The Winnipeg Takeover

It isn't often that I find myself sitting a couple stories above the ice for any game, but, yesterday, there was a big event that happened down at the rink as 15,225 people packed the Canada Life Centre for the first-ever PWHL game in the Keystone Province! Winnipeg played host to the PWHL Takeover Tour on Sunday evening with the Montreal Victoire "visiting" the Ottawa Charge, and this weekend has seen the players capture the hearts and minds of Winnipeggers who wanted to see professional women's hockey without needing a passport and an eight-drive to Minneapolis. I'll recap the events which I attended as the PWHL made itself at home in Winnipeg, and I'll try to determine whether or not Winnipeg is ready to join the PWHL circuit! Let's get into it!

On Friday evening, I had the opportunity to attend the Ottawa Charge Career Panel that took place at the University of Manitoba. The event was designed for university students who were thinking about a career in professional sports, but may not know where to start. The list of participants that the Charge made available for the panel covered a lot of positions with their team. The panel included:

• Mike Hirshfeld, Ottawa Charge General Manager
• Amanda Deluca, Head Athletic Therapist
• Kara Fulawka, Head Equipment Manager
• Olivia Giardetti, Hockey Operations & Team Services Director

The panel answered some pre-submitted questions that had been sent in, and they went over what a lot of their individual jobs entail. What they made clear was that they are never doing just one job. Everyone helps everyone else, there's always something that can be done or made better, and no one ever has the same day twice.

Following the pre-submitted questions, the panel took questions from the audience. There were a number of great questions asked about all aspects of the business, and the four panelists did a great job in answering all the questions as thoroughly as they could. They actually went over the allotted time much to the delight of the audience, so kudos to the Charge for being extremely accessible and informative!

Saturday saw the teams arrive at the Hockey For All Centre where open practices were held for fans to enjoy. I didn't stay long for these as the the teams were extremely busy following the practices in trying to get to youth hockey sessions and appearances, but both teams had uptempo practices that set the tone for Sunday night's game. Fans in attendance seemed to enjoy themselves as well!

The Charge hit the road quickly after practice as they were off to the Eastman Selects U13 practice where they hit the ice with the kids, hung around to sign autographs and take pictures, and generally allowed the Selects players to meet their hockey heroes! The players were generous with their time as everyone had a good time based on comments and excitement. Of course, it didn't hurt that the head coach of the Eastman Selects U13 team is Chantal Larocque, Jocelyne's sister, so seeing the highly-talented sister tandem work together while running a practice was pretty awesome for everyone!

That set up the city of Winnipeg for the biggest women's hockey event it will host this year, and I was down to the Canada Life Centre early as I spent some time in the pressbox watching the U SPORTS Womne's Hockey National Championship gold medal game. When the doors finally opened at 5pm CT, the fans clad in both Charge and Victoire gear poured in as if it were a Taylor Swift concert. Fans of all ages anxiously waited for warm-ups to begin, and the crowd roared and waved their signs as players hit the ice to prep for the game.

After the ceremonies prior to the game, the action on the ice started slowly before the teams ramped up the action. There were hits, penalties, saves, shots, and passes, but a lack of goals was the only thing preventing the roof from being blown off Canada Life Centre by the sold-out crowd. As the first period ended, the fans in Winnipeg cheered loudly for their hockey heroes, but the score remained 0-0.

The second period opened with the same intensity that we saw at the end of the first frame as both teams opened up the game a little. 5:37 into the stanza, Peyton Hemp slid a cross-crease pass to Gabbie Hughes on the backdoor, and she buried the puck past Ann-Renée Desbiens to put Ottawa up 1-0 while becoming scoring the first PWHL goal on Manitoba soil! That lead didn't last long, though, as Abby Roque won an offensive zone face-off to Nicole Gosling who one-timed it between the wickets of Gwenyth Phillips at 11:20 to even the score at 1-1! Winnipeg fans rewarded both goals with loud, boisterous cheers, so it seems they were waiting for tallies!

The third period started somewhat more conservatively as both sides seemed to be more mindful of the defensive zone, but chances were had as Montreal went to work on a power-play while Ottawa continued to push the pace with quick strikes. Winnipeg fans got a chance to exercise the pipes as the karaoke cam brought out an extended version of ABBA's Dancing Queen that extended far past the song being cut off. It seemed pretty clear that Winnipeg just needed a reason to explode with excitement! Would we get a reason?

Winnipeg responded loudly following a scrum that was preceded by a Rebecca Leslie boarding penalty as the more-than-15000 fans enjoyed the pushing and shoving between the teams. A shorthanded two-on-oh for the Charge was stopped by Desbiens, and the Winnipeg crowd roared again. Time, however, would tick down without a big moment, and we'd go to overtime with this Takeover Tour game tied at 1-1.

