The No. 10 nationally ranked University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's hockey team begin a four game home stand this weekend with a doubleheader of Northern opponents in the visiting Nipissing Lakers (Feb. 10) and Laurentian Voyageurs (Feb. 11).
 
Both games are scheduled for a 7 p.m. puck drop with advance tickets on sale here. All the action will also be streamed live on OUA.tv. 
 
Having won seven of their last nine games, the Varsity Blues have shot up the highly competitive OUA standings, now sitting alone in third place with a 12-1-7-0 (W-OTW-L-OTL) record this season.
 
The string of victories coincides with a surge in the Blues offence, having outscored their opponents 21-15 over the nine-game stretch. Most impressive is the goals scored on special teams as U of T leads the province in shorthanded goals (5) and ranks third in powerplay markers (15).
 
Veterans Taylor Day and Kristi Riseley lead the charge with Day now tied for fourth in OUA scoring with 21 points (12 G, 9 A) and Riseley breaking into the top 20 with 16 (8 G, 8 A). The pair have four powerplay goals each, with Day also leading the OUA with four shorthanded goals.
 
The offence extends to the blue line though with the Varsity Blues having two of the top five scoring defencemen this season. Third-year blue-liner Julia Szulewska ranks tied for second in the province with 12 points (4 G, 8 A), while 2015-16 U Sports all-rookie Cristine Chao sits fifth with 11 (1 G, 10 A).
 
Toronto will need to be firing on all cylinders as they take on the second place Lakers, who hold a 12-3-3-2 record. The Blues topped Nipissing earlier this season, 2-1, in North Bay, Ont. Meanwhile, the 10-0-9-2 Voyageurs have been a thorn in the side of Toronto having defeated the Blues in three of their last four meetings including exhibition play.
 
Following the Northern opponents visit to Toronto, the Varsity Blues will end the regular season with another doubleheader featuring the Ryerson Rams (Feb. 16) and Brock Badgers (Feb. 18). Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m. puck drops with the action also streamed live on OUA.tv.

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