March 22, 2026

Vive Lafrance! UQTR scores OT winner to lift 2026 University Cup

UQTR

21-8-3, 20-8-3-0

Saint Mary's

16-11-1, 16-10-1-3

Final	1	2	3	OT	T
UQTR 21-8-3, 20-8-3-0	0	2	0	1	3
Saint Mary's 16-11-1, 16-10-1-3	1	1	0	0	2

Scoring Summary

1st - 01:30 - Jake Uberti (Saint Mary's)

2nd - 06:49 - Christophe Rondeau (UQTR)

2nd - 08:16 - Ben Allison (Saint Mary's)

2nd - 18:47 - Charles Beaudoin (UQTR)

OT - 14:23 - Conor Frenette (UQTR)

Game Leaders

UQTR

G: 3 Players (#22, #61, #79) - 1

A: Felix Lafrance - 2

Sh: 4 Players (#22, #49, #61, #71) - 4

Sv: William Grimard - 45

Saint Mary's

G: 2 Players (#3, #25) - 1

A: 3 Players (#5, #18, #74) - 1

Sh: Reid Valade - 9

Sv: Marcus Vandenberg - 30

Team Stats

Game Statistics	UQTR	Saint Mary's
PowerPlays	0 for 3	0 for 3
Shorthanded Goals	0	0
Penalties (min)	5 (10)	6 (14)
Shots on Goal	33	47
Face Offs Won	38	33

Full stats

N.B. an earlier version of this story contained an incorrect name for Ethan Ritchie of SMU. That has been corrected.

Félix Lafrance added another chapter to a family and program legacy Sunday, scoring at 14:23 of overtime to lift the UQTR Patriotes to a 3-2 victory over the Saint Mary's Huskies in the championship game of the 2026 U SPORTS University Cup at Scotiabank Centre.

In front of a crowd of 7,386 — the largest attendance for a University Cup final since 2016, also held in Halifax — Lafrance delivered the latest in a string of dramatic finishes for the Patriotes.

UQTR hoisted the David Johnston University Cup for the sixth time, with the last three titles decided in overtime. Marc-Étienne Hubert, now UQTR's head coach, scored the winner in 2001. Simon Lafrance did so in 2022, and his younger brother Félix added his name to the list in 2026.

Lafrance, named UQTR's player of the game, capped a two-point performance by finishing a crisp passing play from Conor Frenette and Christophe Rondeau. His shot beat Huskies goaltender Marcus Vandenberg and sparked a jubilant celebration for the orange-clad Patriotes.

Saint Mary's, which fell to 1-6 all-time in national finals, opened the scoring just 1:30 into the game when Jake Uberti struck early to energize the home crowd.

UQTR answered in the second period, with Pier-Olivier Roy tying the game at 6:49. The Huskies responded quickly, as Ben Allison — their player of the game — restored the lead less than two minutes later. But once again, the Patriotes had an answer, with Charles Beaudoin scoring late in the period to knot the game at 2-2.

The third period was tightly contested, with both teams trading chances but unable to break through, sending the game to overtime.

Goaltender William Grimard was outstanding for UQTR, turning aside 45 shots as Saint Mary's outshot the Patriotes 47-33.

After a tense extra frame, Lafrance sealed the championship, adding another chapter to UQTR's storied history — one that often takes extra time to complete.

Frenette, who assisted on the winner, was named tournament MVP, joining teammates Grimard and Loris Rafanomezantsoa on the tournament all-star team. Ethan Ritchie and Ben Allison of Saint Mary's, along with Cody Morgan of UNB, rounded out the all-star selections.

The Patriotes will look to defend their title on home ice next year, as the 2027 U SPORTS University Cup is set for the Colisée Videotron in Trois-Rivières next March.

NIKE TEAM PLAYERS OF THE GAME
UQTR: Félix Lafrance
Saint Mary's: Ben Allison

MAJOR W.J. (DANNY) McLEOD AWARD (Championship MVP)
Conor Frenette, UQTR

TOURNAMENT ALL-STAR TEAM
G: William Grimard, UQTR
D: Loris Rafanomezantsoa, UQTR
D: Ethan Ritchie, Saint Mary's
F: Ben Allison, Saint Mary's
F: Conor Frenette, UQTR
F: Cody Morgan, UNB