Author: David S. Landsman

With the Concordia Stingers women’s hockey season dwindling to a close they traveled to Ontario for the last time of the 2012-13 season, where they dropped a close game by a 4-2 margin at the hands of the host, the Carleton Ravens.

The game itself was a fundraiser for mental health and the Do It For Daron Foundation, in honour of former NHL defenseman Luke Richardson’s daughter Daron, who would have turned 17 on Feb. 8, but died tragically by committing suicide on Nov. 13, 2010.

The game seemed to start on the wrong skate for Concordia. Just over two minutes into the contest, Ravens forward Sadie Wegner fired a shot on Stingers goaltender Carolanne Lavoie-Pilon, who made the initial save. However, the puck came loose and Wegner potted in her own rebound.

The Stingers applied pressure to get one back quickly and just over three minutes later, off a line change, rookie forward Marie-Pier Cloutier wired a shot from inside the slot that careened off the post and past Ravens goaltender Tamber Tisdale.

“It felt good to score,” said Cloutier following the game. “The end of the year progression as a team really has been great. Our team communication has grown since the beginning of the season, despite the numbers.”

After the Ravens were able to kill off two straight penalties, Ainslee Kent fed a pass right in front of the Stingers goal to Alexandra Yallouz, who buried her first of two for the evening.

A couple of moments later Stingers captain Mallory Lawton escaped alone on a breakaway and tied the game up at two at the 16:42 mark of the opening frame.

“We are a hard working line who isn’t afraid to get our nose dirty,” said Lawton. “It was nice to score in my last game in Ontario. It’s always a good feeling to contribute offensively.”

Early in the second, Carleton’s Kelsey VanderVeen capitalized on a poor line change by the Stingers and backhanded a power-play goal less than two minutes in.

Just over a minute and a half later, at the 3:28 mark, Yallouz struck again despite shouts for a goaltender interference penalty.

“We fell asleep for two minutes, and it cost us the game,” said head coach Les Lawton. “I was proud of the girls tonight. [Brittany] Laing and [Mallory] Lawton’s lines stepped up too. We still played with emotion and intensity, which was solid all through the lineup.”

In the second half of the middle frame, the Stingers had ample time to get one or even two back, as they were on the advantage for just about seven minutes straight with the Ravens making return trips to the penalty box.

The Stingers failed to capitalize on all eight opportunities in the evening. The period ended with Concordia down 4-2.

In the final frame the Stingers carried momentum for the majority of the time, but unfortunately couldn’t capitalize on their seven shots of the period.

“In the third we played in their zone for three-quarters of the period,” said coach Lawton. “We just had to work on getting quality shots on, and have more patience.”

 

Concordia will wrap up the season this Saturday, Feb. 16 against the McGill Martlets at McConnell Arena. The last puck drop is at 4 p.m..

 

Friday evening’s tilt was against the Ottawa Gee-Gees, a team that had dampened the playoff hopes the week earlier. The game hadn’t even started and head coach Les Lawton’s Stingers were assessed a penalty for delay of game for coming out four seconds late.

Twenty-eight seconds later, the Gee-Gees took advantage of the early power-play. Defender Genevieve Legault wired a shot from the slot past Concordia goaltender Carolanne Lavoie-Pilon.

Over a minute after the Gee-Gees’ goal, Stingers defender Margaret Hotte was sent to the sin bin for the first time in the game. The Gee-Gees once again took advantage, as Alicia Blomberg placed her stick at the perfect spot and deflected a Valerie Watson point shot to increase Ottawa’s lead to two.

By the end of the period, the Gee-Gees added a third goal, this time by Asha Kauffeldt.

In the second period, the Stingers seemed to regain composure and battled hard to create chances. Head coach Lawton reunited his old top line composed of Emilie Bocchia, Veronique  Laramee-Paquette and Alyssa Sherrard after forward Erin Lally sat the game out after getting over the flu.

The top line got Concordia on the scoresheet when Bocchia scored on a swift wrist shot taken from just inside the slot, with assists to Laramee-Paquette and Sherrard.

“It seems to happen often that if we score five, the opponent scores six,” said Lawton. “We have to work together and get our offensive play consistent.”

