Gryphons’ excellence persists until the very end
On Thursday, March 14, eight women’s hockey teams from universities across the country arrived in Charlottetown, P.E.I. to compete for the national title. The University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) hosted this year’s U Sports women’s hockey championship on March 17. After a three-day battle, the Guelph Gryphons took home U Sports Gold for the first time in the program’s history.
The Gryphons entered the tournament as the third seed, having just won the McCaw Cup (OUA women’s hockey championship) the week prior. They kicked off the weekend playing the University of Manitoba Bisons, against whom they went neck-and-neck until rookie Nicole Mackinnon broke the tie for the Gryphons with six minutes remaining in the third. The Bisons were unable to respond, sending the Gryphons women to the semi-finals.
For Guelph fans, the semis did not fail to entertain as the Gryphons took on the Carabins of l’Université de Montréal. Five different goal-scorers potted five straight goals in the first period while fifth-year goalie Valerie Lamenta shut the door making 31 saves in the game. Once again, the Gryphons’ opponent could not come up with an answer to their offence.
Sunday evening’s gold-medal game against the McGill Martlets attracted 1,139 fans at the Bell Aliant Centre at UPEI, and it was a doozy.
Only one goal was needed to cap the game for Guelph, scored by fifth-year forward Kaitlin Lowy, 18 minutes into the second period, and in her final game as a Gryphon. After a long 60 minutes, the Gryphon women finally got to lift their first ever championship trophy.
Although they were not the first seed in the tournament, the national title was very much expected to be captured by Guelph. The Gryphons went 26-6 this season, winning their final eight games, and earned a season total winning percentage of .812. It was truly an excellent season, and the women of Guelph did not take their foot (or skate) off the gas pedal until they were crowned champions.
Head coach Rachel Flanagan was understandably emotional over her team’s hard-fought championship win. Flanagan told The Ontarion, “It’s so many emotions happening at once, disbelief, happiness, gratefulness, sadness [over the graduating seniors]. It’s really indescribable.” Having coached the Gryphons women’s hockey team for the past 12 seasons, Flanagan understands just how meaningful it is to have accomplished this milestone with this particular group. She went on to say that “this team is unique and amazing and they inspire the coaching staff everyday. They challenge us as much as we challenge them.” It is clear how important it was for everyone involved in the championship victory. As Flanagan said, “it really does take a village of support to allow these athletes to succeed!”