This Golden Hawks National Rankings Update is presented by Westpoint Sports 

RICHMOND HILL, Ont. - The Golden Hawks flipped the calendar and their national ranking in the first week of 2026. 

The purple and gold ended the season's first half on a five-game winning streak that featured three shutout victories. Laurier jumped one spot in the rankings, going from fifth to fourth.  

The list featured the same cast of characters from the OUA before the winter break. Queen's moved from fourth to third, while Guelph and Waterloo stayed pat at number nine and 10, respectively.  

U SPORTS uses the Elo rating system to calculate its weekly national rankings. Elo calculates team rankings on a game-by-game basis, using an algorithm that generates a statistical calculation based on certain customized variables adapted across the range of U SPORTS team sports.