A national tournament comes to Waterloo
The University of Waterloo Warriors will begin their bid for a national university field hockey title on home turf this week, as the city hosts the 2026 National Bank Field Hockey Canada U Sports Championship. The four-day tournament brings together Waterloo and three other university teams from across Canada, with every match set to be played at Warrior Field.
For local supporters, the opening day on Thursday, Nov. 5, will provide two opportunities to see the championship begin. The University of Toronto is scheduled to play the University of British Columbia at 4 p.m., followed by Waterloo’s first game against the University of Prince Edward Island at 6 p.m. The Warriors will be looking to turn home-field familiarity into a strong start against national competition.
Warriors enter after recent provincial success
Waterloo’s appearance comes after a productive two-season stretch in Ontario university competition. The Warriors won gold in the 2024 Ontario University Athletics tournament before earning bronze in 2025. This week’s championship gives the team a chance to measure that recent progress against opponents from outside the province, rather than competing only within the Ontario university system.
The tournament format will give Waterloo three round-robin games, with each participating team meeting the others once. That structure means the Warriors’ opening result will be part of a broader push for one of the two places in Sunday’s gold-medal game. The remaining teams will compete for bronze, keeping the final day meaningful for all four programs.
Championship schedule
| Date | Match or event | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 5 | University of Toronto vs. University of British Columbia | 4 p.m. |
| Nov. 5 | Waterloo Warriors vs. University of Prince Edward Island | 6 p.m. |
| Nov. 8 | Bronze-medal game | 12 p.m. |
| Nov. 8 | Gold-medal game | 2:30 p.m. |
Waterloo’s remaining round-robin games will determine whether the team returns to Warrior Field on Sunday for a medal game. The championship’s closing contests are scheduled for Nov. 8, with the bronze-medal match at noon and the title game at 2:30 p.m. The tournament will therefore move quickly from Thursday’s opening fixtures to the final ranking matches three days later.
What local fans need to know
The event gives Waterloo residents a chance to watch university athletes competing for the highest national title available in their sport without leaving the city. Tickets may vary in price depending on the day, and a ticket is valid for both matches scheduled on that day. That arrangement applies particular relevance to the opening and closing dates, when two games are listed on the same day.
- Venue: Warrior Field at the University of Waterloo.
- Opening Waterloo game: Nov. 5 against the University of Prince Edward Island at 6 p.m.
- Final day: Nov. 8, with bronze at noon and gold at 2:30 p.m.
- Format: Round robin followed by medal games.
With Waterloo serving as both host and competitor, the championship will put the Warriors’ recent Ontario results into a national setting. Their first test arrives Thursday evening, while the tournament’s final standings will be settled Sunday afternoon at Warrior Field.