With just under two to play in the period Stingers defender Gabrielle Meilleur, who was in the penalty box, skated out and was fed a stretch pass giving her a breakaway on the Ottawa goaltender. Her strong shot was turned aside.

The third continued to be a battle between both sides, each exchanging a single penalty and both goalies standing their ground. In the end, the Stingers came up short, losing  3-1, with the shots even at 31 apiece.

“It was nice to see that we didn’t give up,” said Bocchia. “In the second and third we were still in it. We just have to be more consistent.”

On Saturday afternoon the Stingers had a matinée affair with their cross-town rivals, the McGill Martlets.

Before the puck dropped, there was an emotional sendoff to four members of the Concordia Stingers who were playing in their final home game of their Stinger careers; Bocchia,  Laramee-Paquette, captain Mallory Lawton and defender Laurie Proulx-Duperre.

The Stingers killed off two early penalties, but it wasn’t until the third penalty did McGill finally get a tally. Katia Clement-Hydra got her first of four goals on the afternoon.

The second period showed good poise for Concordia when they were able to kill off a four-minute power play, including two of those minutes when they were two down.

McGill doubled their lead courtesy of a penalty shot. Clement-Hydra pulled off a triple deke, which dragged Lavoie-Pilon out of position, and easily scored.

The Martlets would add three more in the third and put the game out of hand at 5-0.

“It’s very frustrating with the officiating,” said Lawton. “The calls come to and far between in a game where special teams have such a huge impact.”

A few of the veterans ending their career shared some of their insights following the emotional game.

“When I came to Concordia I obviously had higher expectations, but at the same time, I would do it all over again,” explained Lawton. “I really did reach for my true potential and became the best player I could be. I’m sad to see the five years end, but these are memories I’ll always cherish.”

“It is definitely a mix of sadness it’s over and happy for the new start,” said Laramee-Paquette. “For me personally, I feel a bit of uncertainty.”

Following the game, the Concordia Stingers women’s hockey program were very pleased to announce the signing of Kelowna-born, current Dawson Blue forward Jesse Keca, who will join the roster next season.

“We are thrilled and excited to have Keca join our team,” explained Lawton. “She’s got the abilities we’ve been seeking for a long time, a real blue chipper.”

Keca was invited to the Under-18 Canadian National team. She is also a national team speed skater.

 

Concordia will play their second-to-last game of the season this Saturday against the Carleton Ravens at Ice House Arena. The game starts at 7 p.m. and is available on SSN.

Saturday’s afternoon affair was a big game because it was against the fourth place Carleton Ravens. The game had a lot of back and forth action in the first 20 minutes, but the game remained scoreless. Several defensive plays by Stingers Gabrielle Meilleur and Jillian Ferguson helped the cause preventing some key Raven chances.

The second period started off well with Concordia getting on the board first at the 3:59 mark when Erin Lally took a shot at the net and followed through until the puck went into the net.

The lead was maintained for a solid six minutes, with Stingers’ goaltender Carolanne Lavoie-Pilon seeing the puck well, until a bad bouncing puck caught her out of position allowing Ravens’ Jessica O’Grady to tie it midway through the period.

Six minutes after that, Carleton got their first lead of the tilt when Tawnya Guindon was left alone in the slot and she wristed one by Lavoie-Pilon.

“I felt good overall of my performance,” said Lavoie-Pilon. “I’m just sad we couldn’t get the result we wanted.”

It looked as though Carleton would take a lead heading into the final frame, but the Stingers’ Hayley Boyd found a rushing Veronique Laramee-Paquette on a breakaway and she tied the game.

“It really feels good to score [on a breakaway],” said Laramee-Paquette, following the game. “It’s just frustrating that we couldn’t pull through together in the third.”

Coming into the third, the Stingers had a shortened bench when puck-moving defence Margaret Hotte left the game.

“Obviously losing [Hotte] didn’t help this weekend,” explained head coach Les Lawton. “She’s one of the stronger skaters, we just hope she’ll be okay soon.”