It would take only twelve seconds for Rebecca Leslie to wire a wrist shot on the power-play past Desbiens for the overtime winner, and the Winnipeg faithful responded with a loud ovation for the Charge! As the teams shook hands, lots of fans rushed to the glass for photo opportunities. As the two teams came to center ice for a photo, the building got loud with PWHL fans showing their appreciation by honouring their hockey heroes with cheers and applause!

When it comes down to it, Winnipeg showed up for the PWHL. As per Kyle Cushman's spreadsheet to the left, Winnipeg is just the third arena to hit 100% capacity or better, and Winnipeggers made this Takeover Tour stop the seventh-best attendance total for these neutral sites games in PWHL history. Obviously, Winnipeg hockey fans deserve some kudos for their efforts all weekend at welcoming the PWHL into the Manitoba capital, and there were people that attended the game from outside Winnipeg including both Ontario and Saskatchewan. That's just incredible, and it certainly says that there are a ton of women's hockey fans in the region.

I'm not saying Winnipeg can never be a PWHL city, but we need to understand that entertainment dollars are already stretched thin in this city when it comes to supporting professional sports, high-end entertainment, and other ventures on top of paying for the everyday bills and costs that pop up. If you had asked me five years ago when I was covering Bisons women's hockey as a broadcaster if I ever would have thought we'd see a sold-out Canada Life Centre for women's hockey that didn't include Team Canada, I likely would have said no.

So is Winnipeg a PWHL city or not? Frankly, it's a complicated answer.

There's no doubt in my mind that a PWHL team would get solid support here in Winnipeg, but the same issues that plagued the WHL's Winnipeg Ice will likely plague a PWHL franchise. There isn't an 8000-seat arena available for them to occupy, so they would need to play out of Canada Life Centre. If they do that, I can't see Mark Chipman being very enthusiastic about his staff having to work games for another team, so the PWHL would need to look at selling a franchise option for True North Sports and Entertainment to operate.

If all of those stars were to align, I feel like David Thomson wouldn't say no to an additional twenty nights per year where his arena is being used. It would then fall to True North Sports and Entertainment to acquire a PWHL franchise via expansion or relocation, and that's where the rubber hits the road here in Winnipeg. Having people put down deposits on seats doesn't appear to be a problem based on last night's support for the game, so it's likely just working through some of the logistical hurdles before Winnipeg would join the PWHL.

In summary, the short answer is that, yes, Winnipeg could be a PWHL city. The more nuanced answer is that there are business-related matters that would need to be cleared before skates hit the ice at Canada Life Centre. We know that True North Sports and Entertainment doesn't rush into things without considering all options so jumping into this without some sort of guarantee of profitability wouldn't be a move they'd make under any circumstance. After all, a PWHL team is still a business with an entertainment side of hockey.

In a longer view, Winnipeg likely will be on the PWHL's list as an expansion location. For now, though, I wouldn't hold my breath due to the business-related reasons I mentioned above preventing the league from putting a team in the Manitoba capital. What shouldn't be questioned, though, is the region's passion and enthusiasm for professional women's hockey as 15,225 fans showed the PWHL that there's a women's hockey market waiting in Winnipeg.

You did good, Winnipeg and surrounding areas. It was a team effort, but I'm proud of this region's support for women's hockey.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

The Rundown - National Finals

There isn't much to say today other than "good luck" to the six teams who will close out the 2025-26 U SPORTS women's hockey season. One team from Quebec will celebrate loudly into the evening after capturing gold while an OUA team and an AUS team will duke it out for the bronze medal. A Canada West team and an OUA team have the chance to close out their seasons with a win in the consolation final, so let's not waste anymore time as we look at this last day of championship games from Elmira, Ontario here on The Rundown!

Consolation Final

The UBC Thunderbirds may have dropped their opening game against Montreal, but they bounced back with a win over Ottawa to earn a spot in the Consolation Final. On the other side, the Waterloo Warriors lost to the Guelph Gryphons before handing the Manitoba Bisons a loss to land in the Consolation Final. This was the first meeting between these two teams at a National Championship despite both being at the last three tournaments - who would prevail?



Warriors goals: Nikki McDonald (3), Keiara Raitt (1)
Warriors assists: Carly Orth (1)
Warriors netminder: Kara Mark (33/40)

Thunderbirds goals: Olivia Buckley (1), Jaylyn Morris (2), Ilona Markova (1), Vanessa Schaefer (1), Ilona Markova (2), Presley Zinger (1), Jacquelyn Fleming (2)
Thunderbirds assists: Ilona Markova (1), Hanna Perrier (1), Grace Elliott (1), Mia Bierd (1), Grace Elliott (2), Cassidy Rhodes (2), Ilona Markova (2), Vanessa Schaefer (1), Hanna Perrier (2)
Thunderbirds netminder: Elise Hugens (17/19)

Result: 7-2 victory for UBC over Waterloo.

