The first period of this game was a more defensively-minded than perhaps what was expected, but the teams showed that neither side was willing to abandon their defensive structure. Sydney Mercier, though, would find some room at the bottom of the face-off circle to snap a shot past Williamson at 4:22 for her eighth goal of the season, and the Dinos grabbed the 1-0 lead. From that point, though, very few shots got through to the netminders as the two teams defended well. A very quick period with no penalties called would end with the Dinos holding the one-goal lead and being up 6-4 in shots.
Things opened up a little more in the second period as teams started to hit the net with shots, but both goalies were good on the shots they faced. Each side had a power-play in the frame that went goalless, so the advantages didn't help either. Despite the shot totals seen in this period, the 1-0 Calgary lead remained intact through 40 minutes with the Dinos holding an 18-12 shot advantage.
For as quiet as the first 40 minutes were, the final 20 were the opposite! An early 5-on-3 power-play didn't help Regina's cause, but they would strike on the power-play shortly thereafter when Shaylee Scraba cleaned up a rebound off a Makena Kushniruk shot at 6:24, and Scraba's second of the season made it a 1-1 game. That flurry of activity seemed to kick Regina into a higher gear because they continued to pepper the Calgary net with shots only to be denied by Durante. Calgary would find a break from the attack when Elizabeth Lang hit Courtney Kollman with a pass on a 2-on-1, and Kollman does what she does best as she made it 2-1 with her tenth goal at 11:54.
Regina wasn't deterred, though, as they continued firing pucks at Calgary's cage, and it would benefit them when a Dinos defender covered the puck in the crease. That gave Regina a penalty shot, and Jenna Merk went backhand for the goal past the outstretched leg of Durante for her fourth goal, and the penalty shot marker made it 2-2 at the 13:18 mark. It seemed like overtime was going to be needed, but a late Regina penalty put that thought on hold when Courtney Kollman's shot from inside the left circle went high glove-side on Williamson for the power-play marker, and her 11th goal with 56 seconds to play stood as the winner as the Calgary Dinos secured the 3-2 win over the Regina Cougars. Gabriella Durante picked up her tenth win with a 27-save performance while Natalie Williamson turned in a 20-save night for her team.
Highlights are a pipe dream when it comes to the Cougars. For all of the highlights some of these women have produced over their careers, you'd think there would be some effort to show off their talents, right? Even just once? Speaking of that effort...
SATURDAY: With the win on Friday, Calgary secured fifth-place in the conference, so Saturday's game had no playoff implications for either team. Regina, though, was still playing for pride as they wanted to send their graduating players off with a victory. It was the final game for both teams in this regular season as Amelia Awad took the Calgary net while Arden Kliewer was backstopping Regina.
Both team brought the offence in the first period, and that was helped by power-plays. Regina gave up a couple of advantages that Calgary could not convert, and that may have built some momentum for the home side. On their first power-play of the game, Kaylee Dyer followed up on her own rebound to chip it past Awad for her fourth goal of the season, and Regina was out front at 13:29 with the 1-0 lead. A second power-play didn't help, but the damage was done in the opening frame as Regina took the 1-0 lead to the room thanks, in part, to their 13-11 edge in shots.
We'd get an early goal just 79 seconds into the second frame when rookie Laura Jardin went wide on a defender before driving the net and finding room past Kliewer for her first Canada West goal as the Dinos tied this game at 1-1. Five minutes later, Paige Hubbard would force a turnover on the right half-boards, walk it off the wall towards the middle of the ice, and snipe a shot past Awad for her sixth goal, and Regina led 2-1 at 6:27.
A Regina power-play didn't help the Cougars' cause shortly after, but the Dinos would strike with just over five minutes left in the period when Courtney Kollman set up Elizabeth Lang for her 12th goal, and the game was tied 2-2 at the 14:59 mark. 14 seconds later, though, Makena Kushniruk pounced on a loose puck at the side of the Calgary net, and she buried her eighth goal at 15:13 to put Regina up 3-2. That's how the middle frame would end as the Cougars still held a one-goal lead after 40 minutes while maintaining that two-shot lead from the first period by a 25-23 count.
The third period saw both sides push for more goals as the shot counts continued to climb, but both goalies locked down their creases. There was a Calgary penalty called that didn't help Regina, but the shots kept coming from both sides. At the end of the period, though, no additional goals were scored, and the Regina Cougars were able to close out their season with a 3-2 win over the Calgary Dinos. Arden Kliewer picked up her fifth win on a 32-save night while Amelia Awad took her first loss this season despite stopping 37 shots.
