International success, last-second wins highlight best U Sports moments of 2023

In a year that featured the return of the FISU World University Games, last-minute title-clinching goals and underdog teams winning championships, 2023 was a memorable year for U Sports. 

As the year comes to a close, we take a look back at 10 standout stories from Canadian university sports in 2023.

WATCH | Top U Sports moments of the year:

Gold medals in men's and women's hockey at the World University Games had eluded Canada since both teams won in Trentino, Italy in 2013. 

Yet, at Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, NY, Canada won both competitions, securing golds on the ice that hosted USA Hockey's "Miracle on Ice" at the 1980 Winter Olympics. 

Built of U Sports all-stars on both sides, Canada's men's team featured seven NHL Draft Picks and was the buzz of the tournament from the opening day. Led by head coach Gardiner MacDougall, who would later go on to lead the University of New Brunswick Reds to the University Cup title, Canada outscored opponents 37-5 in the group stage before beating Kazakhstan and the USA in the semifinal and final.

By topping the preliminary stage, Games organizers gave the Canadian team locker room five, the same room that housed Team USA at the 1980 Games. 

"You can't really draw it up any better, Canada and USA at Herb Brooks Arena; it's unique and really special," Team Canada's Matt Struthers said, gold medal around his neck. "It's something you dream of as a kid, and to win like that is super special."

Meanwhile, the Canadian women had a golden path that saw them eliminate the Americans from playoff contention in front of a sold-out crowd before eventually beating Japan in the gold medal game. Along the way, however, they had the eye of Marie-Philip Poulin, who reached out to team captain Emmy Fecteau throughout the tournament. 

"She congratulated me, said good luck and that I should enjoy it and wanted to make sure I was okay with the role," Fecteau said. "She also wrote to the leadership group, and she asked how we were doing, and told us good luck, and it was really nice of her."

After the tournament and end of the U Sports season, several of the Canadian players also turned pro, while Canada's Audrey-Anne Veillette was selected by Ottawa in the inaugural PWHL Draft, but did not secure a contract. 

While the Canadian team winning gold was one of the most significant stories of the year in U Sports, no player had a story similar to Tyler Hylland's.

A standout player with the Concordia University Stingers, Hylland was added to the roster a week before the Games as an injury replacement, just weeks after his mother had passed away. 

"Before she passed, we had spoken about potentially getting this [Team Canada] opportunity, and she was super excited for me. I know she would have been at every single game," Hylland said ahead of the gold medal game. "I want to do it for her and my whole family that needs something to change the mood -- I just want to make them proud."