X-Women hockey captain on World University Games gold medal winning team

While her X-Women teammates were wrapping up AUS regular season play, fifth year veteran forward Brayden Ferguson was winning a gold medal for team Canada. Ferguson was a member of the Canadian women’s team at the 24th Winter World University Games held recently in Harbin, China.

The team finished the international tournament with a perfect 7-0 record, including a 3-1 win over the host China team in the gold medal game. The team made history as the first-ever women’s gold medalists in the debut of the sport at the University Games. The Canadian team consisted of CIS players from teams across Canada, comprising an all-star team.

Ferguson was one of three AUS players on the team and the only one from StFX. The Toronto, ON native and last year’s CIS Player of the Year rounded out the 7 games with 6 points (3 goals, 3 assists), including team Canada’s first ever goal scored in their first round robin game, an 11-0 win over Great Britain.

The Canadians were 5-0 after round robin play with victories over Great Britain (11-0), Finland (5-0), Slovakia (6-3), China (7-1) and Japan (4-1). They advanced to the gold medal with a 10-1 semi-final routing over Slovakia and despite the packed hometown crowd in Harbin for the gold medal game, they kept their perfect record intact and defeated the Chinese 3-1.

Ferguson joins fellow Xaverians Sam Roberts and Stuart MacRae who earned gold medals for the Canadian men’s hockey team in 2007 at the World University Games held in Torino, Italy. This year’s Canadian men’s team consisted of Canada West conference all-stars and earned a silver medal, losing to Russia 4-2 in the gold medal match.

Ferguson will return to the X-Women line-up in time to join them for the upcoming AUS championship taking place March 6-8 at UPEI.

For complete 2009 World University Games results, click here for the offical Team Canada Universiade website