A motor stator includes a plurality of stacked annular stator laminates defining a stator core having a plurality of stator teeth on an inner diameter thereof, at least some of the plurality of stator laminates including a plurality of coolant openings therethrough. The plurality of coolant openings of adjacent stator laminates communicate with one another in order to define cooling channels inside the stator core. At least some of the plurality of stator laminates include the plurality of coolant openings including a plurality of generally circumferentially extending slots.