Playoff Preview: Huskies take on X-Women in best-of-five semifinal
The Huskies women's hockey team begin their best-of-five semifinal series on Wednesday night, as they visit the St. FX X-Women in Antigonish, N.S.
The Huskies finished the regular season as the #3 seed in the conference with a 18-9-1 record. The Huskies finished second in the conference with 81 goals scored (2.89 goals per game) and 51 goals against (1.81 goals allowed per game), for a +30 goal differential (third in the AUS).
Saint Mary's advanced to the semifinal with a dramatic quarterfinal series win over the Moncton Aigles Bleues, coming back from a 2-1 deficit in the decisive game three, with Shae Demale's winner in double-overtime clinching their spot in the semifinal.
They'll face the #2 seed St. FX X-Women, who finished the regular season with a 20-5-2-1 record. The high-powered X-Women offence led the AUS with 110 regular season goals scored (3.93 goals per game) and 53 goals against (1.88 goals allowed per game) for a +57 goal differential (first in the AUS).
The Huskies and X-Women split a pair of matchups this season, with the Huskies winning 3-1 on Nov. 29 in Antigonish, and 3-2 on Feb. 3 in Halifax, while the X-Women won 3-2 on Nov. 2 in Halifax, and 5-3 on Jan. 4 in Antigonish. Huskies star forward Shae Demale scored six points (two goals, four assists), while linemate Ellen Laurence scored five points (one goal, four assists) in the four matchups against St. FX.
The Huskies, coached by Chris Larade, look to advance to the AUS final for the first time since 2020, while the Axemen look to return to the AUS final for the sixth straight season.
Full series schedule:
Game One: Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. at Charles V. Keating Centre (Antigonish, NS)
Game Two: Thursday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. at Charles V. Keating Centre (Antigonish, NS)
Game Three: Sunday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Dauphinee Centre GET TICKETS
Game Four: Monday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Dauphinee Centre* GET TICKETS *If necessary
Game Five: Thursday, March 2 at 7 p.m. at the Charles V. Keating Centre (Antigonish, NS)* *If necessary
Key Players:
Shae Demale, Forward, Saint Mary's Huskies
A fourth year forward from Red Deer, AB, Shae Demale was named an AUS First Team All-Star for the third straight season. Demale finished second in the AUS in scoring (34 points), goals (19 goals), and shots on goal (133 SOG). Through quarterfinal play, Demale leads the playoffs in points (6), goals (4), plus/minus (+4) and game-winning goals (1). Demale also helped Team Canada to a Gold Medal at the 2023 FISU Winter Games in Lake Placid, NY, and was named a 2021-22 U SPORTS Top 8 Academic All-Canadian.
Ellen Laurence, Forward, Saint Mary's Huskies
A third year forward from Kentville, N.S., Ellen Laurence led the Huskies with 18 assists and was second on the team in points with 23. She added three assists in three games in the quarterfinal series against Moncton.
Kara MacLean, Forward, Saint Mary's Huskies
A second year forward from Antigonish, N.S., Kara MacLean was second on the Huskies with 11 goals, and third in points with 21. A 2021-22 AUS All-Rookie selection, MacLean added one goal and one assist in the quarterfinal series against Moncton.
Eve LeBlanc, Defence, Saint Mary's Huskies
A fourth year defender from Petit-Rocher, N.B., Eve LeBlanc led the Huskies blueline with 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) and added a pair of assists in the quarterfinal series against Moncton. A shutdown defender, LeBlanc also won the AUS Student Athlete-Community Service award.
Ridleigh Hansen, Goaltender, Saint Mary's Huskies
A first year goaltender from Red Deer, AB, Ridleigh Hansen started 16 games for the Huskies with a 9-7-0 record. She ranked fourth in the AUS in goals against average (1.81 GAA) and fifth in save percentage (.921 SV%). In three playoffs games, Hansen has posted a 1.83 GAA and .914 SV%.