(VERSION FRANCAISE CI-DESSOUS)
NAPANEE, ONT. -- Rookie defenceman
Taylor Kezama of Camrose, Alta., scored at 8:13 of double overtime as sixth-seeded Alberta escaped with a 2-1 victory over No.4 McGill to capture the Golden Path Trophy as U SPORTS national champions in women's hockey at the Strathcona Paper Centre on Sunday. Earlier in the day, in the bronze medal game, goaltender
Amelia Boughn stopped all 21 shots she faced to help lift the top-ranked UBC Thunderbirds to a 2-0 shutout over the No. 7 Concordia Stingers.
CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSITE: http://en.usports.ca/championships/wice/index
It was the eighth title for the Pandas, who survived a 41-26 shot disadvantage and somehow managed to kill off a 4-on-3 McGill power-play after an interference penalty was assessed to defenceman
Abby Benning at 1:06 of the second extra stanza.
After a 10-minute period of 4-on-4 hockey couldn't decide a winner, Kezama capitalized on a turnover near the midway mark of the second overtime and put an end to things with a wrist-shot from the top of the right circle that deflected off McGill defenceman
Erica Starnino. Alberta captain
Sasha Lutz was credited with an assist on the play.
"It didn't feel real at first, I was like, 'did this go in?'," said Kezama, whose goal was the first of her collegiate career. "My excitement level went through the roof. It's the most amazing feeling I've ever had in my life."
McGill outshot the Pandas 30-18 in regulation time and 11-8 in overtime but Alberta netminder
Lindsey Post, a fifth-year senior from Chelsea, Que., stood tall and turned away 40 pucks en route to earning tournament MVP honours.
"All I had in my head was, 'This is your last game as a Panda, just stop the puck'," said Post. "To finish it off here in (Napanee), close to home, is unbelievable -- this is what I've been dreaming of since my first year as a Panda. There's no words for it."
At the other end of the rink, Martlets goaltender
Tricia Deguire, a 19-year-old freshman from Sherbrooke, Que., made 24 saves in the loss. Deguire, who was named earlier as the nation's rookie of the year, started in 40 of the team's 42 games overall and registered a 27-11 record with eight shutouts, a 1.58 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage.
"Sadly I've been down this road before and it's always difficult to find words to express to the team… I did tell them how proud I was of them," said an emotional
Peter Smith who guided the Martlets to a 29-12-1 record overall. "You look at our team and at the beginning of the year, I don't know whether people had particularly high expectations for our group, although we did. I've been blessed with a lot of real good teams and I've always enjoyed it and I have to put this team up there real high in terms of how enjoyable it was. A great group to work with. Great leadership, great energy, worked hard. There's nothing I would've like to have better than for them to have that gold medal around their necks.
"Getting into the gold medal game is not easy and that in itself is a real accomplishment. I told them to hold their heads up high and be proud of what they've accomplished. I know it's going to hurt for a bit, but they should be proud of what they've accomplished over the course of this season."
McGill was 1-for-4 on the power play and perfect on two penalty kills.
"It's thrilling beyond belief," said Pandas coach
Howie Draper, whose troops ended a six-year drought to claim their first Golden Path trophy since 2010. "It was tough. McGill is such a strong team and there's many times where I felt like maybe that game could've been ended earlier, but fortunately we got great goaltending from Post, as we have all year long. When we got into overtime we knew it would take one shot and we were just hoping that we'd get that one shot and fortunately we did."
Few had tabbed the No.6 Pandas, who fell to UBC in their conference final, to go all the way. But the lessons Alberta learned in Vancouver paid dividends when the going got rough at Nationals.
"The scar tissue that was formed after that weekend helped us here," reflected Draper. "We got down twice against Concordia and were able to come back -- we knew that we had to be better, stronger and more resilient."
After a scoreless opening period, the Pandas made the first mark on the scoresheet with a goal from Amy Boucher of Edmonton at 17:38 of the second, assisted by Hannah Olenyk and Abby Benning.
McGill captain Melodie Daoust, a fifth-year senior from Valleyfield, Que., responded with a power-play marker just 3:15 into the third. She one-timed a cross-crease pass from sophomore forward Olivia Atkinson. Veteran Gabrielle Davidson.also drew an assist on the play.
