CALGARY – A total of 22 delegates from the University of Calgary are off to Torino, Italy for the 2025 FISU (International University Sports Federation) Winter World University Games, beginning this Saturday, Jan. 11.

Staged every two years in a different city, the World University Games are an international multi-sport event organized for university student-athletes by FISU. Teams from more than 50 nations will compete in 86 medal events. University students currently enrolled in an approved academic institution and proceeding toward a degree, or who have completed/obtained their degree in the calendar year preceding the Games are eligible.

A trio of Dinos from the men's and women's hockey programs have been selected, with Calgary men's hockey head coach Mark Howell selected as the head coach for Team Canada at this year's Games. The two-time U SPORTS Coach of the Year (2011 & 2023) heads to the FISU Games for the third time, serving as an assistant coach in both 2015 when Canada claimed bronze and at the most recent 2023 Games in Lake Placid when Canada won gold.

From Howell's squad, fourth-year forward Colson Gengenbach will also represent Red and White. An All-Canadian a season ago, Gengenbach has a team-high 20 points this season on 10 goals and 10 assists - both also tops on this year's Dinos' roster.

Meanwhile, Sydney Mercier will compete for Team Canada in women's hockey. The third-year forward has two goals and four assists at the midway point of this season. She is coming off an impressive sophomore season that saw her rack up nine goals and 16 assists for a career-best 25 while playing with one of the most dangerous lines in the country. The 5-foot-6 forward was also named both the Canada West and U SPORTS Rookie of the Year following the 2022-23 season where she came out of the gates with 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists) in her debut season.

A total of 18 additional UCalgary students and one staff member will also head to Torino in coming days.

This year's event will mark the 32nd running of the historic Games, which date back to 1960 and have origins going back as far as 1923. This marks the seventh time the winter edition has been held in Italy, and the second time in Torino (2007).

The festivities begin Saturday, Jan. 11, with the official opening ceremories set for Monday, Jan. 13.

Full list of this year's UCalgary representatives:

ALPINE SKIING
Aleksas Valadka, Schulich School of Engineering
Lauren Wayland, Schulich School of Engineering
Mikayla Wunsch, Faculty of Science

SKI CROSS
Kaleb Barnum, Faculty of Kinesiology
Finley Cashin, Schulich School of Engineering
Liz Filiatrault, Haskayne School of Business
Anna-Marie Joncas, Haskayne School of Business
Sage Stefani, BSc '24, Faculty of Kinesiology

BIATHLON
Danika Burke, Faculty of Nursing
Zachary Grappolini, Schulich School of Engineering
Anna Perry, Faculty of Kinesiology
Lance Sekora, Faculty of Science
Aliah Turner, Faculty of Kinesiology

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING
Sienna Brennan-Raab, Faculty of Science
Sarah Cullinan, Faculty of Kinesiology
Stella Duncan, Faculty of Science
Robin Mason, Haskayne School of Business / Faculty of Arts
Noah Weir Chaba, Schulich School of Engineering

WOMEN'S HOCKEY
F Sydney Mercier, Cumming School of Medicine

MEN'S HOCKEY
F Colson Gengenbach, Haskayne School of Business
HC Mark Howell, Head Coach, Dinos Men's Hockey

MISSION STAFF
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ryan Shields – Faculty of Kinesiology, Sports Medicine Centre

-UC-