OTTAWA (CIS) – The eighth-seeded Calgary Dinos host the best of CIS women's hockey this week, including the Canada West champions and third-seeded Alberta Pandas.
Championship website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/wice/index
The University of Calgary hosts the 2015 tournament at the Markin MacPhail Centre. The competition, using a new eight-team format this year, gets underway on Thursday and culminates Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Mountain Time (8:30 p.m. ET) with the gold-medal final, live on Sportsnet 360 and Sportsnet ONE. Saturday's semifinals are also televised live on Sportsnet ONE (3 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. MT) and all 12 games from the tourney will be webcast on www.CIS-SIC.tv.
Joining the Dinos and Pandas are newly-crowned RSEQ champion and top-seeded McGill Martlets, No. 2 Western Mustangs (OUA champs), No. 4 St. Francis Xavier X-Women (AUS champs), No. 5 Guelph Gryphons (OUA finalists), No. 6 Montreal Carabins (RSEQ finalists), and No. 7 Moncton Aigles Bleues (AUS finalists).
The quarter-final matchups, split over two days, include Guelph vs. StFX (3 p.m. MT) and host Calgary vs. McGill (7 p.m.) on Thursday, followed by Moncton vs. Western (3 p.m.) and Montreal vs. Alberta (7 p.m.) on Friday.
Third-seeded Alberta is the most decorated team in CIS women's hockey history with seven titles since the inaugural national championship in 1998, the last one dating back to 2010. Like Western, the Pandas dominate on defence and were ranked second in the country in league play (1.25) thanks in large part to third-year goalie Lindsey Post (1.18 / .940), who recorded a mind-boggling 10 shutouts in 27 conference games and added another one in the Canada West championship series as Alberta swept Manitoba in two.
"It seems like so long since our team has been at the national championship and longer still since we have won a Canada West championship," said 18-year coach Howie Draper, whose team returns to the national stage after missing back-to-back CIS tournaments, a first in the program's storied history. "It's not easy to get out of Canada West, as demonstrated by the fact that five different teams have won the opportunity to represent the conference at the national championship in the last five years. It's a great achievement in and of itself."
Championship host Calgary was dealt a tough blow last month when the legendary Hayley Wickenheiser was lost to a season-ending injury. The Dinos' success this week should rely heavily on the shoulders of three-time Russian Olympian Iya Gavrilova, who was named the Canada West player of the year thanks to her 21-16-37 record in 23 league games and also helped her home country capture its first-ever Universiade title in February in Spain thanks to a gold-medal triumph against Canada.
"Hosting the national championship was one of the key things we set out to do when Joan Snyder gave us her generous donation in 2011, and we're excited that the opportunity is in front of us," said Dinos head coach Danielle Goyette, whose team returns to the national tournament for the third time in four years and claimed its lone CIS banner in 2012. "It's a great opportunity for our team to represent our city and our university, and every time you go to a national championship, every team has a chance to win. It's a new experience to be playing at home in front of friends and family, and student-athletes don't always get the chance to play at this level. It's something we will not take for granted."
NOTES: All Wednesday practices at the Markin MacPhail Centre (A arena) are open to the media, starting at 7 a.m MT... The Sun Life Financial All-Canadian Banquet is set for Wednesday evening at the Markin MacPhail Centre.
