CIS women's hockey national championships preview

COMPILED BY DAN PLOUFFE, CUP SPORTS BUREAU CHIEF

The University of Ottawa will host perhaps the most-anticipated women’s hockey nationals of all-time from March 16-19 as six extremely competitive teams from coast-to-coast face off in the nation’s capital.

The tournament will feature an outstanding crop of goaltenders, led by the McGill Martlets’ Charline Labonté, Team Canada’s international starter and Olympic gold medallist.

It’ll be tough to knock off the top-rated Martlets, but there are several teams guaranteed to take a good stab at it. The 2006-champion Alberta Pandas, who have played in the past five national finals, the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, the winners in 2005, and the hometown Ottawa Gee-Gees are certainly also all capable of walking away with the title.

From the desks of the student newspapers at each of the schools across the country, here’s a look at what to expect of the participating teams:

McGILL MARTLETS

Seed: first

National ranking: first

Conference: Quebec

2006-07 record: 17-1

Playoffs: 4-0, QSSF gold

Nationals trip: eighth

Medals: 1 silver, 4 bronze

MONTREAL (CUP) — Even though they’ve never won the whole sha-bang, there’s a reason McGill was ranked first in every coach’s poll this season. With 10 of their conference’s top-13 scorers, the Martlets are solid from the top (with mystifying passers Vanessa Davidson and Christine Hartnoll) right down to an exciting group of rookie third-liners.

Add in Catherine Ward and Shauna Denis on defence and you get a lethal power play that averages more than a goal a game. Oh yeah, and if you can get past them, you still have to beat Labonté, who has more shutout outings (12-of-22) than not against a good Quebec conference.

— Dan Plouffe, the Link

LAURIER GOLDEN HAWKS

Seed: second

National ranking: second

Conference: Ontario

2006-07 record: 19-2-3

Playoffs: 2-0, OUA gold

Nationals trip: sixth

Medals: 1 gold, 2 silver

KITCHENER-WATERLOO, ONT. (CUP) — As a perennially strong team in its relatively young 11-year existence, Laurier will be looking for a second CIS title in three years in Ottawa. Led by five league all-stars, including captain Laurissa Kenworthy, the Hawks have a squad that is second only to the Martlets in terms of depth.

On the back end, Morgan Wielgosz must continue her stingy goaltending (1.02 GAA this season) at nationals. Chosen as OUA Player of the Year as an offensive-defender, the flashy Andrea Bevan has stepped up in the playoffs to centre Laurier’s top line between Kenworthy and Ottawa native Fiona Aiston, playing her final games in a Golden Hawk uniform in her home town.

— Dan Polischuk, the Cord Weekly

ALBERTA PANDAS

Seed: third

National ranking: third

Conference: Canada West

2006-07 record: 21-3

Playoffs: 4-0, CW gold

Nationals trip: ninth

Medals: 5 gold, 2 silver

EDMONTON (CUP) — The defending CIS champs from Alberta enter the nationals fresh off a dominant playoff run en route to a ninth Canada West title in 10 years of existence. Led by the country’s leading scorer. Lindsay McAlpine, and perhaps the most talented player in the CIS, Tarin Podloski, the Pandas pack a punch both offensively and defensively.

Since Feb. 9, Alberta hasn’t allowed a goal — a streak of five consecutive games. In net, veteran Holly Tartleton will have to be continue her stellar play if Alberta is going to repeat last year’s championship season, capped by a 2-1 win over Laurier in the national final.

— Paul Owen, the Gateway

MONCTON AIGLES BLEUES

Seed: fourth

National ranking: eighth

Conference: Atlantic

2006-07 record: 18-3

Playoffs: 2-0, AUS gold

Nationals trip: first

Medals: None

It’s a mild surprise to see the Moncton Aigles Bleues at their first CIS women’s hockey championships as they seek to make their mark in the first actual non-conference tests they’ll face. Moncton thanked St. Thomas for taking out the favourites from St. Francis-Xavier in the conference semis by dominating them 4-0 in the AUS final.

