This one felt like a heavyweight match as the top-two teams in the conference tangled. It was a tighter game to start as neither side let the other find good chances, but things began to open up as the period progressed as both teams figured out the other's system. UBC would find the first serious crack in the defence when Rylind MacKinnon's shot from the point avoided traffic and Oswald before hitting twine for her ninth goal as the Thunderbirds took a 1-0 lead at the 11:38 mark. There was only one penalty late in the period with 22 seconds remaining, but it affected nothing before the horn sounded as UBC led 1-0 and held a 9-8 edge in shots.
That penalty that ended the first period was assessed to UBC, and that set the tone for the period as penalties were handed out throughout the frame. Alberta was whistled for the game's second penalty before three-straight UBC penalties opened the door for the Pandas. During a 5-on-3, Madison Willan finished off a passing play by burying her seventh goal, and the power-play marker evened the game at 1-1. The remaining time on the 5-on-4 wouldn't see Alberta score again, and UBC missed on a power-play later in the frame as well. At the end of two periods, the teams were tied 1-1 with Alberta up 18-11 on the shot counter.
The third period saw UBC hit the ice with everything they had as they peppered Alberta's net with shots throughout the period. A couple of power-plays for each side didn't help either team in the goal-scoring department, but UBC blocked a lot of shots directed at their cage. Nevertheless, neither side could dent twine in this frame, so we got some free hockey as the third period ended with the teams still tied at 1-1 and UBC retaking the lead in shots by a 23-19 count.
UBC carried their third-period momentum into overtime where they had shots, but Alberta withstood the pressure through the entire five-minute span. With no goals scored, we'd turn to the skills competition to find a winner. The first two rounds were scoreless as neither side could bury a puck, and Madison Willan couldn't solve Hugens in the third round. Mackenzie Kordic deked in on her attempt in the third round, and she went shelf past Oswald to give UBC the 2-1 shootout victory over the Pandas! Elise Hugens picked up her 13th win after stopping 19 shots in regulation plus three more in the shootout while Halle Oswald takes the extra-time loss after making 26 saves plus two more in the skills competition.
One of the top teams in the nation battles another top-ten U SPORTS team and we get no highlights? Normally, this is where I'd reference something about UBC sucking at their jobs in promoting their women's hockey team and athletes, but today I won't do that. Why?
SATURDAY: The result wasn't ideal for the Pandas one night earlier, but they still had a shot to win the conference if they won against UBC today. UBC could wrap up first-place with a win of any kind on Saturday, so this game was all about winning for both sides. We saw a goalie rematch from one night earlier as well as Halle Oswald started for the Pandas while Elise Hugens was in the UBC net.
An early penalty on Alberta in this one seemed to spark the offensive pressure from the T-Birds as got shots to the net throughout the frame. The power-play didn't hurt the Pandas, but a turnover did. Jacquelyn Fleming forced the miscue at center ice, carried the puck into the Alberta zone, and fed Cassidy Rhodes who finished off the play with her 11th goal of the season as UBC went up 1-0 at 12:42. A penalty on the Thunderbirds shortly after that goal did nothing to help Alberta's cause, and we'd hit the first break with UBC up a goal and up 13-7 in shots.
A penalty assessed to Alberta just 24 seconds into the frame was another missed chance for UBC, but Alberta turned it into a goal when Sara Kazeil joined Izzy Lajoie on a breakaway, turning it into a 2-on-no-one, and Lajoie finished off the passing play by burying the puck behind Hugens at 2:31 to even the game at 1-1. Alberta seemed to find their skating legs after that goal as the two teams played fairly evenly through the remainder of the frame. Despite trading power-plays, we'd still be tied at the second intermission at 1-1 with UBC up by a 19-14 shot margin.
