The origin of name "Martlet" is used in reference to the coat of arms of McGill University, which includes three birds. These birds were originally a part of the family crest of James McGill, founder of the university. The McGill Martlet Foundation, created in 1954, uses this heraldic symbol. The foundation is a philanthropic organization aimed at helping student athletes at McGill. In 1976, various women's teams at McGill University adopted the use of the name "Martlets".
History
Since 1896, women's ice hockey has existed at McGill University. In the early years of ice hockey play at McGill University, women dressed in long skirts and males were not allowed to attend. The only exceptions were the referee and the arena employees who guarded the main entrance.[2] The ban was lifted a few years later.[2]
The McGill women's ice hockey team participated in the first Women Provincial Ontario Championship in 1914.[3] The university league was dissolved in 1933.[4] From 1936 to 1948, followed by the time period of 1951 to 1960, there was no competition in the Women Interuniversity Athletics Union (WIAU).
A renewal began in the 1960s. In 1963, David Kerr, a male member of the McGill Redmen, agreed to assist in the revival of the McGill women's ice hockey team. In 2006, Kerr and his wife Sheryl Drysdale (the couple met at McGill) donated $1 million for the hockey program.[5] It is the largest donation ever made for a female sporting program in Canadian university history. The donation allowed the team's trainers to assume a full-time role with the team.[5] In addition, the team was able to employ a scout for the Martlets in the recruitment of collegial players in Quebec.[6]
During the 2006–07 CIS season, the Martlets were ranked as the number one university team for the duration of the entire season. At the end of season, the Martlets were crowned Quebec champions and awarded a silver medal in the Canadian championships. In the CIS final, the Martlets were defeated by a 4–0 score versus the Alberta Pandas women's ice hockey club.[8] Of note, 9 of their 21 players were rookies.[5] The following season (2007–08), the Martlets enjoyed an undefeated season, with 33 wins.[9][10] In the 2008 postseason, the Martlets (with a record of 7 victories, 0 defeats), claimed the national title on March 10, 2008, in Ottawa, with a 2–0 victory against the Laurier Golden Hawks women's ice hockey program.[5]
At the end of the 2008–09 season, the Martlets were the national women's champions for the second consecutive year.[11] In a rematch of the previous final, the Martlets defeat the Laurier Golden Hawks women's ice hockey team by a score of 3–1. The streak ended in the 2009–10 season, the Martlets appeared in the 2010 championship game, but were defeated by the Alberta Pandas by a 2–0 tally.[12] Goaltender Charline Labonte and head coach Peter Smith were not with the club as they participated in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games.
McGill Martlets' in action during a 2012 game
In the 2010–11 season,[13] the Martlets won the QSSF and CIS titles. In addition, the Martlets enjoy another undefeated season with 33 victories and no losses.[14] With their third Canadian championship in four years, the McGill Martlets hockey team become the most decorated in the history of McGill University. On October 1, 2011, the Martlets defeated the Vermont Catamounts women's ice hockey program by a 3–2 tally. With the win, coach Peter Smith earned the 300th victory of his coaching career.[15] Twenty-eight days later (on October 29, 2011), Montreal Carabins women's ice hockey skater Ariane Barker scored with 71 seconds left to give the squad a 3–2 win at McConnell Arena. Martlets goaltender Charline Labonte took the loss for the Martlets, giving her a 69–2 overall record in her CIS career.[16] It marked the Martlets first loss to a Quebec conference opponent for the first time in 108 games.[17]
The Martlets and Montreal Hockey
Martlets' former head coach Peter Smith
In August 2022, the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) unveiled the newest expansion team for the 2022–23 season, the Montreal Force.[18] In keeping with the Martlets longstanding history with Montreal women's hockey, several former Martlets members were signed to the new organisation including former head coach Peter Smith. He stepped into his role as head coach of the Force with four national championship victories with the Marlets under his belt.[19] Jade Downie-Landry, Ann-Sophie Bettez, and Tricia Deguire, all former Marlets, also signed with the Force in 2022.[20][21]
Marie-Andrée Leclerc-Auger, 2009 CIS Rookie of the Year [27]
Leclerc-Auger became the third member of the Martlets in three years to be named as the top rookie in CIS women’s hockey. This marked the first time in CIS history that players from the same school in a team sport were honoured as the nation’s best freshman for three consecutive years. Catherine Ward and Ann-Sophie Bettez received the award in 2006–07 and 2007–08.[28]
Charline Labonté, 2009 BLG Award nominee (honouring the top CIS female and male athletes)
Ann-Sophie Bettez, CIS Player of the Year (Brodick Trophy) (2011–12)
Melodie Daoust, CIS Rookie of the Year (Tissot Award) (2011–12)
Katia Clement-Heydra, 2014 BLG Award nominee (honouring the top CIS female and male athletes)
Katia Clement-Heydra, CIS Player of the Year (Brodick Trophy) (2013–14)
Four former Marlets are playing with the Premier Hockey Federation's 2022 expansion team, the Montreal Force, in its debut season: Ann-Sophie Bettez, Tricia Deguire, Jade Downey-Landry, and Laura Jardin.[35]
A number of Martlets have represented Canada in international competition, including with the Canadian national ice hockey team at the Winter Olympic Games and IIHF Women's World Championship, with the Canadian national university team at the Winter Universiade, and with the Canadian national developmental (under-22) ice hockey team at the Nations Cup (previously known as the Air Canada Cup, MLP Nations Cup, and Meco Cup), among other international competitions.
^M. Ann Hall, Immodest and Sensational: 150 Years of Canadian Women in Sport, James Lorimer & Company Ltd. Toronto 2008, page 30. ISBN978-1-55277-021-4
