March 11, 2009
GOLDEN HAWKS, GRYPHONS BATTLE FOR OUA WOMEN'S HOCKEY SUPREMACY
HAMILTON, Ont. - They were the two top teams in Ontario University Athletics (OUA) women's hockey at the end of the regular season. Now they will compete for an OUA banner.
The No. 2 nationally-ranked Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, winners of 28 of 29 OUA games this season, will battle the No. 5 Guelph Gryphons for the right to advance to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Women's Ice Hockey Championship from March 19 to 22 in Antigonish, N.S.
The Golden Hawks (28-1-0-0) are no strangers to the OUA women's hockey championship, having won the past five OUA titles and six of the last seven. The Gryphons are looking for their first women's hockey banner since 1997-98.
Laurier found itself on top of the OUA standings the entire regular season, its only blemish coming in the regular season finale against the York Lions on the road, a 3-2 loss. During their 26-game win streak to open the season, the Golden Hawks defeated the Gryphons on three separate occasions, including two shutouts and an overtime victory.
The Golden Hawks feature one of OUA's best offensive combinations in Andrea Ironside (Collingwood, Ont.) and Kaley Powers (Kingston, Ont.). Both players led the team in goals during the regular season with 15, with Powers contributing an additional three goals against the Queen's Gaels in Laurier's two-game sweep of its best-of-three semi-final series. The two left wings are among the top scoring threats on the power play, combining for 14 goals with the man-advantage, including playoffs. Ironside was the OUA co-leader in points with 33 during the regular season.
Other Laurier notables include fifth-year defenceman Andrea Bevan (Collingwood, Ont.) who, along with Powers, shares the team-lead in post-season points with four entering the OUA final. Centres Lauren Barch (Burlington, Ont.) earned 32 points on 13 goals and 19 helpers during the regular season, while Heather Fortuna (Kitchener, Ont.) also cracked double digits in goals with 13 markers and four assists.
Third-year Laurier goaltender Liz Knox (Stouffville, Ont.) was the OUA leader in shutouts in the regular season with 10 to her credit. Backup goaltender Cindy Eadie (Brantford, Ont.) has earned five shutouts in the five games she played, including the post-season. The Golden Hawks defeated Queen's 7-0 in Game 1 in Kingston, Ont. before a thrilling 3-2 victory in the third overtime on home ice to win the series.
The Gryphons (21-7-1-1) survived a scare in their semi-final series against the Brock Badgers, with all three games decided by one goal. Guelph earned a 3-2 victory in the second overtime on home ice in Game 1 before Brock forced a Game 3 following a 2-1 win in St. Catharines, Ont. The Gryphons won the series finale 3-2 back at home on a last-second goal by second-year right wing Tori Woods (Orangeville, Ont.). She scored a hat trick in the game after scoring just five goals in 24 regular season games. Third-year defenceman Carla D'Angelo (Hamilton, Ont.) led the series with four points.
Guelph features OUA regular season co-scoring champion Tamara Bell (Guelph, Ont.) who scored 13 goals and helped out on 20 others for 33 points in her rookie campaign. Third-year centre Jessica Zerafa (Mississauga, Ont.) was the OUA leader in goals during the 2008-09 campaign with 17.
Game 1 of the best-of-three series will take place Thurs., Mar. 12 at 7:30 p.m. at Sun Life Financial Arena inside the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex. Game 2 will take place Sat. Mar. 14 at 7:30 p.m. at Gryphon Centre in Guelph, Ont. Game 3 if necessary will be played Sun. Mar. 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the Sun Life Financial Arena in Waterloo, Ont.
All games will be webcast on www.laurierathletics.com.
OUA WOMEN'S HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Thurs., Mar. 12
7:30 p.m. - Guelph @ Laurier (Game 1)
Sat., Mar. 14
7:30 p.m. - Laurier @ Guelph (Game 2)
Sun., Mar. 15
7:30 p.m. - Guelph @ Laurier (Game 3, if necessary)
– 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.
The No. 2 nationally-ranked Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, winners of 28 of 29 OUA games this season, will battle the No. 5 Guelph Gryphons for the right to advance to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Women's Ice Hockey Championship from March 19 to 22 in Antigonish, N.S.
The Golden Hawks (28-1-0-0) are no strangers to the OUA women's hockey championship, having won the past five OUA titles and six of the last seven. The Gryphons are looking for their first women's hockey banner since 1997-98.
Laurier found itself on top of the OUA standings the entire regular season, its only blemish coming in the regular season finale against the York Lions on the road, a 3-2 loss. During their 26-game win streak to open the season, the Golden Hawks defeated the Gryphons on three separate occasions, including two shutouts and an overtime victory.
The Golden Hawks feature one of OUA's best offensive combinations in Andrea Ironside (Collingwood, Ont.) and Kaley Powers (Kingston, Ont.). Both players led the team in goals during the regular season with 15, with Powers contributing an additional three goals against the Queen's Gaels in Laurier's two-game sweep of its best-of-three semi-final series. The two left wings are among the top scoring threats on the power play, combining for 14 goals with the man-advantage, including playoffs. Ironside was the OUA co-leader in points with 33 during the regular season.
Other Laurier notables include fifth-year defenceman Andrea Bevan (Collingwood, Ont.) who, along with Powers, shares the team-lead in post-season points with four entering the OUA final. Centres Lauren Barch (Burlington, Ont.) earned 32 points on 13 goals and 19 helpers during the regular season, while Heather Fortuna (Kitchener, Ont.) also cracked double digits in goals with 13 markers and four assists.
Third-year Laurier goaltender Liz Knox (Stouffville, Ont.) was the OUA leader in shutouts in the regular season with 10 to her credit. Backup goaltender Cindy Eadie (Brantford, Ont.) has earned five shutouts in the five games she played, including the post-season. The Golden Hawks defeated Queen's 7-0 in Game 1 in Kingston, Ont. before a thrilling 3-2 victory in the third overtime on home ice to win the series.
The Gryphons (21-7-1-1) survived a scare in their semi-final series against the Brock Badgers, with all three games decided by one goal. Guelph earned a 3-2 victory in the second overtime on home ice in Game 1 before Brock forced a Game 3 following a 2-1 win in St. Catharines, Ont. The Gryphons won the series finale 3-2 back at home on a last-second goal by second-year right wing Tori Woods (Orangeville, Ont.). She scored a hat trick in the game after scoring just five goals in 24 regular season games. Third-year defenceman Carla D'Angelo (Hamilton, Ont.) led the series with four points.
Guelph features OUA regular season co-scoring champion Tamara Bell (Guelph, Ont.) who scored 13 goals and helped out on 20 others for 33 points in her rookie campaign. Third-year centre Jessica Zerafa (Mississauga, Ont.) was the OUA leader in goals during the 2008-09 campaign with 17.
Game 1 of the best-of-three series will take place Thurs., Mar. 12 at 7:30 p.m. at Sun Life Financial Arena inside the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex. Game 2 will take place Sat. Mar. 14 at 7:30 p.m. at Gryphon Centre in Guelph, Ont. Game 3 if necessary will be played Sun. Mar. 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the Sun Life Financial Arena in Waterloo, Ont.
All games will be webcast on www.laurierathletics.com.
OUA WOMEN'S HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Thurs., Mar. 12
7:30 p.m. - Guelph @ Laurier (Game 1)
Sat., Mar. 14
7:30 p.m. - Laurier @ Guelph (Game 2)
Sun., Mar. 15
7:30 p.m. - Guelph @ Laurier (Game 3, if necessary)
– 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.
