performance in a 1-0 overtime loss to the eventual CIS champion Montreal Carabins. Rookie goalie Michaela Logan of North Vancouver, B.C., joins the team from Okanagan Hockey Academy and will challenge Kesteris for playing time this season.

Team captain Kelly O'Hanlon of Markham, Ont., returns to once again lead Toronto's offensive charge. The fifth-year forward topped the team and ranked seventh in the OUA with 12 goals and 15 assists in 2012-13. Ilderton, Ont., native Taylor Day had an impressive rookie campaign, finishing second on the team with eight goals and 11 assists last season.

Third-year forwards Sonja Weidenfelder and Jacqueline Scheffel proved they were scoring threats in the post-season last year and veterans Ragan Danford, Amanda Ricker and Brittany Kirby will not only be relied on for their leadership, but for their finish around the net as well.

Twin sisters Alie and Courtney Brind'Amour-McClure, first-year forward Katherine Gale of Crowthorne, England, and Elmira College transfer Arden Cowley adds some solid depth to Toronto offence. The twins have a natural vision of the game and scoring ability that is sure to have success this season, while Gale, a member of the Great Britain national team, adds solid leadership and versatility to squad this season.

Toronto's defensive corps returns in 2013-14. Fifth-year veteran Marlie McLaughlin will be called upon to help guide newcomers Autumn Garnham and Rebecca Bourgeois through their first season on U of T's blue line.

Fellow veterans Stacey Oue and MC Geneau are also back to help quarterback the Blues break out and start the offensive rush, while third-year players April Looije and Caitlin Maikawa provide a solid physical presence in Toronto's defensive zone.

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