TORONTO (CIS) – The Canada West champion UBC Thunderbirds upset the No. 3 Queen's Gaels, 2-1, in the consolation final to claim fifth place, and make school history, at 2013 CIS women's hockey championship, Sunday afternoon at Varsity Arena.
The win is UBC's first at the national level, having never made it to the CIS championships prior to this season.
Championship website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/wice/index
The eventual game-winner was scored by Genevieve Carpenter-Boesch of Regina, Sask., who wired a shot from the high slot into the top corner of the net. Assists on the score came from
Rebecca Unrau (Humboldt, Sask.) and
Cailey Hay (Oakbank, Man.) and was notched a mere 38 seconds after UBC broke the scoreless tie.
WHK: T-Birds v. Queen's (March 10, 2013) Gallery
It was the first two-goal lead of the tournament for UBC. The Thunderbirds capped off an incredible 2012-13 campaign, going 1-2 after winning their first Canada West title versus the Calgary Dinos a week ago.
Graham Thomas was recognized as the CIS coach of the year for leading the Thunderbirds to one of the biggest turnaround in CIS women's hockey history following a 1-21-2 record last year.
“It was really important to represent our league, our school and to get a victory to make history one last time for this special group," said Thomas. "It was a significant win for us. Very few teams can say they finished their season with a win. These players are national champions in our eyes."
The game was scoreless for the first 35 minutes as each team failed to convert on four power plays opportunities apiece. UBC opened the scoring with 4:06 remaining in the second period as
Kelsey Halvorson (Armstrong, B.C.) started a pretty passing play from the point, finding Unrau on the left halfboards before
Nadine Burgess (St. Catharines, Ont.) found mesh. The third-year forward was in the slot when she tipped the pass just over the glove Gaels netminder Mel Dodd-Moher (Stittsville, Ont.) to give UBC a 1-0 lead.
Each goalie was tested time and time again as special teams played a huge part in the contest.
Samantha Langford of Pense, Sask., made 24 stops, while Dodd-Moher had 18 saves on the day.
The teams went a combined 1-for-18 with the extra attacker. The lone powerplay score came on a Gaels 5-on-3 early in the third when Brittany McHaffie found the net on a feed from Katie Duncan and Alisha Sealey.
Langford came up three huge stops in the final minutes, posting three kick saves during a 5-on-3 advantage, to secure the win for the T-Birds.
“There were pivotal times in that game where Sam held us in,” said Thomas. “She really held down the fort for us. She was very patient in the playoffs, she supported her teammates, prepared and worked hard so when she got the call she was ready to deliver. It was amazing for her to have that accomplishment. For her to be the one to get that first nationals win for us.”
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