Daoust, who recorded one goal and two assists in the tournament and Davidson, who had three goals and one assist in three games, were both named to the tournament all-star team, along with McGill defenceman
Emilia Cotter of Toronto. Cotter, a 5-foot-6 sophomore, earned one assist.
It marked the final appearance in a Martlets uniform for four players, including Daoust and Davidson. Pamela Psihogios (BA '17), a fifth-year senior from Laval, Que., and Emily Davies (B.Com '17), a fourth-year defenceman from Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Que., are also moving on.
"That's what we talked about the most in the room, the four players who are leaving," said Smith. "The others have a chance to come back and those players don't, and that saddens all of us. That's a big part of us, those four players."
Daoust, who will be earning a physical education degree, is the only departing player without a national title as she was on sabbatical during the 2013-14 championship season, helping Canada win an Olympic gold medal at Sochi. The four-time All-Canadian does have three RSEQ conference titles and finishes her illustrious McGill career with a 116-156-272 record in 143 games overall.
Davidson, who will graduate with a degree in commerce, dressed for 181 games and scored an impressive total of 137 goals and 232 points overall. Psihogios suited up 164 times and Davies had 159 games to her credit.
GAME NOTES: Over 4,500 people attended the tournament in Napanee, which is located about 43 kilometres west of Kingston... It marked the fourth championship confrontation between the country's two most decorated programs, with all four having been won by the Pandas (2000, 2007, 2010 and 2017)... Alberta's title is its nation-leading eighth in the 20 years that women's hockey has been a formally sanctioned sport. McGill was forced to settle for silver for the fifth time in program history. The Martlets have appeared in the final nine times -- including eight of their last 10 appearances -- and won four national titles (2008, 2009, 2011 and 2014), second only to the Pandas... Alberta is the winningest program in national history, owning eight of 20 U SPORTS championships awarded since the sport was incorporated in 1997-98...McGill is the second winningest program, with four golds, five silvers and five bronze medals in 17 appearances.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
G Lindsey Post (Alberta)
D Emilia Cotter (McGill)
D Kelly Murray (UBC)
F Alex Poznikoff (Alberta)
F Gabrielle Davidson (McGill)
F Melodie Daoust (McGill)
MVP: Lindsey Post (Alberta)
LINK TO COMPLETE BOXSCORE
SCORING SUMMARY
Alberta 2 at McGill 1 (2OT)
(Sunday, March 19, 2017 - Strathcona Paper Centre)
GOALS BY PERIOD:
Alberta 0-1-0-0-1 -- 2
McGill 0-0-1-0-0 -- 1
1st Period-
(No Scoring).
Penalties-Howlett Mcg (hooking), 5:07.
2nd Period-
1, Alberta,
Amy Boucher 1 (Olenyk, Benning), 17:38.
Penalties-Morin Alb (tripping), 11:04.
3rd Period-
2, McGill,
Melodie Daoust 1 (Atkinson, Davidson), 3:15 (PP).
Penalties-Morin Alb (hooking), 1:34; Daoust Mcg (bodychecking), 7:36; Benning Alb (interference), 11:08.
1st Overtime Period (10 mins., 4-on-4)
(No Scoring).
Penalties-(none)
2nd Overtime Period (20 mins., 4-on-4)
3, Alberta,
Taylor Kezama 1 (Lutz), 8:13.
Penalties-Kelly Alb (hooking), 1:06.
Shots on Goal-
Alberta 5-9-4-4-4 -- 26.
McGill 7-11-12-3-8 -- 41.
Power Play Opportunities-
Alberta 0 / 2;
McGill 1 / 4.
Goalies-
Alberta,
Lindsey Post (W, 3-0-0, 41 shots-40 saves; 78:13).
McGill,
Tricia Deguire (L, 2-1-0, 26 shots-24 saves; 78:13).
Attendance: 421
Start: 7:01 PM
End: 9:43 PM
Length: 2:42
Referees-Lacey Senuk.
