Canadian Women’s University Hockey Championship | The Stingers narrowly lose

The Mount Royal University of Calgary Cougars caused quite a surprise on Sunday at the CEPSUM, winning the Canadian Women’s University Hockey Championship with a 4-3 win over the Concordia University Stingers, defending champions. It was a goal from Aliya Jomha that settled the debate 11 min 10 s into the first overtime period.

Tournament MVP goaltender Kaitlyn Ross faced 32 shots. “We never stopped believing in it, even tonight when we were behind at the end of the third period, she assured. The Stingers have a great team, but the girls did an amazing job in front of me. It’s such a feeling to be champions after beating the defending champions! »

After an exchange of goals – by Chloé Gendreau for the Stingers and Ava Metzger for the Cougars – in the first two periods played at a good pace, things came alive in the third period. Breanne Trotter first gave the West players the lead with a power play goal. But Rosalie Bégin-Cyr tied the game again by scoring a superb goal on a penalty shot, goalkeeper Kaitlyn Ross having stopped the puck behind her net.

Megan Bureau-Cyr then restored the lead to the Stingers with a power play goal, and it was believed the hardest part was done for the home team, but the Cougars played their all out late in the game by retiring their goalkeeper and they were rewarded with Trotter’s second goal, two seconds from the end!

The Cougars previously beat the tournament favorites Toronto Varsity Blues and the host University of Montreal Carabins. In 2020, on their first appearance at the championships, they won their first match, but in vain, since the competition was canceled after the first day due to COVID-19.

“It’s incredible to have had this chance to complete our adventure in a way,” said head coach Scott Rivett. We have several players who were there in 2020 and they are finally crowned tonight. It’s a first title for our program, for our university in fact, and it means a lot to us. »

On the Stingers side, the atmosphere was less cheerful, but head coach Julie Chu insisted: “We told the players that they should be proud of themselves, that they had fought until the end . We lost 12 players after our title last year, we had a young team and we still made it to the final, to extra time. It’s a remarkable performance and we are proud of all the players. »

Emmy Fecteau, one of the stars of the team, had tears in her voice. As much as the loss, she was disappointed not to have offered the four veterans who were playing their last university match another title. “I’ve been playing with Rosalie for 15 years [Bégin-Cyr], I will never play with her again at this level. Right now, it’s hard not to think about the chances we missed, about that goal they scored at the very end of the third period…”

The Carabins fought well

Earlier Sunday, the Carabins battled hard against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, but they lost 3-2 in the bronze medal game. The host team overcame a two-goal deficit in the third period, but saw their rivals bounce back with a decisive goal three minutes from time.

“It’s one of the most courageous teams, the most faithful to the Carabins spirit, that we’ve had here,” said head coach Isabelle Leclaire. They fought to the end, like in the semi-finals, and they came close. There are disappointments, of course – it was an opportunity to achieve a unique achievement in front of our fans – but I am very proud of what we have achieved.

“And I am convinced that these Championships will prove to be an important step in the progression of our program. It allowed us to mobilize the supporters, the old ones, it made it possible to recreate a magic around our team which will carry us over the next few years. »

The Carabins have a relatively young roster, and the future looks bright. However, they will have to deal with the departure of three players, Kaleigh Quennec, Breanne Dondo and Emily-Renée Paquin, who played the last game of their university career on Sunday.

“It’s incredible what these six years with the Carabins have brought me,” said Quennec, a player who took part in the Olympic Games and the World Championships under the colors of Switzerland.

“I was able to progress as a player, make dreams come true and have a great experience. I am really grateful to all my teammates, the staff of the team, of the university. And it’s magical to end with this weekend, to experience all these emotions. »

For Isabelle Leclaire, who has seen all the players pass since the creation of the program in 2009: “It goes by too quickly, that’s for sure. I hope that after the disappointment and the loss, Kaleigh, Breanne and Emily-Renée will remember the good times of their years with us and use everything they learned for the rest of their lives. »