Bronze Medal Game

The Guelph Gryphons found themselves in the bronze medal game after defeating Waterloo and falling to Concordia. The UNB Reds got by Ottawa in a shootout before Montreal scored more than they did. These two teams were meeting for the first time in a National Championship as Guelph attempted to win its second medal ever while UNB looked to capture its first medal in program history!



Reds goals: Katelyn Scott (1), Avery Thurston (1)
Reds assists: Lauren Carter (1), Rylee Strohm (1)
Reds netminder: Cassie McCallum (28/29)

Gryphons goals: Katherine Heard (2)
Gryphons assists: Reese Coffey (1)
Gryphons netminder: Martina Fedel (16/18)

Result: 2-1 victory for UNB over Guelph.

Gold Medal Game

The Concordia Stingers advanced to the gold medal game by defeating the Manitoba Bisons and the Guelph Gryphons. The Montreal Carabins found themselves in the gold medal final after upsetting the UBC Thunderbirds and the UNB Reds. Montreal was trying to become the second eighth-seeded team to capture gold after the 2023 Mount Royal Cougars while Concordia was hunting for its fifth gold medal and third in five years. The first all-Quebec final since 2014 looked like it would be entertaining, so which Montreal-based team would be crowned as the 2026 U SPORTS champions?



Carabins goals: Audrey-Anne Veillette (3), Ann-Sophie Bedard (1), Jade Picard (2), Catherine Proulx (1), Laurie-Anne Ethier (2)
Carabins assists: Sophie Ledain (1), Lea Salem (1), Meghan Lesage (1)
Carabins netminder: Maude Desroches (40/42)

Stingers goals: Audrey Clavette (2), Emilie Lavoie (1)
Stingers assists: Juliette Leroux(2), Zoe Thibault (3)
Stingers netminder: Jordyn Verbeek (30/33)

Result: 5-2 victory for Montreal over Concordia.

There are no standings to worry about, but the there is one team who stood taller than the rest this weekend as U SPORTS champions!

Les Carabins de Montreal are your 2026 U SPORTS National Women's Hockey Champions after defeating the Concordia Stingers for the first time in eleven tries this season, and they become the second eighth-ranked team to capture the gold medal after starting the tournament as the lowest-seeded team. This is Montreal's third gold medal in program history, and its first gold medal since 2016. Netminder Maude Desroches was named the tournament MVP after the game!

Félicitations aux Carabins de Montréal pour avoir remporté la médaille d'or aux championnats U SPORTS! Savourez la victoire!

Words Of Gratitude

There's nothing to analyze here as the season is over, but I do want to show some gratitude to a handful of people and organizations. You may disagree with me on some of these, but that's your ball to kick. I'll be over here thanking these people for making the season fun and informative. They deserve some thanks for their efforts as well.

I want to thank CBC for their continued efforts in bringing amateur sports to Canadians via their online streams and network channels. I don't know if there will be regular airing of U SPORTS hockey anytime soon, but having all the games and features from both U SPORTS hockey championships available via their streaming options is simply awesome. CBC also had a number of Canada West games on their streams this past winter as well, so CBC gets a big "thank you"! Perhaps this could be the new "Hockey Night In Canada" on CBC?

The Waterloo Warriors and the Woolwich Memorial Centre in Elmira, Ontario deserve some thanks for putting on a second-straight U SPORTS National Women's Hockey Championship that seemingly went off without any issues. I'm sure there were some bumps along the road, but the games looked good and sounded good at every point. Hosting this event is a massive undertaking, and you've set the bar high for the UNB Reds and the city of Fredericton next year!

The parents, families, friends, and fans of U SPORTS players and teams are deserving of some gratitude as well. These are the people that sacrificed time, spent oodles of money, booked time off work, and were there to cheer on their daughters, sisters, granddaughters, nieces, best friends, former teammates, and the amazing women that make up the teams in U SPORTS women's hockey. They may not get enough thanks, but these people are there during the times of sadness, the times of frustration, and, ultimately, the time of joy in these women's lives. Thank you for helping these women achieve their dreams of getting a high-level education while playing hockey!

