February 26, 2014
Laurier and Queen's to battle for OUA women's hockey gold
The Laurier Golden Hawks and Queen’s Gales have long since established themselves as perennial powerhouses in OUA women’s hockey. This week’s championship series will add another chapter to their storied rivalry as the Gaels aim to defend their title against a Laurier program that has won eight of the last ten league banners.
The OUA playoffs have proved that parity is alive and well in OUA women’s hockey. Both squads were pushed to the brink during the OUA semifinal series; Queen’s edged the top-seeded Gryphons in three games, two of which were decided in overtime, while Laurier traded victories with the Toronto Varsity Blues until the Hawks came out on the winning side of 2-1 victory in game three.
The Laurier Golden Hawks finished in second place following the regular season with an 18-3-3 record. The Golden Hawks are led by a group of key veterans that include defenceman Candice Styles (Orangeville, Ont.) and the forward trio of Laura Brooker (Fergus, Ont.), Tammy Freiburger (Wingham, Ont.) and Devon Skeats (Whitby, Ont.).
Laurier is a well-rounded squad, finishing tied for the league lead with 85 goals scored and finishing knotted for third with just 46 goals allowed.
The Queen’s Gaels posted a 16-4-4 record during the regular season, finishing fourth in the conference. The Gaels, like their finals opponents, were in the hunt for top spot in the OUA throughout the season but missed out in the tight race that saw second and fourth separated by just three points.
The Gaels will lean on their own core of veterans as they strive for a second consecutive title. The Queen’s veteran group features forwards Morgan McHaffie (Guelph, Ont.) and Shawna Griffin (Redwood Meadows, Alta.), plus fifth-year backstop Mel Dodd-Moher (Stittsville, Ont.)
McHaffie narrowly missed out on becoming the OUA’s career leader in points. The fifth-year forward finished this year with 31 points, giving her 153 for her career; two shy of the OUA record.
The OUA championship series has the makings of a grudge match for the ages. This season Laurier has taken both meetings with the Gaels, but both wins required overtime or a shootout.
Not only will the teams be battling for OUA supremecy, but the winner of the best-of-three affair earns the right to be the sole team to represent the OUA and the 2014 CIS Women’s Hockey Championship in Fredriction, N.B.
The best-of-three women's hockey championship series begins Wednesday, February 26 from Sun Life Arena in Waterloo with a 7:30 p.m. puck drop. The Queen's Gaels will host game two of the series, a 3 p.m. start from the Kingston Memorial Centre on Friday, Feburary 28. Laurier will host game three if necessary. The third game is schedule for 7:30 p.m. from the Sun Life Arena and the Waterloo Recreation Complex on Sunday, March 2.
The OUA playoffs have proved that parity is alive and well in OUA women’s hockey. Both squads were pushed to the brink during the OUA semifinal series; Queen’s edged the top-seeded Gryphons in three games, two of which were decided in overtime, while Laurier traded victories with the Toronto Varsity Blues until the Hawks came out on the winning side of 2-1 victory in game three.
The Laurier Golden Hawks finished in second place following the regular season with an 18-3-3 record. The Golden Hawks are led by a group of key veterans that include defenceman Candice Styles (Orangeville, Ont.) and the forward trio of Laura Brooker (Fergus, Ont.), Tammy Freiburger (Wingham, Ont.) and Devon Skeats (Whitby, Ont.).
Laurier is a well-rounded squad, finishing tied for the league lead with 85 goals scored and finishing knotted for third with just 46 goals allowed.
The Queen’s Gaels posted a 16-4-4 record during the regular season, finishing fourth in the conference. The Gaels, like their finals opponents, were in the hunt for top spot in the OUA throughout the season but missed out in the tight race that saw second and fourth separated by just three points.
The Gaels will lean on their own core of veterans as they strive for a second consecutive title. The Queen’s veteran group features forwards Morgan McHaffie (Guelph, Ont.) and Shawna Griffin (Redwood Meadows, Alta.), plus fifth-year backstop Mel Dodd-Moher (Stittsville, Ont.)
McHaffie narrowly missed out on becoming the OUA’s career leader in points. The fifth-year forward finished this year with 31 points, giving her 153 for her career; two shy of the OUA record.
The OUA championship series has the makings of a grudge match for the ages. This season Laurier has taken both meetings with the Gaels, but both wins required overtime or a shootout.
Not only will the teams be battling for OUA supremecy, but the winner of the best-of-three affair earns the right to be the sole team to represent the OUA and the 2014 CIS Women’s Hockey Championship in Fredriction, N.B.
The best-of-three women's hockey championship series begins Wednesday, February 26 from Sun Life Arena in Waterloo with a 7:30 p.m. puck drop. The Queen's Gaels will host game two of the series, a 3 p.m. start from the Kingston Memorial Centre on Friday, Feburary 28. Laurier will host game three if necessary. The third game is schedule for 7:30 p.m. from the Sun Life Arena and the Waterloo Recreation Complex on Sunday, March 2.
