The Last Games

Full credit goes to Bisons women's hockey equipment manager Mat Relf for the setup of these iconic images to the left as the Bisons women's hockey program will bid adieu to two women who have been rather spectacular in their careers while wearing the brown-and-gold. Having gotten to know Jordy Zacahrias and Amanda Schubert over the years they played for the Bisons, I am truly blessed to have crossed paths with these amazing women who will undoubtedly go on to have amazing careers both in their chosen fields of study and possibly on the ice if they opt to continue on with the game. They will be amazing alumni, and I have a feeling it won't be the last time we see them around Wayne Fleming Arena.

If I was to give credit to any of the women who welcomed The Hockey Show in its infancy into the Bisons women's hockey program, Amanda Schubert was one of the first players to seize the opportunity of the radio show to help promote the team. Every single time she was on the show, it was memorable for me simply because Amanda has seen and done so much in the game. From her 66-save, five-overtime victory over the Saskatchewan Huskies to her time playing professionally in Finland to the amazing tandem play she established alongside Rachel Dyck, Amanda Schubert's dancing on the ice, infectious personality off it, and amazing goaltending in the blue paint makes her one of the icons of this hockey program.

Kyleigh Palmer and I had mentioned on the Bisons women's hockey broadcast today on Canada West TV and UMFM that we'll likely never seen another player like Amanda Schubert again. If there was one memory that sticks out to me when thinking of Schubert specifically, it comes from 2015 where the Bisons upset the UBC Thunderbirds in a three-game series where the rivalry was ramped up and the hatred between the two teams may have reached an all-time high. There were UBC Thunderbirds fan who brought signs, and one was directed at the outspoken netminder who wore #35 for the Bisons.

As I wrote at the time, "If you're going to chirp, it's probably not a good idea to chirp Bisons goalie Amanda Schubert. Schubert, for her part, has been a huge supporter of Rachel Dyck's play this season, and she's embraced her role on the team in the playoffs as the back-up goalie. Chirping her about sitting the bench is honestly dumb because one of the two goalies HAS to sit on the bench. However, that didn't stop Schubert from exacting a little revenge and stealing the fan's sign about her having the best seat in the house". What made it even better was that Schubert went to Twitter to double-down on her team's victory over UBC by standing behind her belief in her team.

Rather warm the bench everyday with the bisons than be starting every game anywhere else #bisonpride #bestteam #onepersonality

— Amanda Schubert (@aschubert94) March 2, 2015

The tweet and the photo are one of my most cherished memories of getting to see Amanda play, and, as stated above, it's why I believe that we may never see another player like Amanda Schubert again.

Jordy Zacharias started her career in the NCAA with the University of Connecticut, but came back to Manitoba after one NCAA season where she joined the Bisons. From the moment she put the Bisons jersey on, her offensive talents shone as she was one of the top goal scorers every year at the Canada West level. Not only was Jordy a heckuva goal scorer, she seemed to have the knack to score timely goals as she was always a threat with the game tied late. Her career total of 15 game-winning goals - tied for sixth-place all-time - proves that Zacharias was clutch, and her leadership combined with her stoic personality made her choice as alternate captain last season and captain this season a no-brainer.

Both Kyleigh and I noted how consistent Jordy was in her career when it came to head coach Jon Rempel sending her over the boards when the Bisons needed a goal. She was good at not only lighting the lamp, but her speed made her dangerous on odd-player rushes where her vision and her hands were on display as she often set-up teammates for easy tap-in goals as defenders desperately tried to catch the #27 who had pulled away from them. Her skills in the shootout were unparalleled as she earned the unofficial title of "Miss Automatic" for her propensity to score shootout goals like no one else.

Often, Jon Rempel would use Zacharias as the first shooter to get a jump on the opposition in the shootout. As you may know, playing with the lead is always better than trying to make up the difference in the shootout, and that was perhaps on display at no bigger time than when she scored the first Manitoba goal against Concordia University at the 2018 U SPORTS National Championship semifinal game to put Manitoba up 1-0 in the skills competition where they would prevail 2-1 en route to the school's first Golden Path Trophy as U SPORTS National Champions.

Of course, if we're talking big goals, Jordy may have recorded one of the biggest in program history.

That goal in the fourth overtime period against the Alberta Pandas in 2018 was the only goal of the game in Manitoba's Game Three victory, and it helped the Bisons advance to the Canada West Final where they would defeat Saskatchewan before winning the U SPORTS National Championship. Her clutch scoring, her leadership, and her efforts on the ice is what every future Bisons player should hope to achieve while wearing the Bisons crest, and I'm certain that we'll be talking about Jordy's play with the Bisons for years to come!

Now, some of you may be sitting there and saying, "Teebz, you had a different perspective from the broadcast booth," and that's likely true when it comes to the interactions I had with both Jordy and Amanda. What shouldn't be confused or missed, though, is that their interactions with me were genuine and authentic as to the people who they are - their personalities, their abilities, and the deep respect and gratefulness that I have for both of them for allowing a goofball like me to follow and document their exploits and achievements. Here are head coach Jon Rempel and a handful of Jordy's and Amanda's former teammates speaking about the two players and the impact they both had on the program, the team, and their teammates.

As I said above, I am truly blessed to have crossed paths with these amazing women, and these comments from Jon and their teammates make me realize how lucky I've been in having the privilege and honour to cover the careers of two of Manitoba's best players to have ever worn the brown-and-gold.

I don't get emotional often, but I feel like Jordy and Amanda have helped me grow as a radio broadcaster and sports broadcaster through their interactions with me and their appearances on the radio show and during Bisons hockey broadcasts. I feel a debt of gratitude should be paid to them for allowing me to get to know them, for sitting and chatting with me about the game and team behind the scenes when the microphones weren't on, and allowing me to get to know them better. I feel privileged, as I have stated, that I can call them friends who have made me appreciate the sport of women's hockey so much more by allowing me glimpses into their lives off the ice as much as I get to see them on the ice. Knowing what they go through as people off the ice when it comes to work-life-hockey balances only generates more respect from me because these two literally gave everything they had to the hockey program, to their studies, and in life in becoming the exceptional women they are today. I am a fan of these two and they'll always have me as a fan because of how they conducted themselves on and off the ice. I'll be forever thankful for having gotten to know Jordy Zacharias and Amanda Schubert, and I wish them nothing but the brightest and most successful of futures after accomplishing so much at the University of Manitoba.

My only hope? They come back once in a while so we can get updates on how well everything is going!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!