A big thank-you goes out to the coaches, athletic therapists, nutritionists, equipment people, and everyone behind the scenes that keep these women healthy, happy, and on the ice. All of these people invest their time and energy into their programs with the hope that it will pay off with a celebration at the end of games and seasons, and they put in countless hours preparing and making sure their teams are ready to go wherever a game is being played. Thank you for your dedication to women's hockey, to keeping players healthy in both mind and body, and for preparing them for any challenge they may face, both on and off the ice. The game is better because of you.

You can't play a game without officials, and, despite complaining or disagreeing with calls made, the effort these men and women put in to keep order in the game can't go unmentioned. Officiating means someone will always be unhappy with you, and these people have shown that they're willing to take a little heat to ensure the games remain safe for all to play. Thanks to the stripes on the ice and off-ice officials who do a great job in making sure the women's game remains awesome, and sports in general remain friendly competition.

A big shoutout goes to all the broadcasters who put in countless hours reading and memorizing facts and stats about players and teams to bring you the best broadcasts they can. Most of these broadcasts don't have a Sportsnet truck outside the arena and a dozen cameras inside, but the people who call the games make it sound just as good with their passion for and knowledge of the game. Thanks to everyone across the four conferences who picked up a microphone this year to add some chatter and insight to the games!

Finally, to the players, another season has come and gone and I know a lot of you will say that the time passed by too quickly. That's a truth about life: time is one of the most valuable commodities you'll have that will always seem like it's being spent too quickly, so I hope you used it wisely. I'm not talking about scoring goals or making saves, but about making life-long friendships and lasting memories. Every moment you spent in the community meant something to someone you met. Every second you spent on the bus rides complaining about school work was something over which you bonded with someone else. You made an impact on lives, especially with all the high-fives given to youth hockey players at your games. Those matter to them.

Thank you, players, for entertaining us every weekend. For always being good role models. For being brilliant students and better people. For your charitable work. For the time you spent making lives better. For being incredible teammates, cherished friends, and unforgettable icons. For being coachable and pushing your athletic limits. For sacrificing social opportunities to do homework. For welcoming challenges and embracing opportunities. For simply being awesome people that touched the lives of many. Thank you so much.

This game will push forward without reflection just as time does, but your impact on the game will be felt for years. History was made, victories were earned, friendships were forged, and smiles were seen. Yes, big goals and big saves will get remembered, but your legacy at your school and in the university game will be marked by the relationships and friendships formed over the time you played.

Thank you to everyone listed above who made the 2025-26 U SPORTS hockey season fun, and here's hoping next season is just as good!

The Last Word

That will close this chapter of The Rundown, and I don't know if it will return next season. I know I said that last year and I ultimately went ahead and did another season, but I can't be the only person talking about Canada West and U SPORTS women's hockey all the time. Making matters worse is that fact that no one who has the power to do so wants to see it get better. It's honestly frustrating.

There will be two new schools added in Quebec next season, so the number of women playing university hockey will grow. You would think that having options like CBC internet streams would be something that U SPORTS would want to capitalize on with the explosion of growth in women's hockey thanks to the Olympics this year, but I guess my lack of marketing and business degrees say that following an easily-sourced statistical trend is a bad idea.

I have been dedicated to this game, specifically in western Canada, for a long time. I have meticulous records for U SPORTS National Championships because that information isn't readily or easily found online anywhere. I have reached out to leaders in the university women's hockey game, and I haven't received a single response to my questions. I know I'm not the only person who cares, but I also feel like I can't keep doing this alone. I'm honestly frustrated.

What I do know is that a new wave of incoming students will join teams where renewed hope for immediate and long-term successes will be fostered. Teams will play, players will score, goalies will stop, and coaches will strategize as everyone aims to follow in Montreal's footsteps this season with a massive celebration in March. Just remember that time will fly by, so use your time as best as one can to build those friendships, foster those relationships, and create those life-long memories. And for heaven's sake, have some fun too!

Enjoy your summers, hockey fans. October is closer than you think!

Until next season, keep your sticks on the ice!

The Rundown - National Semifinals

The games started early on Saturday as the 2026 U SPORTS National Women's Hockey Championship moved into the semifinal phase of the tournament. Four teams were still in the hunt for medals while four others were trying to close out their seasons with wins. Unfortunately for fans of Canada West teams, the two representatives in Elmira, Ontario were playing for the latter as both squads lost their opening games nof the tournament. However, there was still lots to play for when it came to this season and beyond as action got underway at 10am ET. Let's find out who would be playing for the medals and who would get one more game to play tomorrow on The Rundown!

Consolation Semifinal #1

The Manitoba Bisons ran into a very good Concordia team that bumped them to the consolation side of the bracket while the Waterloo Warriors were bounced by their playoff opponents again as the Guelph Gryphons ended their medal run. Both teams wanted to extend their seasons by one more game, so they met in the 10am game to determine who would play on Sunday in the Consolation Final. It was the first time Manitoba and Waterloo had met at Nationals, so let's see who would prevail and get the extra game!