The Stingers took an early first-minute penalty when defender Mary-Jane Roper took her second minor of the game, this time for bodychecking. But the Stingers’ penalty was superb in killing it off, like the rest on the game. As the penalty expired, Roper skated out of the box alone on a breakaway but couldn’t get it past Tamber Tisdale, who finished the game with 26 saves.

“That was probably the first breakaway of my career,” explained stay-at-home defence Roper. “Overall, the game was hard to fight back. We had a couple of breakdowns, which as a team, is unacceptable.”

A few seconds after, but on the opposite end, the Ravens restored their lead at 2:49. But, it was short-lived as only 57 seconds later, and on a Stingers advantage, Emilie Bocchia ripped a shot over Tisdale’s blocker, squaring the game back at three.

Ravens’ veteran Victoria Gouge put the game away when she managed to get the puck past Lavoie-Pilon with 7:20 left on the clock.

The Stingers pressured late, but weren’t able to tie it up a final time, dropping it 4-3 in front of the home crowd.

Sunday’s game was an even bigger test for the Stingers as they traveled to the CEPSUM to face off against the Montréal Carabins, who had beat them the week prior 7-2.

“We knew going into the game that they have great goal scorers and will put a lot of pressure on us,” explained Concordia goaltender Chelsey Hodges. “We just have to keep looking forward and continue to leave everything on the ice.”

Just over eight minutes in, Montréal got on the board when Alice Lemieux broke in alone, making it 1-0. A few minutes later, Ariane Barker doubled the Carabins’ lead.

Two minutes into the second period, the Stingers looked feisty and ready. Forward Jaymee Shell sprung loose on a breakaway but couldn’t find the back of the net.

After Montréal added a third, the teams began to show their hostilities and at 12:48, both Stingers’ Brittany Laing and Carabins’ Laurence Beaulieu were sent from the ice for off-setting roughing minors.

Twenty-five seconds later, Carabins captain Kim Deschenes wristed a shot past Hodges, making it 4-0. They would add another power play goal before the period was out.

In the third period, both teams continued their aggressive play. Montréal would add two more goals, giving them a 7-0 lead halfway through the frame.

In the last minute of play, the Stingers were finally able to solve the Carabins goaltender. Boyd took a feed from Laramee-Paquette and sent a wrist shot that squeaked under her glove.

“It takes a toll on the team, playing two games in 24 hours,” said Lawton. “But we just have to maintain our intensity and keep playing hard from here on out.”

 

The Stingers have five games remaining this season. Their next game is on Sunday, Jan. 27 when they travel to Ottawa to face the Gee-Gees at 2 p.m. The game is available online on SSN.

The Stingers women’s hockey team was on the losing end of a difficult 7-2 loss on Friday evening at the hands of the number-three CIS-ranked Montréal Carabins.

“Against Université de Montréal, everybody has to be there and show up,” explained head coach Les Lawton. “But tonight, we lost momentum on missed opportunities and not everybody showed up.”

Penalty trouble-bit the Stingers often and early. At the 3:03 mark of the opening frame, fifth-year defence Laurie Proulx-Duperre was assessed a tripping call. Off the following draw, the Carabins capitalized with Ariane Barker getting her first of two on the evening.

At the 11:18 mark, Erica Porter, playing her second game back, was sent to the box for hooking. Thirty seconds later, forward Marion Allemoz got her first goal of the game, doubling Montréal’s lead to 2-0.

The Stingers got one back at the 17:17 mark when Carabins goaltender Sarah Mailloux misplayed the puck. Hayley Boyd was credited with the goal.

But 58 seconds later, on a Stingers advantage, Casandra Dupuis pounced on a puck not contained by Veronique Laramee-Paquette and sped down the ice, sending a wrist shot top shelf to make it 3-1 after one.

Montréal’s Barker got her second of the evening, again on the power-play at the 1:21 mark of the second period, after finding some room to make it 4-1.

“We played a good and aggressive five-on-five,” said Lawton. “But the Carabins have very good special teams. We need to make adjustments and go back to the drawing board.”

Forty seconds later, the Stingers were resilient and not going to let up that easily. This was clearly shown by a great individual play from Jaymee Shell, who undressed the Carabins blue line and wristed a nice shot that sailed over the right pad of Mailloux to reduce their deficit to only two.

