March 2, 2009
OUA PLAYOFF PUSH: WOMEN'S HOCKEY
HAMILTON, Ont. - It's been a long time coming, but the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) women's hockey playoffs are about to commence with a pair of one-game sudden-death quarter-final games.
The No. 9 nationally-ranked Toronto Varsity Blues host the Queen's Gaels in one quarter-final. The Varsity Blues had the OUA's third-best regular season record (16-10-0-1) and were among the CIS Top 10 teams the entire season. That said, Toronto struggled down the stretch, losing three of its last four games, including a 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Gaels.
Queen's (13-13-1-0) barely flew into the OUA post-season, needing a win on the final day of the regular season to qualify. The Gaels find themselves in a favourable match-up to begin the playoffs, as they defeated the Varsity Blues two of three games in 2008-09.
Toronto has a pair of 10-goal scorers in second-year left wingers Brenley Jorgensen (Kingston, Ont.) and Lindsay Hill (Ajax, Ont.). Rookie goaltender Kendyl Valenta (Brampton, Ont.) has seen the majority of the action between the pipes for the Varsity Blues with five shutouts to her credit.
Valenta will need to be wary of Queen's third-year left winger Kelsey Thomson (Martintown, Ont.) who was among the OUA leaders in goals with 16. Teammate Becky Conroy (Pembroke, Ont.) is just as dangerous from centre, netting 14 goals. Fourth-year goalie Melissa John (Unionville, Ont.) has been steady in net for the Gaels with a .918 save percentage on the season.
The Varsity Blues have a 9-5 record at Varsity Arena in 2008-09. The Gaels had a better than .500 record on the road at 7-6.
In the other quarter-final, the No. 8 York Lions (15-12-0-0) host the Brock Badgers (13-10-0-4). The Lions have knocked off some heavyweights in OUA this season, including the nationally-ranked Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, Guelph Gryphons and the Varsity Blues. The Lions may be a wise sleeper choice this OUA post-season, but first they will have to contend with the Badgers, a team that swept York in the three-game regular season meetings between these clubs.
The Lions are led by fourth-year centre Mandy Cole (North York, Ont.), who was one short of the OUA lead in goals with 16. Rookie teammate Chloe Milano (Maple, Ont.) contributed 10 goals to the York offensive attack. Sydney McMurter (Orillia, Ont.) and Megan Slumskie (Baden, Ont.) have shared time in the cage for York, with Slumskie seeing the majority of the action.
Brock's key offensive cog is third-year centre Kelly Walker (Brampton, Ont.), who scored 12 goals and added a dozen helpers during the 2008-09 regular season. The next closest goal scorer for the Badgers had five goals. Beth Clause (Hamilton, Ont.) will be the last line of defence for the Badgers, with a save percentage of .942. She also has four shutouts to her credit.
The Lions have a 9-4 record at Canlan Ice Sports arena at York, while the Badgers are 5-8 on the road.
The OUA post-season was delayed one week with a handful of players taking part in the 24th Winter Universiade in Harbin, China, including Toronto forward Annie Del Guidice (Hamilton, Ont.), and York forward Courtney Unruh (Fort St. John, B.C.) and defenceman Kelsey Webster (Duncan, B.C.).
The winners of these games advance to the best-of-three OUA semi-finals against the idle Golden Hawks or Gryphons.
OUA WOMEN'S HOCKEY QUARTER-FINALS
Tues., March 3
7 p.m. – Brock @ York
7:30 p.m. – Queen's @ Toronto
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
Photo Credit: Jeff Caion
The No. 9 nationally-ranked Toronto Varsity Blues host the Queen's Gaels in one quarter-final. The Varsity Blues had the OUA's third-best regular season record (16-10-0-1) and were among the CIS Top 10 teams the entire season. That said, Toronto struggled down the stretch, losing three of its last four games, including a 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Gaels.
Queen's (13-13-1-0) barely flew into the OUA post-season, needing a win on the final day of the regular season to qualify. The Gaels find themselves in a favourable match-up to begin the playoffs, as they defeated the Varsity Blues two of three games in 2008-09.
Toronto has a pair of 10-goal scorers in second-year left wingers Brenley Jorgensen (Kingston, Ont.) and Lindsay Hill (Ajax, Ont.). Rookie goaltender Kendyl Valenta (Brampton, Ont.) has seen the majority of the action between the pipes for the Varsity Blues with five shutouts to her credit.
Valenta will need to be wary of Queen's third-year left winger Kelsey Thomson (Martintown, Ont.) who was among the OUA leaders in goals with 16. Teammate Becky Conroy (Pembroke, Ont.) is just as dangerous from centre, netting 14 goals. Fourth-year goalie Melissa John (Unionville, Ont.) has been steady in net for the Gaels with a .918 save percentage on the season.
The Varsity Blues have a 9-5 record at Varsity Arena in 2008-09. The Gaels had a better than .500 record on the road at 7-6.
In the other quarter-final, the No. 8 York Lions (15-12-0-0) host the Brock Badgers (13-10-0-4). The Lions have knocked off some heavyweights in OUA this season, including the nationally-ranked Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, Guelph Gryphons and the Varsity Blues. The Lions may be a wise sleeper choice this OUA post-season, but first they will have to contend with the Badgers, a team that swept York in the three-game regular season meetings between these clubs.
The Lions are led by fourth-year centre Mandy Cole (North York, Ont.), who was one short of the OUA lead in goals with 16. Rookie teammate Chloe Milano (Maple, Ont.) contributed 10 goals to the York offensive attack. Sydney McMurter (Orillia, Ont.) and Megan Slumskie (Baden, Ont.) have shared time in the cage for York, with Slumskie seeing the majority of the action.
Brock's key offensive cog is third-year centre Kelly Walker (Brampton, Ont.), who scored 12 goals and added a dozen helpers during the 2008-09 regular season. The next closest goal scorer for the Badgers had five goals. Beth Clause (Hamilton, Ont.) will be the last line of defence for the Badgers, with a save percentage of .942. She also has four shutouts to her credit.
The Lions have a 9-4 record at Canlan Ice Sports arena at York, while the Badgers are 5-8 on the road.
The OUA post-season was delayed one week with a handful of players taking part in the 24th Winter Universiade in Harbin, China, including Toronto forward Annie Del Guidice (Hamilton, Ont.), and York forward Courtney Unruh (Fort St. John, B.C.) and defenceman Kelsey Webster (Duncan, B.C.).
The winners of these games advance to the best-of-three OUA semi-finals against the idle Golden Hawks or Gryphons.
OUA WOMEN'S HOCKEY QUARTER-FINALS
Tues., March 3
7 p.m. – Brock @ York
7:30 p.m. – Queen's @ Toronto
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
Photo Credit: Jeff Caion