Linesmen-Laurie Longpre, Jenn Berezowski.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME:
Alberta - 4
Taylor Kezama
McGill - 17
Melodie Daoust
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE & RESULTS
Thursday, March 16
Quarter-final 1: No.4 McGill 3, No.5 StFX 1
Quarter-final 2: No.1 UBC 2, No.8 Queen's 1
Friday, March 17
Quarter-final 3: No.6 Alberta 2, No.3 Saint Mary's 1
Quarter-final 4: No. 7 Concordia 4, No. 2 Guelph 3 (OTS)
Consolation 1: Queen's 2, StFX 0
Saturday, March 18
Consolation 2: Saint Mary's 4, Guelph 3 (OTS)
Semifinal 1: McGill 1, UBC 0
Semifinal 2: Alberta 6, Concordia 2
Sunday, March 19
FIFTH: Queen's 1, No.3 Saint Mary's 4
BRONZE: UBC 2, Concordia 0
GOLD:
Alberta 2, McGill 1 (2OT)
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Les Pandas viennent à bout des Martlets en deuxième prolongation pour le 8e championnat de leur histoire
NAPANEE, Ont. (U SPORTS) – Taylor Kezama a joué les héroïnes en marquant en deuxième période de prolongation pour permettre aux Pandas de l'Alberta de vaincre les Martlets de McGill par la marque de 2-1 dimanche soir en finale du championnat de hockey féminin 2017 de U Sports présenté au centre Strathcona Paper de Napanee.
SITE WEB DE CHAMPIONNAT: http://fr.usports.ca/championships/wice/index
Kezama a intercepté une rondelle libre dans le haut de la zone des Martlets avant de tirer et voir la rondelle dévié sur une adversaire et se frayer un chemin jusque dans le fond du filet à 8 :13 de la deuxième période de temps supplémentaire. L'Alberta met ainsi un terme à une séquence de six ans sans titre national en mettant la main sur un premier trophée Golden Path depuis 2010.
McGill conclut sa saison sur la deuxième marche du podium national, une cinquième médaille d'argent et une quatorzième au championnat canadien. Les Montréalaises avaient auparavant remporté le titre du RSEQ. Il s'agissait d'une huitième présence lors des dix plus récents tournois nationaux pour les Martlets.
« Cette équipe est formidable, a dit le pilote des Pandas Howie Draper. Elles ont fait de grands sacrifices, c'est pleinement mérité. Ce fut difficile, McGill est toute une équipe elles auraient pu mettre fin au match à quelques reprises. Mais, heureusement, nous avons pu compter sur notre gardienne Lindsey Post au sommet de sa forme. Nous n'avions besoin que d'un tir et nous l'avons obtenu. »
Post, originaire de Chelsea au Québec, a brillé avec 40 arrêts devant la cage des Pandas.
« Tout ce que je me disais, c'est que c'était mon dernier match et que je devais arrêter la rondelle, a dit Post, une joueuse de cinquième et dernière année. De terminer ainsi ici, pas loin de la maison, c'est tout simplement incroyable. C'est ce dont je rêvais depuis ma première saison. Il n'y a pas de mot pour décrire ce que je ressens. »
Son opposante
Tricia Deguire a bloqué 24 des 26 tirs des Pandas.
Après une première période sans but, Amy Boucher a utilisé la défenseure des Martlets comme écran pour effectuer un tir frappé lors d'une descente à un contre un et déjouer Deguire avec moins de trois minutes à jouer au deuxième tiers.
Melodie Daoust a répliqué au début du troisième engagement lors d'un jeu de puissance. Son tir sur réception a trouvé le fond du filet.
Les deux équipes ont ensuite bataillé sans relâche jusqu'à ce que Kezama mette fin aux hostilités.