PARTICIPATING TEAMS
NO. 1 McGILL MARTLETS
Team Statistics
Head Coach: Peter Smith (15th season)
Regular season record: 16-4-0
Regular season standing: 1st RSEQ
Playoff record: 4-1
Playoff finish: RSEQ champions
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 22-6
Overall record vs. Final 8 teams: 5-4 (5-4 vs. MTL)
Top 10 final ranking (March 8): No. 1
Top 10 best ranking: No. 1 (8 polls)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (16 polls): 16
National ranking (offence): 2nd (4.25)
National ranking (defence): 13th (2.09)
National ranking (power play): 5th (19.8)
National ranking (penalty kill): 19th (82.7)
Individual Statistics
Conference award winners: None
Conference 1st team all-stars: Kelsie Moffatt (D), Katia Clément-Heydra (F), Gabrielle Davidson (F)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: Brittney Fouracres (D), Leslie Oles (F)
Conference all-rookie team: Marie-Philip Lavoie (F)
Season leader (points): Gabrielle Davidson, 19-20-39 (20 GP)
Season leader (goals): Gabrielle Davidson, 19 (20 GP)
Season leader (assists): Katia Clément-Heydra, 26 (20 GP)
Season leader (points by defenceman): Kelsie Moffatt, 3-14-17 (20 GP)
Season leader (goalie): Brittany Smrke (13 GP, 10-3, 3 SHO, 2.10, .888)
CIS Championship History
Appearances: 15th
Last appearance: 2014 (champions)
All-time record: 30-12 (.714)
All-time medals: 12 (4-3-5)
Best result: 4-time champions (2014, 2011, 2009, 2008)
Sequence: 2nd consecutive appearance (12th in 13 years)
NO. 2 WESTERN MUSTANGS
Team Statistics
Head Coach: Chris Higgins (5th season) / Co-Head Coach: Dave Barrett (1st season)
Regular season record: 20-1-3
Regular season standing: 1st OUA
Playoff record: 5-0
Playoff finish: OUA champions
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 29-3-5
Overall record vs. Final 8 teams: 3-0 (3-0 vs. GUE)
Top 10 final ranking (March 8): No. 3
Top 10 best ranking: No. 3 (last 8 polls)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (16 polls): 12
National ranking (offence): 14th (2.54)
National ranking (defence): 3rd (1.30)
National ranking (power play): 13th (17.1)
National ranking (penalty kill): 4th (89.2)
Individual Statistics
Conference award winners: Chris Higgins & Dave Barrett (coaches)
Conference 1st team all-stars: Kelly Campbell (G), Katelyn Gosling (D), Kendra Broad (F)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: Brianna Iazzolino (D)
Conference all-rookie team: None
Season leader (points): Kendra Broad, 15-15-30 (24 GP)
Season leader (goals): Kendra Broad, 15 (24 GP)
Season leader (assists): Kendra Broad, 15 (24 GP)
Season leader (points by defenceman): Brianna Iazzolino, 7-9-16 (22 GP)
Season leader (goalie): Kelly Campbell (21 GP, 16-1-3, 3 SHO, 1.23, .954)
CIS Championship History
Appearances: 1st
Last appearance: -
All-time record: 0-0
All-time medals: 0
Best result: -
Sequence: 1st appearance
NO. 3 ALBERTA PANDAS
Team Statistics
Head Coach: Howie Draper (18th season)
Regular season record: 20-7-1
Regular season standing: 1st Canada West
Playoff record: 4-0
Playoff finish: Canada West champions
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 27-10
Overall record vs. Final 8 teams: 6-3 (1-1 vs. GUE, 5-2 CGY)
Top 10 final ranking (March 8): No. 4
Top 10 best ranking: No. 3 (4 polls)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (16 polls): 16
National ranking (offence): 5th (3.07)
National ranking (defence): 2nd (1.25)
National ranking (power play): 10th (18.1)
National ranking (penalty kill): 5th (89.2)
Individual Statistics
Conference award winners: None
Conference 1st team all-stars: Jessica Kampjes (F)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: Tess Houston (F)
Conference all-rookie team: Hannah Olenyk (F)
Season leader (points): Jessica Kampjes, 13-12-25 (22 GP) / Hannah Olenyk, 10-15-25 (28 GP)
Season leader (goals): Jessica Kampjes, 13 (22 GP)
Season leader (assists): Hannah Olenyk, 15 (28 GP)
Season leader (points by defenceman): Hannah Mousek, 1-12-13 (28 GP)
Season leader (goalie): Lindsey Post (27 GP, 20-7, 10 SHO, 1.18, .940)
CIS Championship History
Appearances: 14th
Last appearance: 2012 (5th place)
All-time record: 29-10 (.744)
All-time medals: 9 (7-2-0)
Best result: 7-time champions (2010, 2007, 2006, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2000)
