The Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks men’s and women’s hockey teams are preparing for another chapter in the Battle of Waterloo rivalry.
The Golden Hawks and the University of Waterloo Warriors share a unique rivalry. Their main campuses are only two kilometres apart, creating an intense, one-of-a-kind contest. Laurier has been on the wrong side of the Battle of Waterloo in six of the past seven seasons. This year could be different, but several November hockey matchups could help determine who takes home the trophy.
The Battle of Waterloo is about more than geographic proximity. At the end of each season, the university with the better record in head-to-head matchups across baseball, basketball, curling, football, hockey, rugby, soccer and swimming claims the Battle of Waterloo trophy.
November will be a pivotal month in determining the winner, as the Golden Hawks’ men’s and women’s hockey teams play multiple games against the Warriors.
Kevin Forrest, head coach of the Laurier men’s hockey team and manager of hockey operations, explained why the rivalry matters to both schools.
“It’s a bit unique where we’re so close to each other, and I think the uniqueness is what makes it, what separates it from others in that sense,” Forrest said.
On Oct. 15, the two sides met in their first men’s matchup of the season. Despite two goals from second-year Arts student, assistant captain Ty Petrou, Laurier fell 4-3 after a difficult opening period.
“We had a bad first period that night. That’s essentially what it came down to. And, you know, we talked about it,” Forrest said.
He also highlighted a few factors that contributed to the result.
“We’ve got to manage the puck and come out strong from the start because they certainly had,” he said.
With those adjustments, Laurier will look to even the season series when the teams meet again on Nov. 6 at Columbia Ice Fields.
The Laurier men’s hockey team is scheduled to face Waterloo on Nov. 6, 20 and 21, while the women’s team will take on the Warriors on Nov. 18 and 21.
Kelly Paton, head coach of the Laurier women’s hockey team, is looking to build on another strong season after the Golden Hawks finished the 2025-26 campaign with the best record in the OUA, winning 21 of 26 games.
The Golden Hawks will play a home-and-away series against a Warriors team that suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss to Guelph in last year’s OUA quarterfinals. The Gryphons went on to win the McCaw Cup.
With the women’s team entering the rivalry games in strong form, the matchup has the potential to be one of the most exciting Battle of Waterloo contests in recent years.
Forrest encouraged students to attend the upcoming rivalry games.
“You gotta see it, you gotta see it live. But regardless of what sport it is, whether it’s hockey or basketball or football, get out and see these things live. It makes all the difference,” he said.
Tickets for Laurier’s upcoming home games are available online through the Golden Hawks ticketing.
Contributed photo by Lucas Edmunds