“It felt very good to execute the things I work on at practice,” said Shell, referring to her goal. “But in the end, I would trade anything for a ‘W’.”

At 13:41, Montréal added to their lead when Dupuis took a one-timer feed from behind Lavoie-Pilon’s net to make it 5-2.

The Carabins added a couple more in the third. Allemoz got her second and Josianne Legault added one to cap off a difficult evening for the Stingers, who are battling hard to get out of their division’s cellar.

“Montréal has a tendency to score in bunches,” said Shell. “So our key to being successful is to not let up. We can and will bounce back.”

 

The Stingers are back at home on Saturday, Jan. 19 when they take on the Carleton Ravens at 2:30 p.m.. The following day, the team will travel to the CEPSUM to face the Montréal Carabins once again.

At Concordia University, there comes a certain pride every year, usually at the beginning of January before classes resume, at the Ed Meagher Arena when teams come together for the annual Theresa Humes Women’s Hockey Tournament.

The tournament itself began back in 1968 and has carried tradition throughout the years. Humes herself was a pioneer when it came to women’s sports, especially with the hockey program.

“She fought for equality and helped our program to be on the same playing field as the men’s teams,” explained current Stingers captain Mallory Lawton. “So it’s thanks to her that we have the opportunities that we have today.”

This year, the tournament hosted by Concordia had five visitors: the Carleton Ravens, Ottawa Gee-Gees, Queen’s Gaels, Ryerson Rams and York Lions.

Out of the six teams, none capped off a perfect winning record after the weekend tournament finished. On the bright side, no team went winless either, and there was only one real blowout game.

The Stingers took to the ice against the York Lions, whom they defeated in preseason action by a 4-0 count. This game, albeit a tighter match, still saw the Stingers prevail by a 3-2 margin.

“From the beginning of the preseason up until this point, there is so much improvement up and down the roster,” explained goaltender Carolanne Lavoie-Pilon in her first-ever Humes tournament game. “The rest was nice, but it gave us more hunger and desire to be on the ice.”

After a scoreless first, which included two solid penalty kills by the Stingers, the Lions jumped at the beginning of the second. Forward Erin Cameron broke in alone and wristed a shot past Lavoie-Pilon giving them a 1-0 lead. Just under six minutes later the Stingers pushed hard and after a battle for the puck in front of the York netminder, veteran Emilie Bocchia found the back of the net, tying the game up at one apiece.

The third period was dominated early on by the Stingers, who created plays and strongly held possession of the puck. They were rewarded at the 6:39 mark when rookie forward Tracy-Ann Lavigne took a perfect pass from blueliner Gabrielle Meilleur and broke in with dazzling speed, ripping a shot, giving the Stingers a 2-1 lead. The goal was also Lavigne’s first in a Stingers uniform.

“It’s exciting,” said Lavigne of her goal. “I’m really quite happy; with the goal and the start.” Lavigne also got to keep the puck.

Exactly six minutes later, Concordia was again found deep in York territory when a scramble for the puck led to another first-year, Marie-Pier Cloutier, to find the yawning cage and giving the Stingers a two-goal cushion and the eventual winner.

“My resolution is to score more,” added Cloutier following the game. “I would like to contribute to the score sheet any way I can.”

The Stingers maintained the stranglehold until late. In the last minute, the referees assessed two back-to-back calls against Concordia sending Lavigne and defender Jillian Ferguson to the penalty box at 19:17 and 19:20. The Lions got one back with 27 seconds left on the clock, but it wasn’t enough, as the Stingers were victorious.

In their second match of the tournament, the Stingers went up against Ryerson. The maroon and gold got off to a hot start with Audrey Morand batting in her own rebound just 2:16 into the game, with assists to Jaymee Shell and Lawton.

They held the lead until the 1:23 mark of the second when Rams captain Janella Brodett squeaked a shot that found its way behind Stingers goaltender Chelsey Hodges. The game was even up until very late. Hodges finished with 26 saves.