The third period belonged to one player as she did all the scoring, but Grace Elliott struck quickly in this frame when she went shelf from the slot for her 11th goal of the season just 58 seconds after the start of the period. An extended UBC power-play followed that as two Pandas were whistled for infractions with five seconds of overlap, and the second penalty saw Elliott strike again as Rylind MacKinnon set her up for her 12th goal of the season, and it was 3-1 for UBC at the 5:52 mark. A couple of penalties against the T-Birds would slow them down in the third period, but the two-goal difference was more than enough as UBC clinched first-place thanks to their 3-1 win over Alberta. Elise Hugens picked up her 14th win of the season after stopping 22 shots while Halle Oswald stopped 25 shots in the setback.
UBC posts clips of goals to social media, but doesn't do highlight reels on YouTube. I know I'm not owed an explanation for why and I know it's not mandatory by Canada West, but let's be honest...
The Huskies gave their fans something to cheer about early in this game when Kelsey Hall beat Ross just 5:15 into the game, and the Huskies grabbed a 1-0 lead on her eighth goal. Saskatchewan certainly was ready for the game as they found all sorts of ways to put pucks on net, but Ross stood tall in the Mount Royal net after surrendering that goal. No advanatages in this period as both sides played a clean game, but Saskatchewan went into the break up 1-0 and holding a 14-7 edge in the shot total.
Mount Royal killed off an early second-period penalty as the Cougars began to show their skating legs. More shots began to get through to Drever while less reached Ross, and that would help MRU's cause late in the frame. Jordyn Hutt would end up denting twine at 14:44 for her fifth goal, and Ava Metzger found her third goal at 18:33 as visitors attacked with purpose to make it 2-1! That one-goal lead would hold into the break as the Cougars went to the room with the lead despite the Huskies holding a 23-20 lead in shots.
The third period was a class in Cougars hockey as they scored early while defending vigorously. Aliya Jomha found space for her fourth goal at 3:24 to make it a 3-1 game while Jerzey Watteyne notched her sixth goal at the 7:00 mark while on the power-play to make it 4-1 in favour of Mount Royal. A couple of power-plays for the Huskies saw nothing added to their goal total thanks to a collective effort of goaltending and shot-blocking from the Cougars, and that defensive play would carry them to victory as Mount Royal downed the Huskies by a 4-1 score. Kaitlyn Ross picked up her 15th win after turning aside 27 shots while Camryn Drever stopped 24 shots on the evening.
Highlights don't exist for the Huskies. You'd think you'd want people excited about the Huskies and university women's hockey in general since they're hosting Nationals, but nope. Not in Saskatoon.
SATURDAY: After being on the wrong end of a three-goal loss one night earlier, the Huskies knew they needed a big game against Mount Royal to win the tiebreaker against them assuming these two are tied at the end of the season. For the Cougars, they were looking to take how they played in third period and apply it to Saturday's game so they could finish no lower than third-place in Canada West. The Cougars opted t give Scout Anderson the start in this big game while Camryn Drever was back between the pipes for the Huskies.
Both teams came out with solid effort as the legs were moving and pucks were flying, but credit the Cougars for blocking shots and keeping the Huskies off-balance. A penalty midway through the frame allowed Mount Royal to find some shots on Drever, but neither goaltender was willing to surrender the first goal. At the end of 20 minutes, these teams were tied at 0-0 with MRU up 7-2 in shots.
The second period saw a few more players sent to the sin bin as the action ramped up. Saskatchewan couldn't solve Anderson on their two power-plays in the first half of the period while the Cougars couldn't find space past Drever on their extended power-play in the second half of the frame. Both goalies and defences kept us where we started this game as the second break saw the teams tied at 0-0 with Mount Royal holding a 16-10 edge in shots.
The third period felt like the previous two through the start, but it would change just past the five-minute mark. Athena Hauck found just enough space to wire a puck past Drever at 5:26 for her eighth tally, and Mount Royal had the 1-0 lead. The teams exchanged power-plays later in the period with no goals seen, and it would be Lyndsey Janes' fourth goal that iced the game as she scored the empty-netter with 12 seconds to play as the Mount Royal Cougars completed the sweep over the Huskies with the 2-0 win. Scout Anderson picked up her fifth win and third shutout of the season by stopping all 15 shots sent her way while Camryn Drever likely deserved a better fate with her 24-save night.