Bisons goals: none
Bisons assists: none
Bisons netminder: Emily Shippam (24/26)

Warriors goals: Nikki McDonald (1), Nikki McDonald (2)
Warriors assists: Tatum James (1), Gracey Smith (1), Tatum James (2), Gracey Smith (2)
Warriors netminder: Kara Mark (32/32)

Result: 2-0 victory for Waterloo over Manitoba.

Consolation Semifinal #2

In another meeting of two teams that had no history, the Ottawa Gee-Gees dropped a shootout decision to the UNB Reds to land in the consolation semifinal while the UBC Thunderbirds also lost in shootout to the upstart Montreal Carabins to end their march towards gold. Both teams weren't prepared to go home without trying to play another day as they met in the 1pm game for the right to advance to the Consolation Final. Would the Thunderbirds bounce back or could the Gee-Gees land an upset in this game like the Carabins did?



Gee-Gees goals: none
Gee-Gees assists: none
Gee-Gees netminder: Clara Genier (37/39)

Thunderbirds goals: Ashton Thorpe (1), Jacquelyn Fleming (1)
Thunderbirds assists: Presley Zinger (1), Cassidy Rhodes (1)
Thunderbirds netminder: Elise Hugens (15/15)

Result: 2-0 victory for UBC over Ottawa.

Championship Semifinal #1

The Guelph Gryphons advanced to the medal round with a win over the Waterloo Warriors as they looked to continue their battle towards a second gold medal. The Concordia Stingers defeated the Manitoba Bisons to advance to the medal round for a fifth-straight year, and they were looking for a third gold medal in that five-year span and a fifth gold medal overall. Historically, Concordia held a 3-0 record against Guelph, so would we see the Stingers stay perfect against the Gryphons or would Guelph down Concordia for the first time?



Gryphons goals: Maeve Sutherland-Case (1)
Gryphons assists: Jadyn Calder (2), Brielle Caruso (1)
Gryphons netminder: Martina Fedel (28/30) in 65:42

Stingers goals: Courtney Rice (1), Emilie Lussier (1)
Stingers assists: Jessymaude Drapeau (1), Zoe Thibault (2)
Stingers netminder: Jordyn Verbeek (32/33) in 65:42

Result: 2-1 overtime victory for Concordia over Guelph.

Championship Semifinal #2

The second semifinal game saw the Montreal Carabins looking for a second-straight upset as they pushed for another gold medal after defeating the UBC Thunderbirds. Standing in their way was the medalless UNB Reds who downed the Ottawa Gee-Gees to reach the semifinal, but the Reds were hungry for some precious metal. Montreal defeated UNB in 2023 by a 4-1 score, so UNB was looking to even the all-time record. Would les Carabins win over another higher-seeded team or could UNB end up in their first Nationals final?



Carabins goals: Jade Picard (1), Juliette Rolland (2), Audrey-Anne Veillette (1), Laurie-Anne Ethier (1), Audrey-Anne Veillette (2)
Carabins assists: Chloe Duchesneau (1), Kaleann Laforge (1), Catherine Proulx (2), Jade Picard (2), Chloe Duchesneau (1), Rosalie Couture (1)
Carabins netminder: Maude Desroches (20/21)

Reds goals: Hailey Jackson (1)
Reds assists: Katelyn Scott (1), Jorja Nystrom (1)
Reds netminder: Cassie McCallum (25/29)

Result: 5-1 shootout victory for Montreal over UNB.

There are no standings to worry about, but the tournament bracket has been updated to reflect the championship side of the bracket!

Two teams will make their ways back to their respective communities as the Manitoba Bisons and Ottawa Gee-Gees see their tournaments come to an end today with a second loss. They will know what place they finish in based on the results of the Consolation Final that will be played between UBC and Waterloo tomorrow. Speaking of which, here is the schedule for Sunday:

• Consolation Final @ 8am: Waterloo at UBC
• Bronze medal game @ 11am: UNB at Guelph
• Gold medal game @ 3pm: Montreal at Concordia

All the times above are for the Eastern Time Zone, so adjust your clocks accordingly, and make sure you tune in on CBC Gem! The gold medal game can also be seen on CBC Network TV, meaning you can watch the game anywhere in the country! How awesome is that?

The Drive For Five

Ok, so it's not where they wanted to place, but the UBC Thunderbirds will be playing for a fifth-place finish for the fourth time in the last five years. Given their eight appearances at Nationals. they might be the most consistent team when it comes to finishes. If they win tomorrow, this will be the fifth time in eight appearances that they've finished in fifth-place. Even weirder? They've never been the fifth-seeded team at the tournament in those eight appearances!