Sequence: Return after 2-year absence (11th appearance in 14 years)
NO. 4 StFX X-WOMEN
Team Statistics
Head Coach: Ben Berthiaume (1st season)
Regular season record: 20-4-0
Regular season standing: 1st AUS
Playoff record: 4-0
Playoff finish: AUS champions
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 28-5
Overall record vs. Final 8 teams: 5-2 (5-2 vs. MCT)
Top 10 final ranking (March 8): No. 6
Top 10 best ranking: No. 6 (3 polls)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (16 polls): 12
National ranking (offence): 4th (3.08)
National ranking (defence): 4th (1.39)
National ranking (power play): 1st (24.5)
National ranking (penalty kill): 1st (90.7)
Individual Statistics
Conference award winners: Alex Normore (MVP), Taylor Dale (most sportsmanlike), Ben Berthiaume (coach)
Conference 1st team all-stars: Sojung Shin (G), Jenna Downey (D), Alex Normore (F)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: Daley Oddy (F)
Conference all-rookie team: Nicole Halladay (D)
Season leader (points): Alex Normore, 10-22-32 (21 GP)
Season leader (goals): Daley Oddy, 11 (21 GP) / Kara Power, 11 (24 GP)
Season leader (assists): Alex Normore, 22 (21 GP)
Season leader (points by defenceman): Jenna Downey, 9-8-17 (17 GP)
Season leader (goalie): Sojung Shin (17 GP, 14-2, 5 SHO, 1.19, .949)
CIS Championship History
Appearances: 12th
Last appearance: 2013 (bronze medallists)
All-time record: 7-26 (.212)
All-time medals: 1 (0-1-0)
Best result: Finalists (2011)
Sequence: Return after 1-year absence (6th appearance in 8 years)
NO. 5 GUELPH GRYPHONS
Team Statistics
Head Coach: Scott McMillan (1st season – interim)
Regular season record: 18-3-3
Regular season standing: 2nd OUA
Playoff record: 4-2
Playoff finish: OUA finalists
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 26-10-1 (one tie)
Overall record vs. Final 8 teams: 2-4 (0-3 vs. WES, 1-1 ALB, 1-0 CGY)
Top 10 final ranking (March 8): No. 5
Top 10 best ranking: No. 5 (last 2 polls)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (16 polls): 16
National ranking (offence): 14th (2.54)
National ranking (defence): 1st (1.19)
National ranking (power play): 24th (13.0)
National ranking (penalty kill): 3rd (89.6)
Individual Statistics
Conference award winners: None
Conference 1st team all-stars: None
Conference 2nd team all-stars: Leigh Shilton (D), Jessica Pinkerton (F)
Conference all-rookie team: None
Season leader (points): Jessica Pinkerton, 8-16-24 (24 GP)
Season leader (goals): Katie Mora, 10 (24 GP)
Season leader (assists): Jessica Pinkerton, 16 (24 GP)
Season leader (points by defenceman): Leigh Shilton, 5-12-17 (24 GP)
Season leader (goalie): Stephanie Nehring (18 GP, 14-3, 5 SHO, 1.18, .947)
CIS Championship History
Appearances: 3rd
Last appearance: 2000 (5th place)
All-time record: 2-5 (.286)
All-time medals: 0
Best result: 4th place (1998)
Sequence: Return after 14-year absence
NO. 6 MONTREAL CARABINS
Team Statistics
Head Coach: Isabelle Leclaire (6th season)
Regular season record: 15-4-1
Regular season standing: 2nd RSEQ
Playoff record: 3-2
Playoff finish: RSEQ finalists
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 21-8
Overall record vs. Final 8 teams: 4-5 (4-5 vs. McG)
Top 10 final ranking (March 8): No. 2
Top 10 best ranking: No. 1 (8 polls)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (16 polls): 16
National ranking (offence): 1st (4.40)
National ranking (defence): 8th (1.80)
National ranking (power play): 4th (20.6)
National ranking (penalty kill): 6th (88.9)
Individual Statistics
Conference award winners: Ariane Barker (MVP)
Conference 1st team all-stars: Élodie Rousseau-Sirois (G), Ariane Barker (F)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: Janique Duval (D), Audrey Gariépy (F)
Conference all-rookie team: Alexandra Paradis (D), Jessica Cormier (F)
Season leader (points): Ariane Barker, 16-16-32 (17 GP)
Season leader (goals): Ariane Barker, 16 (17 GP)
Season leader (assists): Ariane Barker, 16 (17 GP)
Season leader (points by defenceman): Janique Duval, 0-13-13 (19 GP)
Season leader (goalie): Élodie Rousseau-Sirois (12 GP, 3 SHO, 8-4, 1.99, .918)
CIS Championship History
Appearances: 5th
Last appearance: 2014 (finalists)
All-time record: 8-4 (.667)
All-time medals: 3 (1-2-0)
Best result: 1-time champions (2013)
Sequence: 4th consecutive appearance
NO. 7 MONCTON AIGLES BLEUES
Team Statistics