This game was fantastic. I wish there was some way to show you how good both teams were, but I can't. And you know why that is.
One could tell the Griffins were playing for their graduating players and for pride as they took the ice. They killed an early penalty, and they were finding ways to limit the Bisons' chances. The Griffins would strike first in this game when the graduating Mila Verbicky broke into the Bisons' zone and went off the crossbar and in as she notched her third goal, and the Griffins were up 1-0 at 7:01. That lead would become two goals late in the period when the graduating Shaelyn Hopkins hammered a puck through traffic and past Shippam at 18:09 for her second goal, and the Griffins took the 2-0 lead into the break despite Manitoba outshooting MacEwan by a 6-4 count.
The second period saw MacEwan continue their inspired play as they held Manitoba at bay for most of the period. That's when Brenna Nicol decided to put the Herd on her shoulders by scoring her second goal at 16:40 before adding her third goal at 19:10, and this game was tied at 2-2 heading into the third period thanks to Nicol's goal-scoring efforts. A late penalty called against the Bisons would carry over into the third period, but it changed nothing in the second period as the 2-2 tie stood with Manitoba leading 21-13 in shots.
That power-play time to start the third period didn't help the Griffins, and the four minutes of penalty they received shortly after also did nothing for their side of the scoreboard. However, they kept their strong play going, and they'd be rewarded when the puck bounced off a Bisons' skate in front directly to Joie Simon who ripped it by Shippam for her third goal of the season, and the Griffins were back in front by a 3-2 score at 9:20. That would last until the final minute when Katie Chatyrbok's point shot was deflected in front by Jessica Haner for her first goal with 29 seconds to play, and we headed to overtime tied at 3-3 with Manitoba up 27-25 in shots.
The extra frame looked like it was over early as Joie Simon's shot early in the extra time seemed to hit the middle post and come out, but the officials told the teams to play on. The Bisons came roaring back after the confusion, and Kate Gregoire ended the game with her fourth goal of the season when she beat Sank at 1:08 of overtime to give the Bisons the 4-3 win. Emily Shippam picked up her fifth win of the campaign with a 22-save performance while Brianna Sank was tagged with the overtime loss on a 26-stop night.
Let's see that overtime moment where it looked like Simon had scored. Wait, what's that? No highlights of this game? Sorry, I thought MacEwan would have solved that problem to give their seniors some video highlights of their final games. Y'know, for the memories.
SATURDAY: Manitoba's win on Friday put them in the driver's seat when it came to their playoff lives depending on how other games finished, but a win on Saturday would determine the six teams who would play in the Canada West playoffs. Nothing should be considered a given on this day, though, as MacEwan is playing their final game of the season and five of their players are playing their final U SPORTS games. In short, MacEwan would be motivated to close out this season with a win. The rematch was set as Emily Shippam got the call for the Bisons and Brianna Sank was good to go in the Griffins' crease.
A very early penalty against the Bisons would be the catalyst for MacEwan to get their offence rolling. Allee Isley caught a break when her shot deflected in off a Bisons defender while on the power-play as Isley's third goal put MacEwan up 1-0 just 1:35 into the game. The teams would trade power-plays later on with neither side credited with a power-play goal, but the asterisk on that statement is that Manitoba scored as the MacEwan penalty expired. Rachel Gottfried teed up a puck that Brenna Nicol got a stick on, and Nicol's deflection was good for her fourth goal of the season to make it a 1-1 game at 16:34. A late penalty to the Bisons wouldn't help the Griffins, and we'd enter the break tied at 1-1 with Manitoba up 9-6 in shots.
The second period was played evenly as neither side could convert chances. MacEwan had a pair of power-plays to go along with the advantage that carried into the period, but they couldn't make good on any of those opportunities. With the game still tied at 1-1 after 40 minutes of play, we'd head to the final frame with the Bisons carrying a 17-12 edge in shots.
