Mustangs open McCaw Cup defence with finals rematch against Gryphons on Oct. 3

HAMILTON - Ontario University Athletics (OUA) announced on Wednesday its league schedule for the upcoming 2015-16 women's hockey season.

Fans of OUA women's hockey won't have to wait long into the 2015-16 season to see a rematch of last year's OUA championship, as the Western Mustangs will begin their McCaw Cup defence in Guelph, Ont. on Oct. 3 when they face-off against the Gryphons. 

Western went 20-1-3 last season on their way to capturing their first OUA championship in program history with a 2-0 victory over the aforementioned Gryphons.  Despite making their first CIS women's hockey championship appearance, the Mustangs showed no sign of nerves as they rolled through Moncton, Montreal and defending champion McGill, en route to capturing their first-ever national championship.

Also kicking off the season on Oct. 3, the Laurentian Voyageurs will travel to North Bay, Ont. to take on their northern rival the Nipissing Lakers at the Memorial Gardens.  Last season, the teams split their regular season matchups.

The following weekend, Oct. 10-11, the Gryphons will welcome the University of Toronto Varsity Blues and the Ryerson Rams to the not so friendly confines of the Gryphon Centre Arena for a weekend doubleheader. 

Guelph swept the Rams in their best-of-three quarterfinal playoff series last season, however, the Gryphons needed OT in both games to sneak past Ryerson.  With the victory, the Gryphons advanced to take on the Varsity Blues in the semifinals.

The Windsor Lancers will be seeking revenge for an early playoff exit when they host Toronto in their home opener at the South Windsor Arena on Oct. 24.  The Blues swept the Lancers in their quarterfinal series last season and Windsor would like nothing more than to defend home ice to open the season.

On Nov. 1, the Mustangs will head North to Nipissing to battle the Lakers in a rematch of their quarterfinal series.  Despite being swept by the Mustangs, the Lakers held Western in check, losing by only a single goal in three of the five meetings.

The 2013-14 OUA champion Laurier Golden Hawks, will head to London, Ont. on Nov. 15 to take on the Mustangs with the hopes of stealing three points and proving #OurPurpleIsBetter.  The Mustangs eliminated the Golden Hawks from the playoffs last season, but needed double overtime to do it, winning 5-4 on Feb. 27.

Nov. 29 marks the end of the first half of the season as the York Lions are in Waterloo, Ont. to face off against the Golden Hawks, while their crosstown rival the Waterloo Warriors will be in "The Royal City" to face the Gryphons.

Regular season play resumes on Jan. 9 with five games on the schedule including the UOIT Ridgebacks in Windsor, Ont. to battle the Lancers.

The 2015-16 regular season concludes on Feb. 21 as the Queen's Gaels travel to St. Catharines, Ont. to take on the Brock Badgers at the Seymour Hannah Arena.

The top eight teams will qualify for the playoffs with the quarterfinals on Feb. 24 followed by two semifinal matchups beginning on Mar. 2.  Each round consists of a best-of-three series.  

The McCaw Cup will be played on Mar. 12, 2016 in a one-game, winner-take-all battle, hosted by the highest remaining team with the best record.

Read the full schedule here.