Head Coach: Denis Ross (8th season)
Regular season record: 17-5-2
Regular season standing: 2nd AUS
Playoff record: 2-2
Playoff finish: AUS finalists
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 21-9
Overall record vs. Final 8 teams: 2-5 (2-5 vs. StFX)
Top 10 final ranking (March 8): No. 10
Top 10 best ranking: No. 9 (first 2 polls)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (16 polls): 4
National ranking (offence): 3rd (3.13)
National ranking (defence): 5th (1.52)
National ranking (power play): 3rd (22.2)
National ranking (penalty kill): 20th (82.3)
Individual Statistics
Conference award winners: Katryne Villeneuve (rookie)
Conference 1st team all-stars: Marika Lacroix (F)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: Gabrielle Forget (G), Katryne Villeneuve (F)
Conference all-rookie team: Katryne Villeneuve (F)
Season leader (points): Marika Lacroix, 8-17-25 (24 GP)
Season leader (goals): Katryne Villeneuve, 14 (24 GP)
Season leader (assists): Marika Lacroix, 17 (24 GP)
Season leader (points by defenceman): Natacha Bergeron, 6-11-17 (24 GP)
Season leader (goalie): Gabrielle Forget (12 GP, 9-3, 6 SHO, 1.33, .941)
Season leader (goalie): Émilie Bouchard (12 GP, 8-4, 0 SHO, 1.70, .938)
CIS Championship History
Appearances: 4th
Last appearance: 2014 (5th place)
All-time record: 4-5 (.444)
All-time medals: 1 (0-0-1)
Best result: Bronze medallists (2009)
Sequence: 2nd consecutive appearance
NO. 8 CALGARY DINOS
Team Statistics
Head Coach: Danielle Goyette (7th season)
Regular season record: 14-9-5
Regular season standing: 4th Canada West
Playoff record: 2-2
Playoff finish: Canada West semi-finalists
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 16-18
Overall record vs. Final 8 teams: 2-6 (2-5 vs. ALB, 0-1 GUE)
Top 10 final ranking (March 8): Unranked
Top 10 best ranking: No. 8 (poll #3)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (16 polls): 8
National ranking (offence): 8th (2.93)
National ranking (defence): 20th (2.40)
National ranking (power play): 17th (15.8)
National ranking (penalty kill): 18th (83.3)
Individual Statistics
Conference award winners: Iya Gavrilova (MVP)
Conference 1st team all-stars: Iya Gavrilova (F)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: Stephanie Zvonkovic (D)
Conference all-rookie team: None
Season leader (points): Iya Gavrilova, 21-16-37 (23 GP)
Season leader (goals): Iya Gavrilova, 21 (23 GP)
Season leader (assists): Iya Gavrilova, 16 (23 GP)
Season leader (points by defenceman): Stephanie Zvonkovic, 1-13-14 (24 GP)
Season leader (goalie): Hayley Dowling (21 GP, 9-10, 2 SHO, 2.18, .912)
CIS Championship History
Appearances: 4th
Last appearance: 2013 (finalists)
All-time record: 6-3 (.667)
All-time medals: 2 (1-1-0)
Best result: 1-time champions (2012)
Sequence: Return after 1-year absence (3rd appearance in 4 years)
CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE (all times MOUNTAIN TIME)
Wednesday, March 11
8:15-17:45 60-minute practices OPEN TO MEDIA (Markin MacPhail Centre – A Arena)
18:00 Sun Life Financial All-Canadian Banquet (Markin MacPhail Centre)
Thursday, March 12
15:00 Quarter-final 1: No. 5 Guelph vs. No. 4 StFX (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
19:00 Quarter-final 2: No. 8 Calgary vs. No. 1 McGill (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
Friday, March 13
11:00 Consolation 1: Loser QF 1 vs. Loser QF 2 (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
15:00 Quarter-final 3: No. 7 Moncton vs. No. 2 Western (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
19:00 Quarter-final 4: No. 6 Montreal vs. No. 3 Alberta (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
Saturday, March 14
11:00 Consolation 2: Loser QF 3 vs. Loser QF 4 (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
15:00 Semifinal 1: Winner QF 1 vs. Winner QF 2 (Sportsnet ONE / www.CIS-SIC.tv) *
18:30 Semifinal 2: Winner QF 3 vs. Winner QF 4 (Sportsnet ONE / www.CIS-SIC.tv) *
Sunday, March 15
11:00 5th-place game (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
14:30 Bronze (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
18:00 Final (Sportsnet 360 & ONE / www.CIS-SIC.tv) *
* The webcast of the semifinals & final are on pay-per-view basis.
About Canadian Interuniversity Sport
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