« Je ne l'ai pas réalisé sur le coup, a lancé Kezama au terme de la rencontre. Et soudain ça a explosé. C'est le meilleur sentiment que j'ai connu jusqu'ici dans ma vie. »
NOTES : Alberta est le programme de hockey féminin le plus titré de U Sports, ayant remporté huit des 20 championnats depuis la création de la compétition en 1997-1998… Ce match fut le dernier des deux joueuses vedettes des Martlets,
Gabrielle Davidson et
Melodie Daoust… Plus de 4 500 personnes ont assisté au championnat de jeudi à dimanche…
Joueuse par excellence:
Lindsey Post (Alberta)
Équipe d'étoiles du championnat :
G Lindsey Post (Alberta)
D Emilia Cotter (McGill)
D Kelly Murray (UBC)
A Alex Poznikoff (Alberta)
A Gabrielle Davidson (McGill)
A Melodie Daoust (McGill)
SOMMAIRE
Statistiques officielles : http://fr.usports.ca/championships/wice/2017/boxscores_champ/20170319_cbzj.xml
PREMIÈRE PÉRIODE
Aucun but.
PÉNALITÉS :
Howlett (MCG) accroché, 5:07
DEUXIÈME PÉRIODE
1. Amy Boucher (3) (Hannah Olenyk, Abby Benning), 17:38
PÉNALITÉS :
Morin (ALB) Tripping, 11:04
TROISIÈME PÉRIODE
1. MCG
Melodie Daoust (1) (
Olivia Atkinson,
Gabrielle Davidson), 3:15 (AN)
PÉNALITÉS :
Morin (ALB) accroché, 1:34
Daoust (MCG) mise en échec, 7:36
Benning (ALB) obstruction, 11:08
PREMIÈRE PROLONGATION (10 mins.)
Aucun but.
PÉNALITÉS :
Aucune
DEUXIÈME PROLONGATION (20 mins.)
2. ALB Taylor Kezama (1) (Sasha Lutz), 8:13
PÉNALITÉS :
Kelly (ALB) accroché, 1:06
BUTS (par période)
ALB 0-1-0-0-1: 1
MCG 0-0-1-0-0: 0
TIRS AU BUT (par période)
ALB 5-9-4-4-4-: 26
MCG 7-11-12-3-8-: 41
AVANTAGE NUMÉRIQUE :
ALB 0-2
MCG 1-4
GARDIENNES DE BUT
ALB — Lindsey Post (W, 3-0, 41 shots, 40 saves, 1 GA, 78:13)
MCG —
Tricia Deguire (L, 2-1, 26 shots, 24 saves, 2 GA, 78:13)
JOUEUSE DU MATCH
ALB: Taylor Kezama
MCG:
Melodie Daoust
ARBITRE: Lacey Senuk
JUGES DE LIGNE: Laura Longpre and Jenn Berezowski
DÉBUT: 19h01
FIN: 21h43
DURÉE: 2:42
CALENDRIER ET RÉSULTATS (toutes les heures à l'heure de l'est)
Jeudi 16 mars
15h00 Quart de finale 1: No 4 McGill 3, No5 St-FX 1
19h00 Quart de finale 2: No1 UBC 2, No8 Queen's 1
Vendredi 17 mars
11h00 Quart de finale 3: No3 Saint-Mary's 1, No6 Alberta 2
15h00 Quart de finale 4: No2 Guelph 3, No7 Concordia 4 (F)
19h00 Consolation 1: No. 5 StFX 0, No.8 Queen's 2
Samedi 18 mars
11h00 Consolation 2: No3 Saint-Mary's 4, No2 Guelph 3 (F)
15h00 Demi-finale 1: No. 4 McGill 1, No.1 UBC 0
19h00 Demi-finale 2: No6 Alberta 6, No7 Concordia 2
Dimanche 19 mars
11h00 Match de la 5e place No.8 Queen's 1, No3 Saint-Mary's 4
15h00 Match de la médaille de bronze No.1 UBC 2, No7 Concordia 0
19h00 Finale No. 4 McGill 1, Alberta 6 2 (2e P)
Pour plus d'information, veuillez contacter:
Ken Saint-Eloy
Gestionnaire, communications
U SPORTS
Cell:
647-871-7595
ksainteloy@usports.ca
Alan Hudes
Coordonnateur, communications
U SPORTS
Bur.:
905-508-3000 poste 242
Cell:
647-991-5343
ahudes@usports.ca
Championnat de hockey féminin U SPORTS 2017
Shawn MacDonald
Université Queen's
Bur.:
613-533-6000 poste 36990
Cell:
613-484-6763
shawn.macdonald@queensu.ca