I'll cut the Cougars athletics department some slack on the final day of the season, especially after the Cougars finished the season on a winning note. The planning begins for October at this point, but enjoy the victory after finishing the season on a high note!
A quiet first period saw nothing gained for either side. Manitoba was awarded a power-play, but very little reached Drever on the advantage. There were a couple of opportunities at either end, but defence was dominating the opening frame as the teams hit the intermissions still tied at 0-0 while Manitoba held a 9-6 lead in shots.
Both sides came out ready to play in the middle frame as this game began moving north-south, and it would be Kate Gregoire who chipped a Sarah Dennehy pass past Drever for her fifth goal at 3:53, and the Bisons took the 1-0 lead. The teams played another quick period with very few moments to highlight outside of a couple of solid saves at either end, and a late Manitoba penalty didn't help the Huskies. At the end of 40 minutes, Manitoba was up a goal and held an 18-16 shot advantage.
Manitoba pushed for more in the third period, but the Huskies' defence stood tall in keeping the difference to one goal. That would change just before the nine-minute mark when Sophie Lalor cut across the slot and found room past Shippam for her 11th goal, and the game was tied 1-1 at the 8:58 mark. That score didn't last long as a penalty to Manitoba resulted in a power-play goal for the Huskies when Sara Kendall, left alone at the left side of the net, went shelf from in close at 13:41, and the Huskies had their first lead at 2-1 on Kendall's second goal of the season.
Despite a couple of questionable hits from the home side late in the period, it would be Sophie Lalor who iced this game with her 12th goal into an empty net with a second to play, and the Huskies claimed a 3-1 win over the Bisons. Camryn Drever set a Huskies record with her 15th win of the season after making 27 stops while Emily Shippam made 20 saves in the setback.
Highlights from the Bisons are as common as palm trees on the prairies, so I don't even need to bother looking for them. Despite a handful of people who sit in their pressbox, there are none.
SATURDAY: With the Bisons honouring their graduating players on Saturday, they were hunting for a win for those six players while trying to go into the postseason on a winning note. The Huskies were looking to tune up for the playoffs a little more knowing that they'll be hosting in the first round, so they wanted to cap off the season with a win as well. Colby Wilson got the start for the Huskies in this game while the isons went to Meagan Relf for her final game in brown-and-gold colours.
Goals came early in this one as Manitoba used an early power-play to take the lead. Kate Gregoire poked her sixth puck across the goal line during a goalmouth scramble at 5:15 for the power-play goal, and Manitoba grabbed the early 1-0 lead. It was a two-goal lead moments later when Dana Goertzen picked up a puck at center, turned on the jets while fighting off a defender, and went high blocker past Wilson at 6:27 for her seventh goal, giving the Bisons the 2-0 lead.
That second goal seemed to snap the Huskies out of whatever slumber they were in as they pushed back. 1:59 after Goertzen made it 2-0, Kate Ball buried a loose puck off a deflection, and the Huskies were on the board at 2-1 with Ball's sixth goal at 8:26. The teams continued to push, and rookie Kahlen Wisener would score her first Canada West goal on an impressive individual effort in a city where she scored so many for the Avros as the Huskies evened the score at 2-2 at 14:51. That score would hold until the break as the teams went into the rooms tied 2-2 and even in shots at 13-13.
An early penalty in the second period didn't slow Saskatchewan's momentum as Kennedy Brown caught an unaware Manitoba power-play by surprise by stealing the puck behind the Manitoba net after it was dumped down the ice, and her wrap-around found just enough room around the post for the shorthanded marker as Brown's third goal at 3:52 put the Huskies up 3-2. The teams would trade two power-plays each throughout the period with neither side adding to their total, and the goalies were good through the remainder of the frame as the Huskies took that 3-2 into the break despite Manitoba leading 26-18 in shots after 40 minutes.
A power-play in the third period saw the Huskies add to their total when Jacquelyne Chief's low shot was deflected by Kara Kondrat under the bar from in close for her sixth goal at 7:13, and Saskatchewan went up 4-2. The Bisons continued to pour shots on Wilson, and they'd finally be rewarded when Kylie Lesuk's nifty behind-the-back centering pass found Jena Barscello who buried it from the slot for her third goal, and we had a 4-3 game at 13:59. Despite some incredible pressure late, Manitoba could find an equalizer, and Mallory Dyer would pot the empty-netter for her tenth goal with 49 seconds to play as the Saskatchewan Huskies completed the season-ending sweep with a 5-3 win over the Bisons. Colby Wilson made 29 stops for her fourth win of the campaign while Meagan Relf stopped 20 shots in her last Canada West game.