In the third period, after Morand and Monique Cornett got off-setting minors, the Rams offense were let loose in the slot and Samantha Pui wristed one past Hodges.

Concordia didn’t let up battling hard and had a strong chance with under 10 minutes to go. When the Rams’ Justine Glover was in the box for hooking, the Stingers top powerplay, consisting of five forwards, set up a marvelous passing sequence that finished off with Alyssa Sherrard firing a shot past Rams goaltender Emma Crawley.

“It was honestly one of our best power-plays,” said a pleased Sherrard. “It felt so natural, and so good. Our team connections are working.”

Both teams fought late until when Emily Popelar scored an identical goal to the team’s second to give Ryerson the lead with 3:48 to play. A late power play couldn’t get going and an almost buzzer-equalizer by Erin Lally couldn’t work, and the Stingers dropped the game 3-2.

Coming into the final game, the Stingers took to the ice against the Queen’s Gaels in a match much-hyped as Queen’s is ranked fourth in CIS rankings. The first period ended after an exchange of goals between Gaels’ Morgan McHaffie and Concordia’s Lavigne getting her first of two on the night.

Stingers head coach Les Lawton decided to split up his top line of Bocchia-Sherrard and Veronique Laramee-Paquette which seemed to work albeit some hesitance.

“It was a good change, working with Lavigne and Hayley Boyd gave a good, new energy,” explained Laramee-Paquette. “We bring different elements to each line, and I like being able to give them confidence.”

The Stingers got a lead 5:30 into the middle frame when Morand got her second of the tournament by pushing her rebound underneath the goaltender. But 50 seconds later, the Gaels tied it with Stingers’ Lavoie-Pilon out-of-position trying to locate the puck.

They added another at 9:44 and then late in the period, took two penalties in 16 seconds, with Shell off for delay of game, and the Stingers got slapped soon after with an unsportsmanlike conduct call. Before the end of the period the Gaels doubled their lead.

“I gave the team a solid inspirational speech between the second and third, referencing David and Goliath,” explained general manager Caitlin Booth. “I think it worked because we came back hard. Overall, we played a very good tournament.”

At 10:05 of the second, Lavigne potted her second goal, getting a perfect feed from rookie defender Margaret Hotte.

“We regrouped after the second and calmed down,” explained Hotte. “It was a good team effort, although I was really motivated to win.”

The Gaels didn’t let up, restoring their two-goal lead at 11:20. Even that was short-lived as Erin Lally shoveled a rebound from a point shot by Laurie Proulx-Duperee into the net with under six to go, but the Stingers couldn’t find the equalizer and dropped the last game 5-4.

The Stingers are back in regular season action when they host the Montréal Carabins on Friday, Jan. 11 at Ed Meagher Arena. The actions starts at 7:30 p.m..

Playing their last game before the winter break, the Concordia Stingers women’s hockey team wanted to finish on a high note.

Unfortunately, the Ottawa Gee-Gees had other plans, handing the Stingers their tenth loss of the season by a 7-3 margin on Saturday afternoon.

In the first few minutes of the first, there seemed to be back and forth tempo going between the two teams, with the Stingers defence sent to work early.

The Gee-Gees opened the scoring on the power play when Ottawa’s rookie Carolann Upshall was left alone in the slot, sending a swift wrist shot right above Goalie Carolanne Lavoie-Pilon’s blocker. They doubled their lead just over two minutes later when defender Carley Porcellato joined her team’s offensive rush and capped a beautiful pass by batting the puck out of the air.

Concordia got on the board just under seven minutes into the second period when Jillian Ferguson’s seemingly harmless point shot squeaked through the pads of Gee-Gees’ Goalie Cassie Seguin, cutting the lead down to one. For Ferguson, it was her first goal in a Stingers uniform.

“I was definitely happy when I scored,” said Ferguson. “I’d like us as a team to continue, and would like to see more positive results.”

Nearing the end of the middle period, a miscommunication between the Concordia back line led to an odd-man rush for the Gee-Gees. Janie Paquette brought Lavoie-Pilon out of position and gave Ottawa a two-goal cushion heading into the third.

