By / Mike Beasley
In a script worthy of a Hollywood movie, the 2008 Canadian Interuniversity Sport women’s hockey championship should prove to be a blockbuster of a tournament.
The organizers of the upcoming national tournament got their wish and have an outstanding cast of participants to make up the six teams that will be competing for national honours in Ottawa this month.
The top five ranked teams in the country will converge on the Nation’s Capital along with the host University of Ottawa Gee Gees from March 7 to 10 with the goal of bringing the gold medal back to their respective university.
The following is a brief rundown of each team at the tournament according to rankings.
#1 McGILL MARTLETS (Pool A)
McGill University
Montreal, Quebec
Quebec Student Sports Federation
LEAGUE RECORD: 34-4-1 overall this season 18-0-0 in conference
HEAD COACH: Peter Smith is in his ninth season with the Martlets, named the coach of the Canadian National Women’s team in June 2007. Two-time winner of QSSF Coach of the Year in 2002/03 and 2006/07. 2003 CIS Coach of the Year co-winner.
APPEARANCES AT NATIONALS: 10
CIS CHAMPIONSHIPS: None (3 Silver, 4 Bronze)
ROAD TO OTTAWA: Defeated Concordia 2-0, Carleton 2-0.
KEY PLAYERS: McGill had seven of the top ten scorers in the QSSF including forwards Ann-Sophie Bettez 15-14-29, Vanessa Davidson 14-15-29, Shauna Denis 9-12-21 and D Catherine Ward 7-12-19. Goaltender Charline Labonte had a 17-0-0 record during season including eight shutouts, only eight goals against.
#2 ALBERTA PANDAS (Pool B)
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada West Conference
LEAGUE RECORD: 28-3-1 overall, 21-2-1 in conference
HEAD COACH: Howie Draper is in his 10th season with the Pandas and has won 6 CIS championships, 2 silver medals, 9 Canada West titles and 2 CIS Coach of the Year awards.
APPEARANCES AT NATIONALS: 10
CIS CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007
ROAD TO OTTAWA: Defeated Regina 2-0, Manitoba 2-0.
KEY PLAYERS: The Pandas had six of the top ten conference scorers. Jennifer Norton 21-19-40, Alana Cabana 14-18-32, Leah Copeland 8-21-29, Miranda Miller 19-9-28, Mia Mucu 12-15-27 and Cami Wooster 8-20-28. Defencemen Andrea Boras 6-14-20 and Rayanne Reeve 5-15-20. Goaltenders Dana Vinge had 4 shutouts in 19 games.
#3 LAURIER GOLDEN HAWKS (Pool B)
Wilfred Laurier University
Waterloo, Ontario
Ontario University Athletics
LEAGUE RECORD: 23-2-2
HEAD COACH: Rich Osborne is in his fifth season as Hawks coach, has made it to the National Championships in each of his five years.
APPEARANCES AT NATIONALS: 8
CIS CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2005
ROAD TO OTTAWA: Defeated Queen’s 2-0, Toronto 2-0.
KEY PLAYERS: OUA Player of the Year Lauren Barch 15-16-31, Lauren Meschino 7-19-26 and Katherine Shirriff 11-12-23 who was a member of the league’s All-Rookie team.
#4 ST. FX WOMEN (Pool A)
Saint Francis Xavier University
Antigonish, Nova Scotia
Atlantic University Sports
LEAGUE RECORD: 21-0-0
HEAD COACH: David Synishin, AUS Coach of the Year for third time.
APPEARANCES AT NATIONALS: 7 (Lost in shoot-out to McGill in bronze medal game as
2006 host.)
CIS CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0
ROAD TO OTTAWA: Defeated Dalhousie 5-0 in AUS semi-final then St. Mary’s 7-3 in final.
KEY PLAYERS: Two of the top three scorers in Canada. Brayden Ferguson 25-26-51 and Jessica Shanahan 17-21-38. Christina Davis was sixth in CIS scoring with 19-15-34.
#5 MANITOBA BISONS (Pool A)
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Canada West Conference
LEAGUE RECORD: 20-8-0 overall, 18-6-0 in conference
HEAD COACH: Jon Rempel, fourth season with Bisons, four consecutive Canada West finals, coach of the year in 2005 and 2007.
APPEARANCES AT NATIONALS: 3 (Bronze medal, 2005 and 2007)
CIS CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0
ROAD TO OTTAWA: Defeated Saskatchewan 2-0, qualified for Nationals after second place regular season finish in Canada West.
KEY PLAYERS: Canada West Rookie of the Year Addie Miles 10-15-25, Meghan Ross 16-8-24, Leanne Kisil 6-18-24 and first team all star defenceman Brenna Leary. Goaltenders Stacey Corfield racked up four shutouts in 24 games while teammate Dana Hoogsteen had two of her own in 17 games.
#6 OTTAWA GEE GEES (Pool B)
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ont.
Quebec Student Sports Federation
LEAGUE RECORD: 12-14-5 overall, 7-8-0-3 in conference
HEAD COACH: Shelley Coolidge is in her fifth season with the Gee Gees, QSSF Coach of the Year in 2004.
APPEARANCES AT NATIONALS: 3 (Won silver in 2004, lost 2-0 to Alberta in final.)
CIS CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0
ROAD TO OTTAWA: Host team
KEY PLAYERS: Kimberly Kerr 8-4-12, Joelle Charlebois 2-8-10, Ashley Burrill 2-6-8, Kayla Hottot 6-0-6. Goaltenders Jessica Audet 3-6-0, Melissa DiPetta 3-5-0.
Tournament schedule: www.cissport.ca/e/championship/w_hockey/2008 |