The Rundown - Canada West Final

And then there were two. The Alberta Pandas made the journey west to Vancouver for the Canada West Final as the UBC Thunderbirds were in search of their third-straight Canada West banner. This series pitted the top-two teams from the Canada West regular season against one another, and the winner of this best-of-three weekend would also earn the lone qualification berth at Nationals for the Canada West conference while second-place would see the season end. In short, this was an all-or-nothing Canada West Final for bragging rights, the Canada West banner, and a top-four seeding in Saskatoon! Who gets that honour? Let's find out on The Rundown!

UBC may have held the advantage over Alberta with a better season-series record, but those stats in the playoffs mean nothing when players elevate their games to new levels and teams play above their heads. One of these two teams would need to rise to the occasion in this series by earning a Game One victory, and that advantage could help in securing a championship. Halle Oswald was in the Pandas' net while Elise Hugens stood in front of the UBC iron in her end of the ice.

The Pandas wasted no time getting on the board in this game. Izzy Lajoie's backhander was easily stopped by Hugens, but she left the rebound in a perfect spot for Natalie Kieser to bang it home as the Pandas grabbed the 1-0 just 27 seconds into the game. The teams settled into their back-and-forth battle after that early goal as the goalies made saves to keep the opposition from celebrating.

A UBC penalty midway through the period did little to help the Pandas, and UBC may have gained a little confidence from that. They certainly grabbed a lot more confidence when, off a set play thanks to Joelle Fiala's win, Graced Elliott cut behind her from the right side and unleashed a laser that beat Oswald at 15:16 for her second goal, and this game was tied 1-1. That score carried into the break with the Thunderbirds holding an 11-9 edge in shots.

The second saw UBC establish its offensive game thanks, in part, to the power-play. An early penalty on the Pandas would see them kill the penalty, but not the pressure. That offensive pressure resulted in Sophia Gaskell one-timing a Rylind MacKinnon feed past the screen, past Oswald, and into the net at 6:07 to put the Thunderbirds up 2-1. The parade to the penalty box continued as UBC killed a penalty before Alberta killed an extended power-play.

That longer kill seemed to give Alberta some life as they were awarded a power-play with a little over six minutes in the frame. UBC did a good job in keeping Alberta from setting up, but they'd strike late when Brooklyn Tews' shot got by the traffic in front of Hugens and found twine at 15:30 for the power-play marker, and the game was tied at 2-2. Alberta would get a late power-play in the frame, but that opportunity didn't help as these teams hit the second intermission tied 3-3 with UBC holding a 30-11 shot margin.

The third period started with UBC killing off the remainder of that late penalty, and Alberta would be whistled for the next one. However, UBC couldn't score with the advantage, and that seemed to perk up the Pandas. Cassidy Maplethorpe's shot was tipped by Madison Willan past Hugens at 6:37 as Willan's third goal made it a 3-2 game for Alberta. UBC would get the next power-play just before the midpoint of the period, but that advantage was killed.

Time started to look like another enemy for UBC to face as the clock counted down, but good teams find a way and UBC made it happen. On a scramble in front of Oswald, the puck hit a body and came to rest to left side of Oswald where Annalise Wong found it, and her quick shot to the far post found twine at 16:14, and this game was tied 3-3! Neither team could find the back of the net before regulation time expired, and, if you wanted more build-up, we were heading to free hockey in the Canada West Final!

The first ten minutes of overtime solved nothing. The second overtime period moved to a 20-minute frame, and we'd see an Alberta penalty that the Pandas killed off with no harm. The back-and-forth saw Alberta hold an 8-4 after 30 minutes of overtime play, but these two teams were still tied 3-3 after 90 minutes as UBC held the 50-24 shot advantage.

The third overtime period didn't last long. Off the left half-boards, Joelle Fiala found a path to the middle of the ice, and she wired a wrist shot past the screen in front of Oswald to the near post that went off the iron and in for the game-winner at 2:54 as the UBC Thunderbirds claimed the triple-overtime victory over Alberta by a 4-3 score! Elise Hugens picks up her third win after stopped 22 shots in 92:54 of work while Halle Oswald likely deserved a better fate after stopping 47 shots in that same 92:54 of action.

UBC now leads the series 1-0 over Alberta.

Highlights of this triple-overtime thriller are below!

The storylines for Game Two were pretty clear. UBC was looking to end the series with a sweep of the Pandas. The Pandas were looking to extend it to a third and deciding game with a victory. The biggest question for both teams might be the fatigue factor after playing 90 minutes the day before. These teams only had about 20 hours between the final whistle and the drop of the puck to start Game Two, so I was keeping an eye on shift length and energy. Halle Oswald and Elise Hugens stood in their respective ends 200-feet apart for this rematch.

Just like in Game One, we didn't have to wait long for the scoreboard to change. A turnover at the UBC blue line forced by Cassidy Maplethorpe allowed Jadynn Morden to skate into the high slot where she picked the glove corner on Hugens at 4:49 for the 1-0 Alberta lead. That seemed to light a fire under UBC as they started to pressure the Pandas at times, but the Alberta defence and goaltending held strong through the majority of the period. A late scramble around the Alberta net would see Olivia Buckley finally whack a loose puck across the goal line with eight seconds left in the frame, and that goal made it a 1-1 game at the break with UBC holding a 15-4 shot count.