In the past, the Atlantic representative came to nationals to get spanked in three-straight games, but that’s no longer the case thanks to the much-improved league. Snipers Mariève Provost and Valérie Boisclair, third and fourth in CIS scoring with 47 and 41 points respectively, lead the Aigles Bleues into Ottawa.

— Dan Plouffe, CUP sports bureau chief

OTTAWA GEE-GEES

Seed: fifth

National ranking: fourth

Conference: Quebec

2006-07 record: 12-6

Playoffs: 2-3, QSSF silver

Nationals trip: second

Medals: 1 silver

OTTAWA (CUP) — While the host school is often neglected as an also-ran at national tournaments, the Gee-Gees more than deserve to be at the nation’s top event. Ottawa is the only team to beat McGill this year (2-1 on Feb. 10) and also has a win over Laurier on its resumé.

The Garnet and Grey have enjoyed a stellar season thanks in part to the output of two-time All-Canadian Kim Kerr and an outstanding goaltending duo. Who will start in nets is still up in the air — Julie Lalonde led the Gee-Gees for most of the year but was left stranded in an 8-1 debacle at home in their last playoff game, while Megan Takeda came close to single-handedly stealing a national title in 2004.

— Frank Appleyard, the Fulcrum

MANITOBA BISONS

Seed: sixth

National ranking: ninth

Conference: Canada West

2006-07 record: 15-9

Playoffs: 2-3, CW silver

Nationals trip: second

Medals: 1 bronze

WINNIPEG (CUP) — With conference first-team all-star Stacey Corfield between

the pipes, the underdog Bisons still have a chance to win each game. Corfield has been amazing for Manitoba this season, giving up only 2.8 goals a game while holding a 0.901 save percentage.

To do well, however, the Bisons will need to get their offence going — which has been shaky at times throughout the year — although veterans Leanne Kisil and Sarah Stebeleski do give Manitoba some firepower up front. The non-Pandas team from the West is often disregarded, but the hungry Bisons showed they are able to compete with the best when they took home bronze in their first nationals appearance in 2005.

— Romer Bautista, the Manitoban





Volume 94 Issue 24	The Official University of Manitoba Students' Newspaper Website	March 14, 2007

