by Cody Baugh

Despite a losing record, the women’s hockey team made their second-straight trip to the AUS playoffs. Sean Fraser’s team faced a lot of adversity as they struggled with injuries throughout the season. Dalhousie posted a 9-14-1 record, which secured them the final playoff spot in the AUS bracket.

The Tigers lost their opening three contests in the AUS regular season. Dalhousie grabbed their first win of the season against the Mount Allison Mounties on the road. The win sparked the Tigers best stretch of hockey with a 6-3 record from late October to the end of December. 

During the stretch, the Tigers proved that when they play their best hockey, they could beat anyone, including a win over the first ranked team in the regular season, Saint Mary’s.

Injury problems started to catch up with Dalhousie who had a rough start to the second half of the AUS schedule. The Tigers only managed to secure one win in the month of January.

With just four games remaining in the AUS season the Tigers playoff chances were dwindling, but the ladies managed to right the ship just in time. The Tigers pulled out a crucial 3-2 win over the UPEI Panthers who were also fighting for that same playoff spot.

Laura Brooks, who had a stellar year on the point for the Tigers, netted two goals in the game, including the third period game-winner. Brooks led all AUS defencewomen with five goals on the season.

The Tigers clinched their playoff berth a couple days later with a 3-1 win over the StFX X-Women.

It was a re-match of last season’s AUS quarter-final as the Tigers faced off against the St. Thomas Tommies once again.

In the second game of the best-of-three series Dalhousie had a chance to extend their season but a late goal by the Tommies, followed up by an empty netter put things out of reach. Dalhousie could not pull off the victory this time as the Tommies swept the Tigers 2-0 with 6-2 and 3-1 wins ending the Tigers season.

“I thought our team fought through a lot of adversity over this past season with the number of injuries we had to endure,” says Fraser. “Injuries aside, we needed to be more consistent game in and game out. Our team progressed over the season and despite an early exit from playoffs, we are optimistic about next year.”

Sarah Robichaud and Lisa MacLean led the offensive attack this season with 18 and 15 points, respectively. MacLean’s season was cut short unfortunately due to injury, but she was still selected as an AUS second team all-star. Fifth-year player Sarah MacNeil was named the AUS student-athlete community service award winner for the second year in a row.

In between the pipes, Mati Barrett and Jessica Severeyns split time for the most part.  Severeyns was fifth in the AUS in wins with seven in 12 starts.