Waterloo and UBC have never met at a National Championship, but UBC has a 5-2 record against OUA teams. Waterloo is 2-1 against Canada West teams, so it would appear the odds favour the Thunderbirds over the Warriors. It's an 8am game, though, so we'll which team comes out ready to play. If you wanted a little hockey to go with coffee tomorrow, it'll be on the CBC streams bright and early!

Storybook Ending?

The UNB Reds are looking to medal for the first time in the school's history, and certainly since the team was brought back from the dead in 2018. UNB has been to five-straight National Championships, and their best finish was in 2022 when they lost the bronze medal game to the Saskatchewan Huskies in Charlottetown. Will we see them earn a bronze medal tomorrow for the first time in program history?

Standing in their way will be the Guelph Gryphons as UNB and Guelph meet for the first time at a National Championship. Guelph is searching for their second medal in program history after winning the gold medal in 2019 in Charlottetown, so they'll be aiming to play a solid game as well. Historically, UNB is 1-4 against OUA teams while Guelph holds a 4-3 record against AUS teams. Guelph may be the favorite based on history, but UNB may be a tough opponent for the Gryphons tomorrow as they stand on the precipice of history!

La Belle Province

The RSEQ will bring home the gold medal no matter what as the Montreal Carabins and the Concordia Stingers renew acquaintances in the final tomorrow. Including the playoffs, Concordia posted a 10-0 record against Montreal this season, outscoring them 35-15 in those games. It seems that the statistical analysis favours one team by a large margin. Does Montreal even have a chance tomorrow?

Lost in the stats from those ten games are five games that were decided by one goal. We've also seen goaltender Maude Desroches come up being against two higher seeds in UBC and UNB, and it looks like Montreal is getting great contributions from scorers while the defence remains solid. Of course, the same could be said for Concordia as they enter the final, so these generalities apply to both teams. Just swap Desroches' name for Jordyn Verbeek's name.

There could be some history made tomorrow. If Montreal scores in the game, it will be their 100th goal at National Championships, making them the fifth team to hit that mark. Depending on how many times they score, les Carabins could move past Wilfrid Laurier into fourth-place for most goals by a team at Nationals. I hope someone grabs the historic puck if it ends up in Concordia's net!

Concordia is also looking to move past a team as a gold medal victory would give them five in program history which would move them ahead of the McGill Martlets into second-place when it comes to gold medals won. Strangely, Concordia is 0-1 versus RSEQ teams at Nationals and that one loss came against McGill in the bronze medal game back in 2001. If they win tomorrow, it will give them an 11-0 record against les Carabins this season! That's dominant hockey!

The Last Word

There are three games left in the 2025-26 season. Six teams will play tomorrow before the offseason begins. Some players will graduate and move on to professional hockey opportunities while others will choose additional schooling or gaining employment for the summer and beyond. Some players will begin the offseason training regiment they undertake in order to prepare for next season's grind while others will enjoy summer away from the game to reset their outlook.

None of these are wrong choices to make, and my hope is that people don't forget how much they've sacrificed and how hard they've worked when it comes to their university hockey careers. Being an elite student-athlete is a tough job when one has to practice, eat right, play games, maintain a required grade-point average, and try to have a social life. The women playing in Elmira, Ontario are some of the best student-athletes this country has to offer without doubt.

I don't know how many people have tuned in to watch the games on CBC's streams, but my hope is that more and more people are discovering how great the Canadian university game is. I know I've spent far too much time trying to push the game as being some of the best hockey people will see, so I'm hoping CBC's coverage of university hockey will amplify that message because it's been a helluva tournament and a helluva season in every corner of Canada.

Three more games. Enjoy the action, and celebrate the women!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

The Rundown - National Quarterfinals

Eight teams arrived in Elmira, Ontario with one thought on their minds: win three games to capture the 2026 U SPORTS National Women's Hockey Championship. Single-elimination games leave little room for mistakes, so teams need to be ready to play the moment the puck is dropped on their first game right through to the final whistle in the gold medal game. Would we see upsets? Would the favorites find their way into the final? The first step is winning a quarterfinal game, so let's see who did what on The Rundown!

THURSDAY: The seventh-ranked Manitoba Bisons met the second-ranked Concordia Stingers in the opening game of the tournament on Thursday. Manitoba was looking to continue to play solid hockey after their run up to and through the playoffs while Concordia was looking to continue its winning ways after capturing the RSEQ championship. Historically, Manitoba was 2-0 against Concordia at this tournament, so would we see them push that to 3-0 or would the Stingers prevail?