The second period was played far more evenly between the two teams are far as the shot totals were concerned. Each side had a power-play, but neither could capitalize on the advantages. As we saw one night earlier, the goalies were sharp through the period, and my concerns over fatigue weren't being held by the two teams. However, after a goalless second period, the 1-1 game continued into the third period with UBC leading 26-12 in shots.

UBC was whistled for a penalty early in the frame, and Alberta went to work. Madison Willan fired the puck from the right circle only to be stopped by Hugens, but Morden jammed away at the puck in front and pushed it across the goal line as her second goal and first power-play goal made it a 2-1 game for the Pandas at 5:08. The two teams continued to look for opportunities to score as neither was satisfied with the score, it seemed, but the defences held strong. A late power-play for UBC went by without a goal, and they'd finish the game on the power-play after Alberta was whistled for an infraction with less than 40 seconds to play. Oswald and the Alberta defence would remain stout, though, as the Pandas prevailed by that 2-1 score over the Thunderbirds! Halle Oswald stopped 35 shots for her third playoff win while Hugens made 19 saves in the setback.

With the Alberta win, the series is tied 1-1 with Game Three scheduled for 3pm PT on Sunday!

Highlights of this game are below!

Do or die. Win or go home. There is no tomorrow for one team after this game unless we're talking about the 2024-25 season. The rubber match between the UBC Thunderbirds and the Alberta Pandas would send one of these teams to Saskatoon while the other will likely have a thousand questions about where things went off the track after a solid season. Let's find out who's getting a new banner as Halle Oswald and Elise Hugens took to their respective creases at either end of the rink.

UBC pressed early in this game as they were looking to improve their chances of going to Saskatoon with an early goal. They'd get that break when, off a broken play in front of Oswald, Makenzie McCallum would find the puck in the slot and zip a shot past Oswald as she spun, giving UBC the 1-0 lead with her second goal at the 5:38 mark. A couple of penalties stalled Alberta's hopes of finding an answer midway through the frame, but Oswald and the defence would give nothing else up to the Thunderbirds. At the end of 20 minutes, UBC held the 1-0 lead and the 13-5 shot count.

The second period saw Alberta kill off an early penalty before they began to take control thanks to a couple of UBC penalties before the midway point of the period. That momentum seemed to keep the Pandas hungry as they looked for goals, and they'd find one late when Cassidy Maplethorpe found Madison Willan all alone in the slot where she buried the puck past Hugens for her fourth goal, and the game was tied 1-1 at the 17:02 mark. It seemed like we were heading for the break with the even score, but a late rush by Alberta saw Abbey Soyko's shot on net result in a pile of humanity in Hugens' crease where Maia Ehmann pushed the puck across the line with 30 seconds remaining, and the Pandas would take that 2-1 lead into the room despite UBC leading 19-16 in shots.

I don't think anyone would be surprised that UBC exploded out of the gates in third period as the defending Canada West champs needed a goal. It took them 101 seconds as Sierra LaPlante's long shot from the point beat a screened Halle Oswald cleanly, tying the game at 2-2. UBC killed off a penalty shortly after that goal, and that seemed to energize them again. They continued to throw everything towards the Alberta net, and it would pay off just past the midpoint of the period when, after a couple of blocked shot, the puck found Cassidy Rhodes on the right face-off dot, and she wired the puck to the back of the net for her second goal as UBC went up 3-2 at 10:46.

Alberta needed a response if they wanted to keep their season going at the very least, so they pressed back. UBC was solid in keeping Alberta from finding a lot of space, and time became the enemy of the Pandas. As the clock ticked down, Oswald went to the bench for the extra attacker, but it would Annalise Wong who iced this game with an empty-netter from the left face-off circle after tracking down a cleared puck. The UBC Thunderbirds claim their third-straight Canada West championship on the strength of a 4-2 win over the Alberta Pandas. Elise Hugens picked up her fourth win after making 22 stops while Halle Oswald played her final Canada West game that saw her make 31 saves on this night.

UBC eliminates the Alberta Pandas in three games, and they will move on to the U SPORTS National Championship in Saskatoon from March 14-17 as the Canada West qualifier.

Highlights of the final Canada West game of 2023-24 are below!

The Champs

Let's give the champs their due credit because the UBC Thunderbirds had another incredible season. A third-straight Canada West banner will hang in their rink starting next season, and there's no reason to believe they won't compete for a fourth banner next year. Before they get to that task, though, there will be a celebration tonight, and then it's back to work as they get themselves ready for Saskatoon as they may be the second-ranked team at the tournament. We'll see how things turn out in the next week, but congratulations to the 2024 Canada West Champions in the UBC Thunderbirds!

The Field

Thanks to the other conferences completing some key series today, we now know who will be landing in Saskatoon in two weeks. Honestly, this seems more like a class reunion based on who's coming.

