On August 2, 2011, Jen Rawson left her assistant coaching position with the Toronto Lady Blues to assume the head coaching role for the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds.[1] In the previous year, the Thunderbirds ranked sixth in the Canada West standings with a won loss record of 7-16-1. Rawson was tasked with helping the squad qualify for its first trip to the postseason since the 2008–09 season.
September 27, 2011: Hayley Wickenheiser was honoured as a CIS Top Eight Academic All-Canadian. She became the first Calgary Dinos student-athlete to earn the top academic honour in CIS since soccer player Kelly Matheson in 2000.[9]
October 7: Leslie Oles scored twice, while adding a pair of assists as the McGill Martlets defeated Concordia by a 7-5 tally. It was the Martlets 106th consecutive victory over conference opponents. The win was also their 38th in a row over the Concordia Stingers.[10] Head coach Peter Smith earned his 301st career win.
October 13: During the weekend of October 14–16, all CIS hockey teams will use the RUBR brand puck. It is a Canadian-made hockey puck produced with rubber tapped naturally from the trees of Liberia.[11]
October 14: The Queen's Golden Gaels defeated the Chinese national women's ice hockey team by a 6-1 tally.[12]
October 14: Saskatchewan Huskies players Kelsey Tulloch and Danny Stone each logged a pair of goals to win their season opener versus the Regina Cougars by a 7-1 tally.[13]
October 16: Laura Jordan of the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds tallied two goals in a 4-2 victory over the Lethbridge Pronghorns. It was Jen Rawson's first win as the UBC head coach.[14]
October 29: Montreal Carabins 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.[15] It marked the Martlets first loss to a Quebec conference opponent for the first time in 108 games.[16]
Season standings
More information Canada West standings, Overall ...
On February 25, 2012, Iya Gavrilova scored the game-winning goal in the deciding game of the 2012 Canada West tournament, as the Calgary Dinos claimed their first ever tournament title.[17]