Bisons goals: Brenna Nicol (1)
Bisons assists: Sadie Keller (1), Norah Collins (1)
Bisons netminder: Emily Shippam (18/21)

Stingers goals: Audrey Clavette (1), Jessymaude Drapeau (1), Jessymaude Drapeau (2)
Stingers assists: Juliette Leroux (1), Kate Furlong (1), Emilie Lussier (1), Zoe Thibault (1), Emilie Lussier (2), Emilie Lavoie (1)
Stingers netminder: Jordyn Verbeek (23/24)

Result: 3-1 victory for Concordia over Manitoba.

THURSDAY: The sixth-seeded Waterloo Warriors were looking for revenge against the third-seeded Guelph Gryphons after the Gryphons eliminated the Warriors from the OUA playoffs. These two teams were meeting for the sixth time this season with Guelph holding a 3-2 edge in the series. Guelph was looking to win a fourth game while Waterloo looked to eliminate their Ontario rival from the medals.



Warriors goals: none
Warriors assists: none
Warriors netminder: Kara Mark (29/30)

Gryphons goals: Katherine Heard (1), Katy McKenna (1)
Gryphons assists: Jadyn Calder (1), Maeve Sutherland-Case (1)
Gryphons netminder: Martina Fedel (26/26)

Result: 2-0 victory for Guelph over Waterloo.

FRIDAY: The eighth-ranked Montreal Carabins met the top-ranked UBC Thunderbirds on Friday afternoon. Historically, UBC has struggled against RSEQ teams with a 1-3 record, so they were looking to erase any memory of 2024's loss to the Carabins with a win today. Montreal was looking to keep their winning ways against the Thunderbirds going, but they'd need to play well to defeat the country's top team.



Carabins goals: Chloe Duchesneau (1), Janelle Mentor (1), Juliette Rolland (1)
Carabins assists: Laurie-Anne Ethier (1), Audrey Gervais (1), Jade Picard (1), Catherine Proulx (1)
Carabins shootout scorers: Audrey-Anne Veillette, Jade Picard
Carabins netminder: Maude Desroches (31/34) in 70:00 plus 2/3 in the shootout

Thunderbirds goals: Grace Elliott (1), Jaylyn Morris (1), Karine Sandilands (1)
Thunderbirds assists: Jaylyn Morris (1), Ashton Thorpe (1)
Thunderbirds shootout scorers: Karine Sandilands
Thunderbirds netminder: Elise Hugens (19/22) in 70:00 plus 1/3 in the shootout

Result: 4-3 shootout victory for Montreal over UBC.

FRIDAY: The fifth-ranked Ottawa Gee-Gees met the fourth-ranked UNB Reds for the first time in these teams' histories, and both teams were looking to continue their strong play. Ottawa fell just short of an OUA championship so they were aiming to get back in the win column while UNB had been playing excellent hockey in capturing the AUS championship. More importantly, UNB was looking to snap an eight-game losing streak at Nationals while Ottawa was 1-8 at National Championships since winning a silver medal in 2004.



Gee-Gees goals: Alex Ferguson (1)
Gee-Gees assists: Maelle Laplante (1), Gillian Warren (1)
Gee-Gees shootout scorers: Alex Ferguson
Gee-Gees netminder: Clara Genier (43/44) in 70:00 plus 3/5 in the shootout

Reds goals: Lauren Carter (1)
Reds assists: none
Reds shootout scorers: Katelyn Scott, Payton Hargreaves
Reds netminder: Cassie McCallum (28/29) in 70:00 plus 4/5 in the shootout

Result: 2-1 shootout victory for UNB over Ottawa.

There are no standings to worry about, but the tournament bracket has been updated to reflect the championship side of the bracket!

Saturday will still see all eight teams in action as the consolation semifinals will be played as well. That starts early on Saturday morning, but two teams will be eliminated from the tournament with a second loss. No one wants to be those teams, so wins still matter!

• Consolation semifinal @ 10am: Manitoba at Waterloo
• Consolation semifinal @ 1pm: Ottawa at UBC
• Championship semifinal @ 4pm: Guelph at Concordia
• Championship semifinal @ 7pm: Montreal at UNB

All the times above are for the Eastern Time Zone, so adjust your clocks accordingly, and make sure you tune in on CBC Gem!

Another Tough Loss

I'm not here to throw salt in the wound, but it's hard to understand just how dominant UBC can be over the course of a season in Canada West only to lose a key game at Nationals once again. This talented group of women should have more than just a bronze medal to show for their efforts over the last five seasons, but they'll head home to Vancouver empty-handed once again after a shootout loss today.

