A year could make all the difference for the UPEI Panthers women's hockey team.
Last year at the Atlantic University Sport women's hockey championship, the sixth-seeded Panthers were one-and-done in the single elimination tournament.
At this year's championship, which starts today at the University of Moncton, UPEI (7-16-1) is also ranked sixth.
But, the team won't be out of the mix if it should lose to the host and top-ranked Blue Eagles today at 7 p.m., because of a change in the tournament format.
Either way, third-year Panthers forward Kelsey O'Donnell, a Souris native, is sure the pressure is on Moncton (21-2-1), last year's AUS title winner.
"It certainly is. They're playing at home, they're expected to win," said the O'Donnell, 20, UPEI's leading scorer with seven goals and 15 points in 24 games.
"We're not expected to do anything."
The format has means UPEI sitting in Pool A with Moncton and the St. Thomas Tommies.
The Panthers will play the fourth-seeded Tommies either on Friday or Saturday, depending on the outcome of UPEI's first game.
The Panthers are 0-4 against Moncton this season and 2-2 against St. Thomas.
UPEI head coach Bruce Donaldson likes the matchup against St. Thomas.
The Panthers took five of a possible eight points from the Tommies this season.
But he's first concerned about Moncton, which boasts four skaters in the AUS top-10 scoring list including league-leader Marieve Provost (29 goals, 22 assists in 24 games).
"They are a very, very strong transition team," said Donaldson. "You can't play odd-man situations against Moncton, and you can't fall asleep when you have the advantage."
Pool B includes No. 2 St. Francis Xavier, No. 3 Saint Mary's and No. 5 Dalhousie.
Winners of the pools move on to the final on Sunday at 2 p.m.
The AUS winner goes to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport championship, March 11 to 14, hosted by St. F.X.
If St. F.X. reaches the AUS?final, the other finalist will also advance.
(creid@theguardian.pe.ca)
