Gemma MacDonald set for second straight U Sports nationals appearance

With it, the Blooming Point native and Saint Mary’s forward gave the Huskies a 3-2 win in Game 3 over St. FX in the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) women’s best-of-three hockey final.

It was Saint Mary’s second straight AUS title and solidified SMU’s third-seeded ranking at the U Sports nationals beginning Thursday in Napanee, Ont.

MacDonald said the goal, which came 7:17 into the third extra period, occurred after gaining momentum from a power play.

“Shortly after (teammate) Hanna Askin passed the puck to Laura Polak in our end and as I was approaching the hash marks, Laura passed the puck to me. I was able to use their defenceman as a screen, shooting the puck over the goalie’s glove,” said MacDonald. “The two championships were very similar, both ending in Game 3 on home ice. However this year’s Game 3 was a much longer, closer and intense game. The amazing feeling of winning an AUS championship remained the same.”

With it, the Blooming Point native and Saint Mary’s forward gave the Huskies a 3-2 win in Game 3 over St. FX in the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) women’s best-of-three hockey final.

It was Saint Mary’s second straight AUS title and solidified SMU’s third-seeded ranking at the U Sports nationals beginning Thursday in Napanee, Ont.

MacDonald said the goal, which came 7:17 into the third extra period, occurred after gaining momentum from a power play.

MacDonald, who started in hockey around age five, joined the Huskies in 2014 out of Stanstead College in Quebec. She played her minor days with the Capital District Cyclones before heading to Stanstead in Grade 12.

“I choose SMU because I wanted to come back to the Atlantic region. SMU’s women’s program was getting better and better; the program had been cut in 2011 and it seemed as though SMU was building a very successful team. When I toured the school I really liked the campus and the team atmosphere at Saint Mary’s,” said MacDonald.

Saint Mary’s cut women’s hockey in early March 2011 to save $120,000, but reinstated the program later that month after public outcries joined the fight and outside funding solved some of the cash problems.

The Huskies recovered and now head to the nationals for the second straight year.

Chris Larade, head coach of the women’s team, said MacDonald is a great example why the program has been so successful since the scare.

“Gemma, first and foremost, is a true and genuine person, a solid teammate and a great two-way centre that can really play on any line. We have had her in a third line centre role and it’s really been a bonus for us to have that kind of character on the team,” said Larade, who took over a 1-22-1 team in 2012. “She is a great student and treats everyone and the game with respect. She is a passionate player and person and a true example of what we aim to recruit here, and why we have been so successful these last couple years.”

Next, though, Saint Mary’s (18-3-3, 4-2 playoffs) tussles with sixth-ranked and Canada West runner-up Alberta (21-4-3, 3-2 playoffs) in a national quarter-final on Friday (noon Atlantic).

So MacDonald plans to lean on training and experience to best last year’s bronze medal.

“Myself and my teammates will have to remain hydrated, rested and properly stretched out. Not only do I have that experience, but the majority of our team has it as well. Already having been at nationals will certainly help with the nerves. We also realize what it as stake and what it takes to succeed,” she said.

National semifinals are Saturday. Consolation and medal games are Sunday.