Having watched these Thunderbirds grow and mature together to become a well-oiled machine in Canada West play has been nothing short of remarkable when it came to their trajectory. They established a standard and style of play that few teams could match, and the wins and Canada West banners began piling up. Make no mistake that this Thunderbirds team are a special group of people.

I can't imagine the heartbreak these women are going through tonight, but hockey can be cruel sometimes. These women should be proud of all they've accomplished despite the shortfalls at Nationals because I don't know if we'll see an era of hockey like theirs in Canada West again. They can still finish their season with a win if they play well over their next two games, and that would be a fine way to cap off this era of dominance by the Thunderbirds.

3-In-5?

Concordia's win over Manitoba put them into the semifinals, so we know they'll play for a medal. What colour will be determined by the next two games, but the Stingers have a shot at four medals in five years and three gold medals in five years. I think it's safe that we can put the Concordia Stingers next to some other legendary teams, but they're not quite at the level of success two teams have had.

The Alberta Pandas captured eight medals in nine years from 1999 until 2007, and they did nine medals in twelve years. The McGill Martlets medalled 15 times in 21 years from 1999 until 2019. The Wilfred Laurier Golden Hawks captured six medals in nine years, so the Stingers still have a little bit of work to do in trying to catch these legendary teams for successive years with medals.

However, a gold medal at this year's tournament would give them three gold medals in five seasons which is only bettered by McGill's three-in-four-years run from 2008-11, and Alberta's five-in-six-years from 2002-07 and six-in-eight-years from 2000-07. Since Nationals switched to the eight-team format in 2015, only Concordia has more than one gold medal. That's some pretty impressive history.

They still have work to do, but they're two wins away from success!

The Last Word

This will be the last word for the day, but The Rundown will be back all weekend as Nationals play out. Four games tomorrow plus three more on Sunday will determine how these eight teams finish their seasons in Ontario. Only three teams will close out the weekend with victories, so there's still lots to be determined in two days.

Waterloo's loss means that the defending silver medallist cannot earn a medal, so this year's podium will feature three teams who did not medal in 2025. Both Concordia and Montreal medalled in 2024 while Concordia is the only team who medalled in 2023 and 2022. With the Stingers as the top seed still on the championship side, they'll attempt to not repeat last year's finish with two-straight losses.

The first two days of action have been awesome, so I can't wait for the next two days of hockey as the 2026 U SPORTS National Championship moves into the semifinal round! Enjoy the games!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

The Hockey Show - Episode 704

The Hockey Show, Canada's only campus-produced radio show that strictly talks hockey, is back tonight with one of our favourite people talking about one of our favourite topics! Our guest is well-versed in the game of hockey, and her experiences with both the ECHL's Fort Wayne Komets and ACHA's Indiana Tech Warriors has led to her going to school to get even more knowledge on the game. Tonight, it's excited to welcome back Fiona Quinn who will give us some insight on ECHL news, Komets news, Warriors news, and more stories from her spot in the pressbox tonight on The Hockey Show at 5:30pm CT!

Tonight, Teebz and Jason are proud to have the always-fantastic woman to the left on the show as Fiona Quinn will give us all the details on the roster moves being made with the Komets, the playoff race the Komets are currently in as they challenge for first-place, some of the players who helped them achieve that lofty standing, the promotions they run, the Iowa Heartlanders' news, ECHL expansion and relocation, Indiana Tech women's hockey's "rebuilding" season and how they almost shocked everyone, the CBA pause in the ECHL, some of the bigger hockey stories, and much more! And yes, we ask about the sweater she's wearing in the photo as well because, frankly, that's AWESOME! Make sure you've got your radio on internet-connected device set as we get down to business with Fiona Quinn tonight on The Hockey Show at 5:30pm CT on one of 101.5 FM, Channel 718 on MTS TV, or via UMFM.com!

If you live outside Winnipeg and want to listen, we have options! The UMFM website's streaming player works well if you want to listen online. We also recommend Radio Garden if you need an easy-to-use online stream. If you're more of an app person, we recommend you use the TuneIn app found on the App Store or Google Play Store.

If you have questions, you can email all show queries and comments to hockeyshow@umfm.com! Tweet me anytime with questions you may have by hitting me up at @TeebzHBIC on Twitter! I'm here to listen to you, so make your voice heard! And because both Teebz and Jason are on the butterfly app where things are less noisy, you can find Teebz here and Jason here on Bluesky!

Tonight, Teebz and Jason chat with our ECHL MVP in Fiona Quinn about the Komets' roster, the playoff race, promotional nights, the CBA, losing a team, gaining teams, moving teams, ACHA hockey, her sweater, and much more exclusively on 101.5 UMFM and on the UMFM.com web stream!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!