The Huskies showed their teeth this weekend as they'll return home and get ready for the playoffs. Manitoba will hit the road for their playoff series that will take place in Alberta. Where? Read on!
Trinity Western got their offence rolling when Katherine Chadwick beat Rey for her third goal of the season at the 2:34 mark, and the Spartans were off and running with a 1-0 lead. An Alberta power-play shortly after produced nothing for the Pandas, and Trinity Western seemed to be the team needing a win with the pressure they brought in the frame. Thankfully, Rey was on her game as well as the Spartans hit the break with their one-goal lead and holding a 13-3 shot lead.
The teams battled through the first half of the period where Alberta seemingly found their legs as they peppered the Trinity Western net. Penalties began to creep into the picture midway through the period, but Katherine Chadwick would use the extra space during 4-on-4 play to strike as she made a great move in close to beat Rey for her sixth goal, and the Spartans were up 2-0 at the 12:30 mark. That only seemed to encourage the Pandas to apply more pressure, and they'd finally break through with less than three minutes in the frame. On another power-play, Jadynn Morden would cash in another goal while up a player, and her 14th goal at 17:27 made it 2-1. The Pandas weren't done, though, as another late penalty to Trinity Western would allow Abby Soyko to score her sixth goal while on the power-play at 19:34, and we went to the second intermission tied at 2-2 and with Alberta holding a 21-19 edge in shots.
The third period saw both teams lock down their defensive zones as neither allowed for many shots. With no penalties being taken by either side, it was all 5-on-5 play, and nothing would come from it as the goalies and defenders were ready for anything. We'd get some free hockey on a Friday night as the Pandas and Spartans hit the end of regulation time tied at 2-2 and with Alberta up 27-25 in shots.
It would take nearly three minutes, but a winner emerged in the extra frame. With three Pandas coming down the ice, Brooklyn Tews found Izzy Lajoie, and she ripped a wrister into the back of the net for the winner as her seventh goal at 2:54 of overtime gave Alberta the 3-2 win over the Spartans. Misty Rey picked up her sixth win of the season on a 25-save effort while Kate Fawcett was tagged with the overtime loss following her 28-save night.
Let's check in on how the Pandas are doing with their highlights.
SATURDAY:After the Pandas claimed second-place in Canada West on Friday, Saturday's game was a chance to send off their graduating players with a win in their final regular season games. Trinity Western was there to ruin the fun once more, and they looked to send their own graduates off with a win against one of Canada West's best teams. Mabel Maltais was between the pipes for the Spartans in this one while the Pandas let graduating netminder Halle Oswald handle the puck-stopping duties on Saturday.
The Pandas wasted no time in getting the scoring started as Madison Willan fired a shot past Maltais just 20 seconds into the frame to put the Pandas up 1-0 with her eighth goal. Megan Wilson would get in on the goal-scoring action as she added her second goal at the 5:07 mark, and Willan would strike again at 12:50 with her ninth goal to chase Maltais from the net as Kate Fawcett replaced her. A couple of late penalties to the Pandas didn't hurt them, and they'd take a 3-0 lead into the break while holding a 10-4 advantage in shots.
The middle frame saw the Pandas continue to control the pace, but Fawcett was doing her part in keeping Alberta from adding more to their total. A late power-play for Alberta in the period didn't allow them to extend the lead, but that 3-0 lead was still holding strong through 40 minutes of play while the Pandas had a 19-8 margin on the shot counter.
Brooklyn Anderson wasn't waiting for the water to freeze in the third period as she scored her ninth goal of the season just 22 seconds into the period to cut the Spartans' deficit to 3-1. TWU kept pushing in this frame, but Alberta was not letting them get quality looks or second chances very often. Allison Reich would cash in a shorthanded marker midway through the frame as her third goal made it a 4-1 game for Alberta at 10:34, and that's how this one would finish as the Pandas defeat the Spartans. Halle Oswald earned her 12th win of the campaign ater stopping 20 shots while Mable Maltais was tagged for the loss after stopping three of six shots she faced over 12:50. For the record, Kate Fawcett stopped 20 of 21 shots in the 45:38 she played in this game.
Again, I'll spare the snark for having zero highlights, but the Pandas get a week off to prepare for their next opponent. Having the bye and home-ice advantage will help, so we'll see how the do when they take the ice in the Canada West semifinal. Trinity Western, meanwhile, will begin their preparation for next season.
