The No. 9 nationally ranked Varsity Blues women's hockey team began 2024 with a 2-0 victory against the York Lions on the road on Friday (Jan. 5) night. 
 
Toronto got off to a quick start in the game scoring just 59 seconds into the first period with first year-forward Taylor Delahey receiving a pass from Ashley Delahey before scoring from a tough angle to get the Blues on the board. As the opening frame continued, both teams got quality scoring chances but fifth-year goalie Erica Fryer and Lions goalie Emma Wedgewood were both up to the task to keep the score at 1-0 after the first.

The second period was scoreless but there wasn't an absence of action. A particular standout was the Blues' penalty kill who were forced to kill off a five-on-three Lions powerplay. Toronto rose to the occasion, chewing the clock and clearing the puck out of the defensive zone to fight off the Lions offence.
 
In the third period the Lions pushed for offence but Fryer was making some of the best of her 17 saves in the shutout, before second-year forward Kaitlyn McKnight buried a rebound off a shot from captain Taylor Trussler to give the Blues some insurance late in the final frame. 
 
Toronto continued to play a composed game in the final five minutes to preserve the shutout to start off 2024 on a winning note.
 
It's a quick turnaround for the Blues who will face the Laurier Golden Hawks on Saturday, Jan. 6 at Varsity Arena. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at Varsityblues.ca/tickets and the game will be streamed live on oua.tv.