Championships Women’s Field Hockey

U SPORTS, the national brand of university sports in Canada, announced Friday that Nike Team has been named its new exclusive performance apparel partner. The five-year agreement begins immediately.

Through national team distributor T. Litzen Sports, the partnership will see Nike Team become the primary apparel supplier of U SPORTS-branded programs, including all 21 national championships, the men’s and women’s hockey all-star teams and Canadian delegations competing at the FISU Winter and Summer Universiades.

"The level of university sport competition is high across the nation; and it’s exciting to support an organization we have such a passion for."

Ryan Denholm - National Sales Manager, T. Litzen Sports

“Working with U SPORTS to enhance the championship experience for its members is a thrill for us,” said T. Litzen Sports national sales manager Ryan Denholm.  “To showcase Nike Team performance apparel to the hardworking student-athletes across Canada is an honour. The level of university sport competition is high across the nation and it’s exciting to support an organization we have such a passion for.”

The announcement was made at the Mattamy Athletic Centre on the campus of Ryerson University – a Nike partner since the 2016-17 season – as part of the kickoff to the Rams’ 32nd annual Darcel Wright Memorial Classic women’s basketball preseason tournament.

In August, the Nike Merlin ball was announced as the official soccer ball of the U SPORTS Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championships until 2023.

“U SPORTS is excited to have Nike Team as our exclusive performance apparel partner for the next five years,” said U SPORTS President and CEO Graham Brown. “Nike is at the forefront in the world of sports apparel, and their brand is deep-rooted in university sport globally. They continue to invest in our student-athletes and play a big part in the growth of Canadian sport.”

"Nike is at the forefront in the world of sports apparel, and their brand is deep-rooted in university sport globally."

Graham Brown - President and CEO, U SPORTS

As part of the announcement, U SPORTS also announced the launch of Future Stars – a new program designed to highlight the next generation of U SPORTS student-athletes. Future Stars will provide a platform, both in school and online, to recognize the incredible achievements of talented high school students across the country in the form of an Athlete of the Month Program.

Nike Team will provide monthly prizing to all selected Future Stars Athlete of the Month winners, while also outfitting multiple influencers and ambassadors at U SPORTS member schools to represent Nike Team. The inaugural recipients of the Future Stars Athlete of the Month Award are golfer Devin Desjardins, and rugby player Quinn Spicer – both of Sacred Heart Catholic High School in Newmarket, Ont.

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Credit: Christian Bender / Ryerson Athletics

The 2019 U SPORTS fall championship season gets underway Oct. 30 – Nov.3 . A full national championship calendar from 2019 to 2021 is available here.