Fresh off their first road playoff series win in a decade in the conference quarterfinals, the Bisons women's hockey team has earned three conference all-star nods. Forward Aimee Patrick was selected as a Canada West First Team All-Star, while defenceman Louise Fergusson was named a Second Team All-Star, and Sara Harbus made the All-Rookie team.

It's the first all-star nod in the careers of Patrick and Fergusson, and the first time in seven seasons that Manitoba has had three players earn conference all-star recognition. 

"It's great for our group, and for those individuals that were recognized. They deserve it. It shows how talented of a group we have and why we're in the position that we are, leading into the semi-finals," said Bisons heach coach Jordan Colliton. 

"Aimee being a First Team All-Star, she was third in league scoring, and the growth from Louise Fergusson to be a Second Team All-Star was huge. She rightly deserves it. For Sara to be on the All-Rookie team, what an accomplishment for her. She was one of the leading rookie scorers all year, and her growth and development through the year has proved that she deserves to be part of that group. We're super fortunate to have some veterans and some first-years that have helped our group along the way."



One of the most consistent scorers in the country, Patrick yet again lined the stat sheet for Manitoba, leading the team in points, with a career-high 25, third in Canada West. She recorded seven points in Manitoba's last five games, all wins, helping the Herd secure the final playoff spot in Canada West during the last weekend of regular season play. 

A veteran of 107 U SPORTS games, Patrick's 15 assists also ranked third in Canada West and were a career high. Her 68 career regular season points rank eighth all-time in school history. 

"[Patrick] is super competitive. She elevates everyone around her with her mindset and the way she approaches every drill in practice, and every game," said Colliton.

"She makes the people around her better. She has a great balance with her personality, understanding the moment, and when to dig in and compete as hard as she can, and also when to have an element of fun as well. She helps our group have a bunch of joy when we play. She hates to lose, but she also has the ability to re-set, and not give up."



Fergusson, an alternate captain, led by example all season as a veteran presence amongst a relatively young Bisons blue line. Offensively, the veteran of 100 U SPORTS games recorded double digits in points for a second year in a row, with 12, including three goals, which were a career-high.

Fergusson also played a key role on special teams, and had just eight penalty minutes for a Bisons team that had the lowest total in that area of any team in the conference, at 180.

"With us having such a young blue line, the importance of her stepping up into that leadership role within the group, but also within the team -- she wears a letter -- added a huge impact," said Colliton.

"She does the right things all the time to help keep our team on track, and recognizes what's important right here and right now. She's been an important leader on the back end, but also for our team. It's transferred to her on-ice play. When she's going, our team is going."



Harbus earns All-Rookie status after finishing in a tie for third in rookie scoring, with 11 points. Her four goals were tied for second amongst all rookies, while her seven assists ranked fourth. 

The Regina native played in 24 total regular season games for Manitoba, recording five points during Manitoba's 9-1-2 run during the back half of their season. Her +/- of five was also tied for third-best amongst the roster overall. 

"It's always hard for first-years to make that jump to our league and understand what it takes to have success at this level. Sara has a lot of great attributes, her size, her skill, her vision, but also what I didn't know coming in was her speed. She is unbelievably powerful with her stride," said Colliton.

"When she does that, she makes a huge impact. Her seeing Aimee and Brenna [Nicol] and those veteran players who have a high compete level, has helped her grow into a really good player for our team, and an impact player on our team, because those habits have transferred to her, and she's willing to do what it takes."