In a rather interesting moment, UBC's Kailee Peppler received a ten-minute misconduct at the start of the game for what appeared to crossing the center line during warmups, so the stakes were set before this game even started. Both teams were solid defensively as neither side saw many chances nor shots, and anything that reached the netminders was stopped. A late penalty to UBC saw no damage incurred, and the teams would head to their respective rooms still tied 0-0 and Mount Royal up 7-5 in shots after 20 minutes.
An early power-play in the second period for the Thunderbirds went without a goal, but moments after the advantage ended saw Rylind MacKinnon found the back of the net for her tenth goal as UBC went up 1-0. Two power-plays for Mount Royal in the frame didn't help their cause, and UBC's solid play kept a lot of shots away from their net. At the end of two periods, the 1-0 lead held for UBC while they led 12-11 in shots.
UBC would get another goal early in the third period when Grace Elliott potted her 13th goal at 3:39 as they went up 2-0. Another period with few penalties was played, but UBC had the only power-play which saw nothing added. A late empty-netter from Mackenzie Kordic was added with 67 seconds left, and her 14th goal of the season gave UBC the 3-0 win over Mount Royal. Elise Hugens earnedher 14th win and fourth shutout of the season with 16 saves while Kaitlyn Ross made 21 stops in the setback.
No highlights from Mount Royal, but their loss combined with Alberta's win means that Mount Royal will finish in third-place in the conference and host a playoff series in the opening round. Of course, highlights would be a nice addition to this recap, but...
SATURDAY: With both teams knowing where they were in the standings, it was a night of backup netminders while trying to get set for the playoffs. Mount Royal celebrated their graduating class, and looked to send them off with a win while the Thunderbirds were looking to spoil the party with one last regular-season win. Reese Hiddleston was in the blue paint for the Thunderbirds while the Cougars went with Scout Anderson in this one.
It took 86 seconds for the Cougars to pounce as Sydney Benko dented twine to open the scoring with her fifth goal, and she followed that up with her sixth goal on the power-play at 7:56 as Benko led 2-0. A handful of penalties would follow as neither side could use the extra space on the ice for additional goals, but Mount Royal would start the second period with a 5-on-3 after all was said and done. At the horn, though, Mount Royal held a 2-0 lead and 10-4 shot margin.
In an odd move, the Thunderbirds opted to swap Hiddleston with Elise Hugens to start the second period, so it was Hugens' crease moving forward. After UBC killed off the 5-on-3, they marched down the ice and got a goal back when Mia Bierd found the back of the net at 2:33 with her third goal, and the MRU lead was down to 2-1. A few minutes later, Breanne Trotter found Kiana McNinch in front, and she buried her eighth goal of the season to restore the Mount Royal two-goal lead at 7:19. UBC wasn't about to go away quietly, though, as Makenzie McCallum scored her tenth goal at 18:09, and we'd hit the second break with the Cougars leading 3-2 on the scoreboard and 22-16 on the shot counter.
The third period was far quieter in terms of major scoring events. There were no penalties taken by either side, so that part of the night was easy to score. Mackenzie Kordic would score her 15th goal at 6:49 to even the score at 3-3, so it seemed like we might get a heckuva finish in this one. UBC was clearly the more aggressive team in this period, but the horn would sound on regulation time with these two squads tied at 3-3, so it was off to overtime to decide the final game of the 2023-24 season! For the stats people out there, the shots were even at 28-28 after 60 minutes of play.
This game would be decided just before the halfway point of the extra frame. Annalise Wong was sent in on a breakaway, and she'd bring this one to a close with her third goal of the season, giving UBC the 4-3 overtime win over Mount Royal. Elise Hugens picked up her 15th win of the season after stopping 18 shots in relief of Hiddleston while Scout Anderson was tagged with the overtime loss after making 27 stops. For those keeping track at home, Reese Hiddleston stopped eight of ten shots in her 20 minutes of work.
