New recruits, trophies to defend, and a fresh start are all reasons to be excited for the 2024-25 season.
The Concordia Stingers men’s and women’s hockey teams are back on the ice for another season. The two teams skated in their first preseason games this weekend, with the men playing two games and the women playing three.
For Stingers men’s hockey head coach Marc-André Elément, the preseason holds substantial value despite the games not counting toward the standings.
“This year, we’re going to talk a lot about good habits — we’ve been preaching that the last two weeks,” Elément said. “Right now, it’s more about the habits because I find habits will help us win the championship.”
The offseason saw three Stingers players graduate — namely Charles-Antoine Giguère, Tyler Hylland, and last year’s captain, Phélix Martineau. It also saw the departure of defenseman Samuel Desgroseilliers and forward Émile Hégarty-Aubin.
Despite the losses to the roster, a new opportunity opens for the up-and-coming players. The Stingers introduced six new faces ahead of their first preseason game against the Carleton University Ravens on Sept. 13. The list includes Alexander Gaudio, a six-foot-five centre who last played for the Gatineau Olympiques of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. Two weeks into his Stingers career, Gaudio said his new teammates have made the adjustment smooth.
“As soon as I came [to Concordia], I felt welcome,” Gaudio said. “All the guys in here — second, third year, fourth year — all welcomed me, and I feel great here.”
On a personal level, Gaudio mentioned that his goal is to work on the small details of his game, including his skating and his ability to put the puck in the net. In terms of what he’s looking forward to this season, it’s all about getting the two points in the standings.
“Winning games and being with the group, just being a part of this team is going to be amazing,” he said.
The Stingers have two more games scheduled in their preseason. They will travel to the Maritimes to play the Dalhousie University Tigers on Sept. 20 and the Saint Mary’s University Huskies on Sept. 21.
The Stingers women’s hockey team was also on the ice for its first games of the preseason this weekend. Similarly to the men’s team, the women’s team saw significant turnover in their roster this offseason. The graduates include Sandrine Veillette, Madison Oakes, Justine Yelle, Rosalie Bégin-Cyr, and last year’s captain, Emmy Fecteau.
While the loss in scoring production and leadership is notable, a major part of the national championship team from 2023-24 is returning. The team’s top four leading scorers in points — Émilie Lussier, Émilie Lavoie, Jessymaude Drapeau, and Chloé Gendreau — will all be back in the lineup in 2024-25.
The Stingers women’s team will be looking to follow up three straight years of success. Three Réseau du Sport Étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) championships in a row, coupled with two USports National Championships in three years, form a dynasty that the Stingers will look to continue this season.
The preseason kicked off with three games in three days for the Stingers. They played on the road against the University of Waterloo Warriors, the York University Lions, and the University of Toronto Varsity Blues. The matchup against the Varsity Blues is the first since meeting in the USports National Championship finals last season.
Though not counting towards the regular season standings, the Stingers went a perfect 3-0-0 against its opponents, setting the tone for the season on a winning note.
Concordia will now travel to the United States to play against three National Collegiate Athletic Association division one powerhouses. They will face off against the Boston University Terriers, Merrimack College Warriors, and the University of Vermont Catamounts. They will return to Ed Meagher Arena when they play the St. Francis Xavier University X-Women on Sept. 27.
