In the second game of the Canada West Final best-of-three series, the #6 ranked Bison women’s hockey team came perilously close to forcing a game three as they were only 28 second from winning. Instead the #3 ranked Alberta Pandas forced overtime with a game-tying goal and won 3-2 in the 1st overtime period during the Saturday, March 6 matinee match.

With the Alberta win, the Pandas won the series by a 2-0 game margin and earned their eight conference title over the program’s 13 year history. For this season, there is only one CIS Championship berth for Canada West with the winner of the conference championship earning a place in the six team 2010 CIS Championship held at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.

Manitoba reign as Canada West champion is over as the series loss also ends their 2009-10 season.

“This was one of the best efforts in the rink over the last six seasons,” exclaimed Bison women’s hockey head coach Jon Rempel, in his sixth season at the helm. “I can’t find much fault in this effort by the whole group tonight.”

Manitoba came tantalizing close to pushing this conference series to a third game as they held a 2-1 lead for the last ten minutes of the third period. Tammy Brade scored her second of the game on a two-on-one with Becca King for the first lead by the Bisons during the 2010 Canada West Final. The Bisons tried to get the puck out of the zone at the end of the third period. The Pandas had pulled the goalie, stopped the puck at the point and fired it back in and crashed the net. With just 28 seconds left, Pandas’ Leah Copeland banged home a rebound at the top of the crease to tie the game at 2-2.

In the first overtime, Manitoba could not generate many scoring chances and the wave of energy from the equalizer for Alberta was rewarded when forward Alana Cabana fired home the game and series-winner from the top of the circle right off a face-off past Bison rookie netminder Tara Lacquette at the 4:16 mark.

The loss will be a tough pill to swallow as the Bisons were aggressive throughout and generated numerous good scoring chances but were thwarted on three separate breakaways (two shorthanded). “We have to work and get better at scoring in close situations…it has been our nemesis all season,” remarked Rempel.

Earlier in the game, second star of the game Brade fired home a one-timer on the power play to stop a scoreless streak against Alberta dating back to the second last game of the regular season. Alberta held the Bisons off the scoreboard for 209:10 of play prior to Brade’s power play tally in game two. 2009-10 Canada West Second Team All-Star Addie Miles and 2009-10 Canada West Rookie of the Year Caitlin MacDonald assisted on the Bison first goal.

Alberta outshot Manitoba 30-17 with Lacquette making 27 saves in just her third CIS playoff start in her rookie season. The Bisons went 1-7 on the power play while Alberta went 1-4 with the man-advantage. Alberta now holds a 3-1 record over Manitoba in overtime games during the playoffs.

Rempel finished by saying, “We had six rookies on the ice this season. The team probably over achieved this year but our expectations remained high and the group evolved over the year. I am proud of this bunch and we are going to be really good next year.”

Manitoba Bisons Women’s Hockey - 2010 Canada West Final Results
Friday, March 5  - Game 1: Alberta 2 Manitoba 0
Saturday, March 6 - Game 2: Alberta 3 Manitoba 2 (1st OT)   

Bison women’s hockey notes: This was the sixth consecutive Canada West Final between Alberta and Manitoba. Last season, the Bisons made team history with their first ever Canada West Championship in the 12 year program’s history after winning 3-2 in triple overtime against and at the University of Alberta in the third and final game of the conference championship on March 15/09. In 2009, the Herd won game one by a 3-1 score and lost game two by 3-1 score.

Over the previous four other seasons, Alberta has also hosted the Canada West Final and won all four series against Manitoba. In the 2008 playoffs, Alberta won 2-0 in game one (Feb. 22/08) and 4-3 win in overtime in game two (Feb. 23/08). In the 2007 playoffs, the Pandas won 4-0 in game one (Mar. 2/07) and 2-0 win during game two (Mar. 3/07). Back in 2006, Alberta won game one by a 3-1 margin (Feb. 24/06) and squeaked out a 5-4 win in overtime in game two (Feb. 25/06) while in 2005, the Pandas won 2-1 in game one (Feb. 25/05) and 5-3 victory in game two (Feb. 26/05).