UBC will head home for a week and await to see who their opponent is in the semifinal after earning top spot in the conference while Mount Royal will prepare to host a quarterfinal matchup. Both of these teams can claim the same thing about their next games.
| School | Record | Points | GF | GA | Streak | Next |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UBC | 21-1-3-3 | 51 | 112 | 34 | W13 | BYE |
| Alberta | 17-3-4-4 | 46 | 76 | 29 | W2 | BYE |
| Mount Royal | 15-7-5-1 | 41 | 77 | 52 | L2 | vs MAN |
| Saskatchewan | 17-7-2-2 | 40 | 63 | 46 | W2 | vs CAL |
| Calgary | 10-14-2-2 | 26 | 68 | 74 | L1 | @ SAS |
| Manitoba | 9-17-1-1 | 21 | 54 | 88 | L3 | @ MRU |
| Trinity Western | 8-18-0-2 | 18 | 55 | 78 | L2 | OUT |
| Regina | 6-19-1-2 | 16 | 40 | 83 | W1 | OUT |
| MacEwan | 4-21-1-2 | 12 | 40 | 101 | W1 | OUT |
The Brackets
I'm not saying that year's playoffs will be anything like last season's postseason. In fact, far from it just in a quick glance since the Saskatchewan Huskies already own a berth at the U SPORTS National Championship as the host team. What I am saying, though, is that the battle for the one final berth from Canada West will be fierce in every sense of the word, and that none of the teams should be counted out until they are officially out. It IS Canada West, after all, and we've seen teams go on heaters through the postseason.
Kudos Are In Order
Let's start with the obvious one as congratulations go to the UBC Thunderbirds officially are the top team in Canada West after 28 games. Again, everything will need to be earned in the postseason and they do come in with a target painted on their backs, but the highest-scoring and second-best defensive team will likely make some noise in the postseason. Well done, UBC!Congratulations also go out to UBC Thunderbirds forward Mackenzie Kordic who leds the conference in goals (15), assists (21), and points (36)! She was a difference maker for the Thunderbirds almost every time she came over the boards, and her stats totals are a good reflection of how well she played this season. Well done, Mackenzie!
Congratulations go out to three players who were the top scorers from the blue line. Those three players are UBC's Rylind MacKinnon, UBC's Sophia Gaskell, and Mount Royal's Emma Bergesen. MacKinnon gets an extra tip of the cap for being the top goal-scoring defender as she hit ten goals this season, but all three players finished the 2023-24 season with 22 points from the blue line. Well done, ladies!
For the goalies, we have a pile of netminders to congratulate for different reasons. We'll start with UBC's Elise Hugens, Saskatchewan's Camryn Drever, and Mount Royal's Kaitlyn Ross for all reaching the 15-win mark this season. That's an impressive total of games won in the blue paint! Congratulations also go to UBC's Elise Hugens and Alberta's Halle Oswald for finishing the season with a conference-low 1.25 GAA for qualified goalies - incredible! Congratulations to Saskatchewan's Camryn Drever for finishing with a conference-best .955 save percentage - simply outstanding! And congratulations to both Alberta's Halle Oswald and Saskatchewan's Camryn Drever on their five shutouts this season - donuts are fantastic! Well done, stoppers!
Congratulations to UBC's Jaylyn Morris on her conference-leading 16 points for all rookies this year. A congratulations also goes out to Mount Royal's Jerzey Watteyne for her six goals to lead all rookies in that category as well! Excellent jobs in your first years, ladies!
A congratulations goes out to the lethal special teams players as Alberta's Jadynn Morden led the conference with nine power-play goals this season while Regina's Jadyn Kushniruk was tops with two shorthanded markers this season! Congratulations also go out to Mount Royal's Emma Bergesen who led all players with 12 power-play points, and to four ladies - the aforementioned Jadyn Kushniruk, and the Trinity Western trio of Presleigh Giesbrecht, Michela Naccarato, and Chloe Reid - who finished with two shorthanded points to lead the way while down a player. Well done, ladies!
To every other player who suited up this season for one of the nine Canada West team, allow me to applaud your work because it was an incredibly entertaining season once again. As with any sport, there has to be a winner and a loser in every game and series, and some of the hopes and dreams you had for this season may have been missed. I'm here to say that it doesn't matter to this writer - every player who wowed me with skill, talent, determination, grit, and dangles is a winner in my books, and I already look forward to next season!
The Last Word
I know it's Super Bowl Sunday, and this has been a lengthy recap of the weekend's action. Six teams will begin "Championship Season" next week with four taking the ice and two awaiting the winners. There should be a considerable growth in crowd size at each venue where games are played because the postseason is where dreams become reality. If you don't believe me, consider Mount Royal last season. Did anyone not associated with the program or who had seen them play believe they'd be standing atop the U SPORTS mountain when everything was finalized?Any of the six teams who made the dance could find that right mix of talent, determination, and luck to make a run in these playoffs. If you want to be a part of that history, get your tickets for next weekend's games and get ready to cheer for your squad. It's the playoffs, and it's arguably the most wonderful time of the year!
Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!
No comments:
Post a Comment