“These championships bring together truly exceptional young women and the level of hockey is spectacular,” explains Manon Simard, Executive Director of CEPSUM, which will host the Canadian University Women’s Hockey Championships this week. “This is the stage just before the national selection and I hope that the public will respond in large numbers to attend these matches and encourage these student-athletes. »
The University of Montreal had already requested the organization of the tournament in 2019, but the pandemic upset the initial plans, with in particular two cancellations of the championships in 2020 and 2021. “For us, it was a way of rewarding all the members of the women’s hockey program, an opportunity for them to compete for the national championship on their ice, in front of their supporters, underlines Manon Simard. And it takes on added meaning after the pandemic. »
Two Quebec teams, the Concordia Stingers, defending champions, and the Carabins of the University of Montreal are among the favorites for these championships which bring together eight teams. The University of Toronto Varsity Blues, the Ontario champions, were seeded first ahead of the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, the Western champions. The Stingers (RSEQ champions) come next ahead of the University of New Brunswick Reds (Maritime champions), the Carabins, the Nipissing Lakers, the St. FX X-Women and the Mont-Royal Cougars.
Disputed in direct elimination, with a “consolation” component, the tournament promises to be very undecided and each match should be exciting.
The quarter-finals are played on Thursday and Friday, the semi-finals on Saturday, and the finals (fifth, third and first places) on Sunday. The Carabins will play their first game Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. against the University of New Brunswick Reds. The Stingers will have to wait until Friday at 7 p.m. before facing the Nipissing Lakers.
The Carabins, at home
Automatically qualified as the host team of the tournament, the Carabins of the Université de Montréal still largely deserved their place among the eight finalists. Defeated in a decisive third game in the provincial final, fifth in the national standings, Les Bleues are regulars in the championships with two Canadian titles and six podiums.
“We knew we would be here, but it was important to prepare well and I think we did it, explained head coach Isabelle Leclaire, this week, in an interview. All in all, we had a good season, except for two or three games that we missed, at the beginning of the year, when three of our players were at the World University. »
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Isabelle Leclaire, head coach of the University of Montreal Carabins
We beat all the teams and in the playoffs the team showed a lot of character. In the semi-final, against Ottawa, we were only one period away from being eliminated, but the girls reacted well to win the last game in overtime and prove that our presence at nationals was well deserved.
Isabelle Leclaire, Head Coach
“So I expect the girls to be really ready for our first game. The emotion will be at its peak, especially on our ice, in front of our crowd. Theoretically, that should be an advantage; I hope it will be and that we will play in the best possible way! »
Captain Jessika Boulanger recalled this week on the Carabins podcast: “We played the Reds in a preseason tournament at Concordia and it was very close. They have a very good guardian [Kendra Woodland] and you will have to be patient. »
The French Kaleigh Quennec, who is one of those who are playing the last competition of their university career, for her part underlined: “It is still very special, these championships. We are all together for the week and it is very exciting, especially in my case, knowing that I will no longer see these girls in my daily life as I have for years. »
Tomorrow: The Stingers ready to defend their title
Veillette, Fecteau and Picard among the stars
Canadian university sports honored the individual stars of the season on Wednesday, and three RSEQ players were selected in the all-star rosters. Audrey-Anne Veillette of the Université de Montréal Carabins, who scored a season-high 26 goals in the country, was named to the first team, while Emmy Fecteau of the Concordia Stingers earned a spot in the second. Carabins defender Jade Picard was named to the top rookie team.
University of New Brunswick Reds goaltender Kendra Woodland won the Brodrick Trophy as player of the year. In addition to shining with the Reds, Woodland was exceptional at the World University Games in Lake Placid in January, with three shutouts in four games, a 0.25 GAA and a .984 save percentage. Sydney Mercier (Calgary) was named rookie of the year, Eve Leblanc (Saint Mary’s) was honored for her community involvement and Vicky Sunohara (Toronto) was named coach of the year.
Michael Marois, The Press