Six of the eight teams playing in Saskatoon will be back for the second-straight year while all of Concordia, UBC, and UNB are at Nationals for a third-straight season. The only teams who weren't there last year are the Saskatchewan Huskies who will make their second appearance in three years, and the Waterloo Warriors who are making their first appearance ever. Needless to say, there could be some hostilities renewed depending on who meets whom in those opening-round games on March 14 and 15.

To Be Decided

The rankings for the tournament will likely be revealed later in the week next week as there are still two series that have to be decided. In the AUS, the UNB Reds shutout the StFX X-Women tonight to take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three AUS Final, and that series could be decided on Tuesday with a second UNB win. If a third game is needed, that would take place on Friday, March 8. Needless to say, keep an eye on the AUS results because the last U SPORTS Top-Ten saw StFX ranked as the sixth-best team while UNB was the ninth-best team. A UNB win would change those rankings for sure.

The other series is actually just a single game as the McCaw Cup is a one-game, winner-takes-all game that will be played between the Toronto Varsity Blues and the Waterloo Warriors. Eighth-ranked Toronto advanced to the final after they eliminated the third-ranked Guelph Gryphons today by a 1-0 score to win that series 2-1. Waterloo booked their berth in the final after they solved York's magic with a 3-0 win to take that series by a 2-1 count. The McCaw Cup will be played Varsity Arena in Toronto next Saturday, and a Waterloo win could mess up the rankings once more.

The Last Word

It's a Thunderbirds world and we're all just living in it as they thrive. The UBC Thunderbirds have put together their own little dynasty in Canada West over the last three seasons, and that makes for good hockey in Canada West as they push the other eight programs to match their firepower and skill each and every year.

Giving the champs some credit for their play is easy, but I should note that there were some incredible efforts from all nine Canada West teams this year. Frankly, the fact that Canada West hasn't gone to an eight-team playoff seems silly considering how close each series was, but I don't get a say in how things are run. If I did, I can guarantee you that things would be quite different with marked improvements on a number of fronts. Again, effort counts.

As much as I'm getting closer to walking away from writing this blog, I know I still have a lot of people to thank for their support throughout the years. I don't know if I'll ever reach that moment of getting everyone's names on here, but I do know that a lot of people in cities other than my own have been readers and supporters of this work I put in on Sundays. I'm very grateful for you all.

I know that some appreciate it because it's a place where the women's game is celebrated without any reservations. I know some like seeing their daughters or granddaughters or sisters get some recognition for their efforts on the ice. I know some are interested in the other games and other teams where they may know players who are playing. I know others read because it's the only outlet that runs a column on Canada West women's hockey every week.

It's that last point that I'll finish this column on because I truly feel like Canada West has dropped the ball on so many things, but a simple weekly recap on their website wouldn't be hard to do. They'll claim that paying someone for that service isn't something they're set up to do, but there's more than enough sponsorship and advertising dollars out there that one could make it happen on the Canada West website very easily. Based on the raw numbers from my blog, I can tell you that there would be a devoted readership.

Not once have I been contacted by Canada West about helping out or publishing The Rundown on their website. Not once have they ever contacted me about any of the content I run - good or bad - in these articles. Not once have they asked me why I do it, what purpose there is for it, or what value I see in doing it. Frankly, it's hard to understand why I did this for so long when they try so hard to make it seem like I don't exist to them. Then again, maybe I truly don't.

I realize that when I walk away from HBIC, there will be a void left here during the Canada West women's hockey season. I apologize to all of you who read this column for that reality here and now because I don't see anyone stepping in to do the same work I've done. If I may be very blunt, it would be something I'd cherish doing in the future if there was even a remote sign of life at Canada West when it comes to realizing the value of a weekly recap and partnering with The Hockey Show where we feature interviews with players, but people who claim to be smarter than me seem to find no value in the long hours of radio coverage, written coverage, and video coverage that I've provided for free for so long. Ignorance is bliss, I guess?

It's hard to love something that doesn't love you back or, at the very least, acknowledge that you exist once in a while. But that's ultimately how our university sports system works in Canada, it seems. As Dean Martin would say, "Ain't that a kick in the head."

Leave On A Good Note

I'm not leaving this article with that downer note, though. I have far too much respect for the people on the ice and on the benches to let Canada West ruin a night and a season of amazing hockey!

Congratulations once more to the 2024 Canada West champions in the UBC Thunderbirds as they celebrate their third-straight Canada West championship! I want to give a big applause to the Alberta Pandas, the Mount Royal Cougars, the Calgary Dinos, the Saskatchewan Huskies, and the Manitoba Bisons for their excellent seasons in reaching the playoffs. And I want to fist-bump each of the Trinity Western Spartans, the Regina Cougars, and the MacEwan Griffins for their efforts all season long.

There can only be one winner, so we'll see what happens in 2024-25! Enjoy your summers for the seven teams not going to Saskatoon, and we'll see what kind of shenanigans UBC and Saskatchewan can cause at Nationals in two weeks' time!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!