Thousands of elementary students cheer on Golden Hawks women’s hockey team during annual event

Thousands of elementary school students took part in Wilfrid Laurier University's annual School Day event on Jan. 29, 2026. (Colton Wiens/CTV News)

More than 2,300 elementary school students from the Region of Waterloo got the chance to take in a university women’s hockey game on Thursday.

Wilfrid Laurier University’s annual School Day game welcomed local students from across the region to watch the Golden Hawks women’s hockey team take on the University of Toronto at the Waterloo Memorial Recreational Complex Thursday afternoon. School Day events have been held for 12 years and are meant to show local students a fun day in the community and some of what the post-secondary school has to offer.

“Oh, It’s amazing. I never been to hockey before. I think I actually should play hockey,” Madiha, a student from Country Hills Public School said.

The event included activities throughout the arena, such as sign making, corn hole, and the men’s hockey team was on hand to sign autographs.

“I think it’s awesome. And it’s the best experience I’ve ever had,” another student said.

The school said these games also give their varsity teams a chance to play in front of a big crowd.

“You can just hear the atmosphere. You know that the kids love being here,” Ryan Lannan, associate director of Wilfrid Laurier University interuniversity sport and recreation, said. “It’s a way for our athletes to be engaged in the community. It’s a way for our athletes who aren’t playing in the game today to also be here. [They] can be the mentors that we want them to be - be the leaders in the community. It’s just another chance to say, if I’m a kid, ‘I got a chance to have a really great day. I’m not in school. I get to come and cheer on the Hawks.’ And hopefully that reciprocates to them connecting with our programs.”

“I kind of had an idea, but I think it’s a little more packed this year than it was last year. It’s a good time. It’s awesome for the school and all these kids and young kids, their schools getting involved,” Nolan Bettens, a defenceman on the Golden Hawks men’s hockey team said.

The Golden Hawks women’s hockey team is ranked third in the country with playoffs just around the corner. Laurier also provided some extra excitement for the fans on Thursday: after a tight game that saw regulation time end tied 1-1, Hayley Szymanowski scored in overtime for Laurier, beating Toronto 2-1.