A year after missing the post-season, the UPEI Panthers are back in the post-season. They host the Moncton Aigles Bleues tonight at 7 p.m. in Game 1 of their best-of-three quarter-final.
“We have a mindset that we’re going all the way,” Harding said before Wednesday’s practice.
“We’ve had the best year we’ve ever had,” she said, referring to the team’s record 14 victories. “We want to keep making history.”
There’s not much separation between the two teams.
UPEI (14-9-1) finished fourth, nine points ahead of Moncton (8-12-4), largely on the strength of sweeping the four-game regular season series between the rival universities.
“Statistically, the teams are very, very even,” said UPEI head coach Bruce Donaldson.
Three of the four games were decided by one goal while the other had a two-goal margin thanks to an empty-net goal. One of the games went to overtime and another a shootout.
Donaldson said he is expecting a low-scoring, entertaining series.
“I don't think it will be anything with a lot of goals, but I think there will be a lot of chances,” he said. “The team that executes on specialty (teams) is probably the team that’s going to win the series.”
The Panthers have more than a dozen first- and second-year players, who will be making their AUS playoff debuts.
A year after missing the post-season, the UPEI Panthers are back in the post-season. They host the Moncton Aigles Bleues tonight at 7 p.m. in Game 1 of their best-of-three quarter-final.
“We have a mindset that we’re going all the way,” Harding said before Wednesday’s practice.
“We’ve had the best year we’ve ever had,” she said, referring to the team’s record 14 victories. “We want to keep making history.”
There’s not much separation between the two teams.
UPEI (14-9-1) finished fourth, nine points ahead of Moncton (8-12-4), largely on the strength of sweeping the four-game regular season series between the rival universities.
“Statistically, the teams are very, very even,” said UPEI head coach Bruce Donaldson.
Three of the four games were decided by one goal while the other had a two-goal margin thanks to an empty-net goal. One of the games went to overtime and another a shootout.
Donaldson said he is expecting a low-scoring, entertaining series.
“I don't think it will be anything with a lot of goals, but I think there will be a lot of chances,” he said. “The team that executes on specialty (teams) is probably the team that’s going to win the series.”
The Panthers have more than a dozen first- and second-year players, who will be making their AUS playoff debuts.
Nerves didn’t appear to be an issue as a loose atmosphere surrounded the Panthers practice on Wednesday.
“We do have nine rookies, but you would swear they were there for the past five years,” said Harding, a 22-year-old defenceman from Plaster Rock, N.B., studying political science. “They’re pretty impressive and I’m pretty proud of them.”
The Panthers entered the season with a set of goals, which included getting back in the playoffs after missing out on the post-season dance a year ago. They accomplished that and much more since coming together in September.
“The group of girls in there,” Harding said, motioning to the dressing room, “it’s incredible the way we click on the ice. It’s an amazing feeling to be apart of that.”
And while they had a good regular season, there’s no complacency, said Donaldson.
“We haven’t won anything,” he said. “The reality is there’s still a ton of work to do.”
Fifth-year Panther Marie-Soleil Deschenes gets the start in UPEI’s crease. The Panthers other graduating players include captain Kiana Strand, Cornelia Geib and Teagan Pringle.
Defenceman Kristen MacIntyre will serve a one-game suspension tonight she received from a checking from behind penalty during the last game of the regular season. Breah MacEachern and Ashtyn Bartlett will not play for health reasons.
The numbers
A look at the regular season statistics for the UPEI Panthers and Moncton Aigles Bleues women’s hockey teams.
Head to head
Oct. 29
Moncton 1 at UPEI 2 SO
Nov. 20
UPEI 1 at Moncton 0 OT
Jan. 15
UPEI 4 at Moncton 2*
Jan. 21
Moncton 1 at UPEI 2
*Included empty-net goal
Playoffs
Tonight
Moncton at UPEI, 7 p.m.
Saturday
UPEI at Moncton, 2 p.m.
Monday
Moncton at UPEI, 7 p.m.*
* If necessary
Goals for Goals Against PP% PK% SAV%
Moncton 54 79 15.6 87.6 .926
UPEI 53 77 16.9 79.8 .929
Top scorers
GP G A Pts.
Moncton
Karine Roy 24 13 6 19
Katryne Villeneuve 24 4 15 19
Marie-Pier Corriveau 24 9 6 15
Katherine Dubuc 24 5 10 15
Brittany Poitras 24 6 9 15
UPEI
Sydnee Baker 24 10 6 16
Maria Clinton 23 7 6 13
Lindsay Johnston 23 5 5 10
Rachel Colle 24 4 5 9
Emma Martin 18 1 8 9
Top goalies
GP W L T GAA
Moncton
Gabrielle Forget 18 7 10 0 2.20
UPEI
Marie-Soleil Deschenes 18 10 7 0 1.82
Did you know? UPEI freshmen Sydnee Baker led the conference with six power-play goals while Moncton’s Marie-Pier Corriveau was tied for second with five. UPEI defencemen Bria Harding and Kristen MacIntyre led the conference in penalty minutes with 49 and 45 minutes, respectively.