Home About Us Advertise Contact Staff Current Issue PDF Employment Letters to the Editor Meet the Staff Online Archives Personals Volunteer	Font Size Respond Email Print-Friendly CIS women's hockey national championships preview COMPILED BY DAN PLOUFFE, CUP SPORTS BUREAU CHIEF The University of Ottawa will host perhaps the most-anticipated women’s hockey nationals of all-time from March 16-19 as six extremely competitive teams from coast-to-coast face off in the nation’s capital. The tournament will feature an outstanding crop of goaltenders, led by the McGill Martlets’ Charline Labonté, Team Canada’s international starter and Olympic gold medallist. It’ll be tough to knock off the top-rated Martlets, but there are several teams guaranteed to take a good stab at it. The 2006-champion Alberta Pandas, who have played in the past five national finals, the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, the winners in 2005, and the hometown Ottawa Gee-Gees are certainly also all capable of walking away with the title. From the desks of the student newspapers at each of the schools across the country, here’s a look at what to expect of the participating teams: McGILL MARTLETS Seed: first National ranking: first Conference: Quebec 2006-07 record: 17-1 Playoffs: 4-0, QSSF gold Nationals trip: eighth Medals: 1 silver, 4 bronze MONTREAL (CUP) — Even though they’ve never won the whole sha-bang, there’s a reason McGill was ranked first in every coach’s poll this season. With 10 of their conference’s top-13 scorers, the Martlets are solid from the top (with mystifying passers Vanessa Davidson and Christine Hartnoll) right down to an exciting group of rookie third-liners. Add in Catherine Ward and Shauna Denis on defence and you get a lethal power play that averages more than a goal a game. Oh yeah, and if you can get past them, you still have to beat Labonté, who has more shutout outings (12-of-22) than not against a good Quebec conference. — Dan Plouffe, the Link LAURIER GOLDEN HAWKS Seed: second National ranking: second Conference: Ontario 2006-07 record: 19-2-3 Playoffs: 2-0, OUA gold Nationals trip: sixth Medals: 1 gold, 2 silver KITCHENER-WATERLOO, ONT. (CUP) — As a perennially strong team in its relatively young 11-year existence, Laurier will be looking for a second CIS title in three years in Ottawa. Led by five league all-stars, including captain Laurissa Kenworthy, the Hawks have a squad that is second only to the Martlets in terms of depth. On the back end, Morgan Wielgosz must continue her stingy goaltending (1.02 GAA this season) at nationals. Chosen as OUA Player of the Year as an offensive-defender, the flashy Andrea Bevan has stepped up in the playoffs to centre Laurier’s top line between Kenworthy and Ottawa native Fiona Aiston, playing her final games in a Golden Hawk uniform in her home town. — Dan Polischuk, the Cord Weekly ALBERTA PANDAS Seed: third National ranking: third Conference: Canada West 2006-07 record: 21-3 Playoffs: 4-0, CW gold Nationals trip: ninth Medals: 5 gold, 2 silver EDMONTON (CUP) — The defending CIS champs from Alberta enter the nationals fresh off a dominant playoff run en route to a ninth Canada West title in 10 years of existence. Led by the country’s leading scorer. Lindsay McAlpine, and perhaps the most talented player in the CIS, Tarin Podloski, the Pandas pack a punch both offensively and defensively. Since Feb. 9, Alberta hasn’t allowed a goal — a streak of five consecutive games. In net, veteran Holly Tartleton will have to be continue her stellar play if Alberta is going to repeat last year’s championship season, capped by a 2-1 win over Laurier in the national final. — Paul Owen, the Gateway MONCTON AIGLES BLEUES Seed: fourth National ranking: eighth Conference: Atlantic 2006-07 record: 18-3 Playoffs: 2-0, AUS gold Nationals trip: first Medals: None It’s a mild surprise to see the Moncton Aigles Bleues at their first CIS women’s hockey championships as they seek to make their mark in the first actual non-conference tests they’ll face. Moncton thanked St. Thomas for taking out the favourites from St. Francis-Xavier in the conference semis by dominating them 4-0 in the AUS final. In the past, the Atlantic representative came to nationals to get spanked in three-straight games, but that’s no longer the case thanks to the much-improved league. Snipers Mariève Provost and Valérie Boisclair, third and fourth in CIS scoring with 47 and 41 points respectively, lead the Aigles Bleues into Ottawa. — Dan Plouffe, CUP sports bureau chief OTTAWA GEE-GEES Seed: fifth National ranking: fourth Conference: Quebec 2006-07 record: 12-6 Playoffs: 2-3, QSSF silver Nationals trip: second Medals: 1 silver OTTAWA (CUP) — While the host school is often neglected as an also-ran at national tournaments, the Gee-Gees more than deserve to be at the nation’s top event. Ottawa is the only team to beat McGill this year (2-1 on Feb. 10) and also has a win over Laurier on its resumé. The Garnet and Grey have enjoyed a stellar season thanks in part to the output of two-time All-Canadian Kim Kerr and an outstanding goaltending duo. Who will start in nets is still up in the air — Julie Lalonde led the Gee-Gees for most of the year but was left stranded in an 8-1 debacle at home in their last playoff game, while Megan Takeda came close to single-handedly stealing a national title in 2004. — Frank Appleyard, the Fulcrum MANITOBA BISONS Seed: sixth National ranking: ninth Conference: Canada West 2006-07 record: 15-9 Playoffs: 2-3, CW silver Nationals trip: second Medals: 1 bronze WINNIPEG (CUP) — With conference first-team all-star Stacey Corfield between the pipes, the underdog Bisons still have a chance to win each game. Corfield has been amazing for Manitoba this season, giving up only 2.8 goals a game while holding a 0.901 save percentage. To do well, however, the Bisons will need to get their offence going — which has been shaky at times throughout the year — although veterans Leanne Kisil and Sarah Stebeleski do give Manitoba some firepower up front. The non-Pandas team from the West is often disregarded, but the hungry Bisons showed they are able to compete with the best when they took home bronze in their first nationals appearance in 2005. — Romer Bautista, the Manitoban


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