Again, an early power-play didn't get MacEwan any further ahead, but seconds after the penalty did. Makenna Schuttler came out of the corner towards the net, and her backhander found a seam on Shippam as it ended up in the back of the net for her third goal of the season, and the Griffins jumped ahead at 2:37, just three seconds after the Manitoba penalty had expired. Manitoba would kill off another penalty, but the Griffins kept their mojo flowing as Jenny Andrash threw a pass into the slot that Maria Ayre found on the back door, and her fifth goal was a no-doubter as the Griffins went up 3-1 at 10:44. Manitoba cut into the lead two minutes later when Julia Bird beat Sank at 13:06, setting up a furious ending for this game. The Griffins withstood the barrage sent towards them by the Bisons, though, and they'd win their final game of the season by that 3-2 score. Brianna Sank picked up a well-earned fourth win of the season with 28 saves while Emily Shippam stopped 14 shots in the setback.
Fantasic game? Check. Amazing effort? Check. Big win? Check. You know what's missing? Any video of these things in this game! But because this is the last time I get to poke fun at the MacEwan athletics department this season, I'm going give them a free pass.
Instead, I want to send a message to the players on the MacEwan Grffins team. I know this season was tough, but MacEwan beat Calgary, Manitoba, Trinity Western, and Regina this season including taking five of six points in their last three games. Consistency matters, but the foundation is there. Don't stop believing in yourselves, Griffins - you're not as far away as it may seem.
The game started quickly for Trinity Western who got a few good shots on Kliewer early, but she was on her game. If that momentum needed a boost, it was found when Chloe Reid picked up a loose puck off in the neutral zone, carried it into the Regina zone, and fired a shot on net that seemed to handcuff Kliewer as Reid celebrated her fifth goal and the Spartans led 1-0 at 6:05. Trinity Western would be whistled for the only penalty of the period, but they didn't let that slow them down. Presleigh Giesbrecht fed Olivia Leier on a 2-on-1, and Leier finished it off on the left side for her fifth goal at 10:21, and the shorthanded marker made it 2-0 game.
Just for the record, Kate Fawcett drew the secondary assist on that goal after Leier skated a rebound out of harm's way, and that marks the first goalie point for Trinity Western in U SPORTS history! Cool moments aside, Trinity Western led 2-0 over Regina while being up 13-7 in shots after one period.
The final 40 minutes were played about as evenly as possible as each team had two power-plays that saw zero goals scored, and Regina recorded one more total shot after the teams tied at eight shots in the second period and the Cougars led 14-13 in the final period. Despite both sides have chances, no other pucks would find twine, and the game would finish with Trinity Western winning 2-0 over Regina. Kate Fawcett picked up her fifth win and second shutout of the season with a 29-save night while Arden Kliewer stopped 32 shots in what turned out to be a very crucial loss.
Highlights from the Spartans are below!
SATURDAY: I mentioned that the loss was crucial for Regina because Manitoba's win over MacEwan eliminated them from the playoff race thanks their seven-point cushion on Regina with three games remaining. What may have been lost in the Trinity Western win is the fact that they found themselves six points back, but Manitoba holds the tiebreaker over them. In short, Trinity Western was eliminated thanks to the Manitoba win as well, making Saturday's game between these two teams all for naught. Natalie Williamson started for the Cougars in this game while Mabel Maltais was between the pipes for the Spartans.
I know I've defined a blowout as any time a team gets up six goals in a game, but this one was more of a blowout based on how the Spartans played all game long. They just simply had a step on Regina all game, and it showed. Michela Naccarato scored her second goal from the side of the net just 3:02 into the game for her second goal as Trinity Western went up 1-0. A late Regina power-play didn't help the Cougars, and we'd hit the break with that one-goal lead for Trinity Western as they led 14-11 in shots.
