The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's hockey team are looking to return to the OUA postseason with an influx of talent for the 2026-27 season.
 
The Blues just missed out on the playoffs a season ago finishing the regular season in seventh place in the OUA West with a 13-11-3-1 (W-L-OTL-SOL) record. With 13 new additions to the roster for this season, Toronto is hoping to convert the excitement and energy of a renewed lineup into a high-pressure attack at Varsity Arena. Six preseason games and four home games throughout October will provide plenty of opportunity to build early chemistry.
 
FROM THE COACH'S DESK:
"The excitement has been building as we approach the beginning of our season from players and coaching staff alike. We had our biggest recruiting class in program history with 13 additions, and we feel we will be a faster, more physical and a deeper team than we've been in the past. With that many new additions comes the challenge of playing connected and getting everyone aligned both on-and-off the ice. However, the entire group has gelled nicely and put in the time to ensure we are pulling in the same direction from the start. We have a great leadership group intact who have been instrumental in moving the group along. Having a strong first half of the season is our focus right now as we prepare to go to battle in a highly competitive conference."

• Ryan Medel, University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's hockey head coach

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Key Returnees:  Rylee Hlusiak (F), Owen Luik (D), Dylan Wightman (F), Aiden Reeves (F), Nick Surzycia (G)
Key Additions: Ryan Gillespie (F), David Brandes (D), Alex Dimitriadis (F), Jeremi Tremblay (F), Isaac Holt (D)
 
LAST SEASON'S LEADERS
Goals: Rylee Hlusiak | 28 GP, 10 G
Assists: Mark Cooper | 25 GP, 18 A
Points: Hlusiak, Cooper, Dylan Wightman | 21 PTS
Wins: Nick Surzycia | 20 GP, 9 W

FROM THE ICE:
"Inside our room, the biggest thing for us is continuing to build a family where guys want to be around each other as much as possible. We have a high standard for ourselves, so our goals are always directed at winning a championship. There's a real opportunity to make Varsity Arena an exciting place to be and create an atmosphere that our students, alumni and fans want to be a part of. We want to build something that lasts beyond this season and leave the Varsity Blues hockey program in a better place than we found it." 

• Aiden Reeves, 4th year, Defence

MARQUEE GAMES
October 16 vs Brock
The home opener for the Varsity Blues 2026-27 campaign, this matchup with the Badgers has favoured U of T in recent history. Despite a loss to Brock at the end of last season, U of T have claimed wins in five of the last six meetings. This has included 22 goals for the Blues across those five wins, averaging over four goals a game in the victories.
 
October 23 vs TMU
In the first of four games versus the Bold this season, U of T will look to capitalize on home ice for this Battle of Toronto showdown. The Blues earned a hard fought shootout win over TMU during the preseason and another early season win over the Bold will go a long way in establishing U of T in the overall standings.

October 28 vs Western
A special day marking the 100th anniversary of Varsity Arena, this home doubleheader alongside the Varsity Blues women's hockey team will be a Saturday celebration. The men open the day with a 3 p.m. puck drop versus the visiting Mustangs, a team U of T is very familiar with having faced off against each other 105-times since first meeting in December 1964.
 
February 5/6  vs Lakehead
The Blues and Thunderwolves always deliver physicality. These back-to-back home games versus Lakehead at Varsity Arena will be critical for a late postseason push. Toronto will have already made the trip to Thunder Bay for a doubleheader there in mid-November, so the second doubleheader in early-February will already be filled with purpose.

GET YOUR TICKETS
Game tickets can be purchased at varsityblues.ca/tickets. Entry is FREE for U of T students with a valid T-Card.

All Varsity Blues hockey games will also be streamed live and on-demand via oua.tv.