“It was tough,” said Stingers sophomore defender Danielle Leonard, playing in her second game of the season, replacing injured Margaret Hotte. “But I was very happy to be back in the game.”

Paquette added her second of the afternoon just over a minute into the third.

The Stingers never gave up hope. At 4:27 of the third, Emilie Bocchia managed to get the puck over the goal line, once again cutting the lead to only two for the host team. Kim Boismenu got an assist on the play.

The see-saw game continued as the Gee-Gees’ Cindy Laurin made it 5-2 redirecting a pass in front, leaving Lavoie-Pilon no chance. At 8:25 of the third, Ottawa’s Elarie Leclair added another on the advantage.

“It was definitely an off day for me,” said Lavoie-Pilon, frustrated with the final score. “I know, starting in January, we’re going to come back and be a stronger team altogether.”

The Stingers got one back with just over four minutes left in the game, when rookie Marie-Pier Cloutier netted her first goal of the season, redirecting Ferguson’s point shot.

“Relief,” said Cloutier, following the game, about scoring her first career CIS goal. “It will definitely give me more confidence in my ability. [I’m] happy to have broken the ice.”

But it was all for nought as the Gee-Gees scored one final time in the final minute, ending a woeful afternoon for the Stingers who head to the break last place in the RSEQ Conference.

After having snapped their five-game losing streak on Friday evening, the Concordia Stingers women’s hockey team traveled to CEPSUM arena for an afternoon tilt, losing 9-1 to the second place Montréal Carabins on Sunday afternoon.

“It was definitely a step back,” explained Les Lawton, head coach of the team. “We played with no emotion; had trouble everywhere. It was one of those days you want to forget and get past.”

The last time the two teams met, the Stingers let slide a two-goal first period lead and conceded a 5-3 loss on Nov. 9. The Carabins were coming off a loss to McGill and were looking to get back to winning ways against Concordia.

Momentum was brief for the Stingers when their power play went to work just over five minutes into the game.

The Stingers’ Jaymee Shell sent a swift pass back to the point where sophomore Veronique Laramee Paquette made no mistake sending a bullet at the net, deflecting off a Carabins player and past Montréal goaltender Elodie Rousseau-Sirois to give Concordia the 1-0 lead.

Right before the next faceoff the Stingers goaltender, Chelsey Hodges, getting her first start since October 27, went off to repair an equipment malfunction. The officials urged them to switch goalies until the next whistle. So, Concordia head coach Les Lawton sent in Carolanne Lavoie-Pilon.

Unfortunately for Lavoie-Pilon, her shift would be short and bittersweet, conceding a goal to Carabins’ Maude Gelinas on her only shot faced in 1:34 of ice time. Lawton then told Lavoie-Pilon to return to the bench and Hodges returned back between the pipes.

Two minutes later on a delayed Stingers penalty Maxie Plante connected on a wrist shot from the slot behind Hodges, erasing the Stingers lead.

Late in the opening frame in the span of 78 seconds, the Stingers took two penalties and gave up two power play goals to Montréal with Janique Duval and Josianne Legault connecting; for Legault her first of three on the afternoon.

In the second stanza, the Carabins came out with full force by containing the puck in the Stingers zone for the latter portion. The Concordia defence stood its ground and Hodges seeing the puck very well, making 38 saves in the loss.

The Stingers couldn’t contain everything however, and with just under six minutes to go in the period, when the Carabins managed to get three quick goals in a span of 2:52, making it a 7-1 game.

“I thought for the first 12-14 minutes of the second we played solid,” explained coach Lawton. “But after that, we just seemed to falter.”

Carabins’ Legault completed her hat trick at 18:33 of the third period, and sealed the game at 9-1.

The Carabins offense seemed too much in the end and the poor officiating didn’t hurt them either, still calling everything against Concordia, even with the score well out of reach.

“The lack of communication between coaches and [the officials,] it’s inconsistent,” said Lawton. “And that makes it even tougher to play in games knowing their rules of what’s okay and not.”

 

The Stingers close out the first half of the season next Saturday when they visit the Ottawa Gee-Gees. They will have a five week break until the Theresa Humes Tournament on the first weekend of January.