Kara Yackel decided to break the game open in the second period. Brooklyn Anderson made an incredible move to get by a defender before throwing a centering pass where Yackel scored her sixth goal from the right side of the crease at 9:30, and the Spartans went up 2-0. Eight minutes later, Yackel cleaned up a rebound in front off an Anderson shot, and the score went to 3-0 on Yackel's seventh goal at 17:55. Three Regina penalties didn't help Trinity Western, but the Yackel goals made it a 3-0 lead at the second intermission with the Spartans leading 32-18 in shots.
The third period saw TWU continue to put shots and goals on the board. Kyra McDonald broke down the left wing as Regina seemingly opted to let Williamson handle the puck carrier, and McDonald fired one through Williamson at 4:51 for her fifth goal as the Spartans went up 4-0. The final goal on this day saw Michela Naccarato go into her bag of tricks, pull out an impressive toe-drag, and go backhand for her third goal at 15:43 for the five-goal lead. Despite some penalties late in this one, this game would end with the 5-0 win in favour of the Spartans over the Cougars.
Highlights of the game are below!
| School | Record | Points | GF | GA | Streak | Next |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UBC | 20-1-2-3 | 47 | 105 | 31 | W11 | @ MRU |
| Alberta | 16-3-3-4 | 42 | 69 | 26 | L2 | vs TWU |
| Mount Royal | 15-6-5-0 | 40 | 74 | 45 | W2 | vs UBC |
| Saskatchewan | 15-7-2-2 | 36 | 55 | 42 | L3 | @ MAN |
| Calgary | 9-13-2-2 | 24 | 63 | 69 | W2 | @ REG |
| Manitoba | 9-15-1-1 | 21 | 50 | 80 | L1 | vs SAS |
| Trinity Western | 8-17-0-1 | 17 | 52 | 71 | W2 | @ ALB |
| Regina | 5-18-1-2 | 14 | 35 | 78 | L3 | vs CAL |
| MacEwan | 4-21-1-2 | 12 | 40 | 101 | W1 | OUT |
The Scenarios... Again
The Top Scorer
Unless Calgary's Elizabeth Lang goes off this week against Regina, it would seem that Mackenzie Kordic will be the top scorer in Canada West this year. Make no mistake that Kordic had a huge year considering she currently has the same number of points this season as she did in the previous two seasons combined!While I'm not overly worried about how she played in the second half, Kordic had 26 points in 18 games prior to the December break. Since returning in January, she's collected just seven points in eight games. That may be due to teams keying in on her being that she's the leading scorer, but seeing that kind of drop-off in scoring makes one wonder if something changed.
It might be worth keeping an eye on as we begin the playoffs.
If Defence Wins Championships...
Alberta currently has surrendered the fewest goals in the conference as they've allowed 26 goals in 26 games. UBC is second with 31 goals-against, but the goal differential clearly favours UBC as they fill nets far more regularly. These two teams look like they'll finish atop the standings, so seeing them needing just one playoff series win to advance to the final should worry the other four teams in the playoffs.As we've seen in several playoff years, goalies can steal series in the short best-of-three series. The top-four goalies in the conference by goals-against average are Oswald (ALB) at 1.26, Hugens (UBC) at 1.31, Drever (SAS) at 1.34, and Ross (MRU) at 1.91. By save percentage, these goalies rank 1, 2, 5, and 6 in the conference with Drever and Oswald in the 1-2 spots, respectively.
If defence and goaltending win championships, it would seem Alberta might be the favorite. As we know, though, scoring plays a major role as does special teams, but having the top defence helps immensely.
The Last Word
One week remains in the season, and four of six playoff teams can still potentially move in the standings. When teams talk about missed opportunities after losses, one has to wonder if they're referring to losses earlier in the season as well. Had a few of the teams needing points captured those points they gave up earlier in the season, the standings may look very different right now. And in the playoffs, capitalizing on those opportunities usually is the difference between winning and watching from home.Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!
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