by Duncan Forbes

The Tigers women’s hockey team featured a nucleus of young players, many of whom are now just in their second year with the black and gold. Last year was a learning process for them, as they managed just five wins all season.

The Tigers opened the regular season with a 3-3 record early into November and it looked as if the team was definitely moving in the right direction. They followed up their good start with a four-game winless streak as they struggled to find the back of the net, scoring just five times over the four-game span.

They ended the streak midway through November, with a big 5-4 victory over the Huskies, who got up 2-0 early on the Tigers, but they fought back on the strength of two power play goals from Maggie Beaton. Beaton, a second-year forward who had just five points last year, more than tripled her output this year, with seven goals and nine assists in 24 games.

The team split their next two games and finished the first half of the season with a thrilling home shootout win over the St. Thomas Tommies, as they eclipsed last year’s win total with a 5-8 record.

It was a tough start to the second half of the season, as they won just twice in their first six games. After a disheartening 5-0 loss to the UPEI Panthers on the road, the team rallied back in their next game against Moncton. After getting down 3-0 early, the team could have easily packed it in, but they stormed back and Jesse Rietveld’s goal midway through the third tied the game at four, and they won in the shootout to get the victory.

They picked things up at the end of the season, grabbing 10 of a possible 14 points in their last seven games, moving into fifth-place in the AUS with a 10-12-2 record.

They took on the St. Thomas Tommies in the quarter-finals of the AUS playoffs, dropping the first game of the series 7-3.

The Tigers rallied back in the second game of the series, and despite being outshot 41-26, came away with a huge 3-2 victory. Jessica Severeyns made 39 saves as the Tigers tied the series to force a third and deciding game in Fredericton.

In game three, the Tigers mounted a 2-0 lead in the second period after Marita Alfieri and Lisa MacLean both found the back of the net. The Tommies would add a goal in the third period, but the Tigers held on to their lead to take the game. Jessica Severeyns made another 34 saves in the win.

The win set the Tigers up against the CIS number eight StFX X-Women in the AUS semifinal series. The Tigers managed just one goal in two games against the eventual AUS champions, as their season came to an end.

Head coach Sean Fraser was very pleased with his team’s finish and their effort all season long.

“Our team consistently improved everyday all season,” says Fraser.  “We have a hard-working, great bunch of players that always strive to be better. We doubled our wins from the previous season and made a strong push down the stretch. I am very happy with the growth and effort our team showed this season.”