The Hockey Show - Episode 697

The Hockey Show, Canada's only campus-produced radio show that strictly talks hockey, is back in the cozy confines of the UMFM studio tonight where it will be a normal temperature unlike our rink setting last week. Obviously, our hosts had a blast seeing some of the best women's hockey action this province has to offer at the 2026 Female World Sport School Challenge, and they'll wrap up that experience with some well-deserved thank-yous, a recap of what happened, and a discussion on where the tournament may go from here. And then they'll talk other hockey stuff too! It's a fun episode with looks at hockey from across the globe tonight on The Hockey Show at 5:30pm CT!

Tonight, Teebz and Jason show a little gratitude in thanking at all the people who made the 2026 Female World Sport School Challenge memorable, entertaining, and fun. Beyond that discussion, they'll also chat about the results and who finished where, highlights for each of the two radio voices, and where they may see the tournament going in 2027. They'll also discuss a former Bisons coach getting the bump to head coach in another league, an SDHL team that is making a hard decision on its future, the KHL being the KHL with some of the news coming out of that league, and there's an exciting development coming out of the University of Waterloo about concussion detection! It should be an interesting show based on those stories and more, so make sure you're listening tonight to The Hockey Show at 5:30pm CT on one of 101.5 FM, Channel 718 on MTS TV, or via UMFM.com!

If you live outside Winnipeg and want to listen, we have options! The UMFM website's streaming player works well if you want to listen online. We also recommend Radio Garden if you need an easy-to-use online stream. If you're more of an app person, we recommend you use the TuneIn app found on the App Store or Google Play Store.

If you have questions, you can email all show queries and comments to hockeyshow@umfm.com! Tweet me anytime with questions you may have by hitting me up at @TeebzHBIC on Twitter! I'm here to listen to you, so make your voice heard! And because both Teebz and Jason are on the butterfly app where things are less noisy, you can find Teebz here and Jason here on Bluesky!

Tonight, Teebz and Jason chat about great people, great moments, big wins, new jobs, less teams, questionable hires, former stars, brain care, and much more exclusively on 101.5 UMFM and on the UMFM.com web stream!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

Sarah Bruise-jold?

Having been able to watch her play before she became a professional hockey player, there was never any doubt that former StFX X-Woman sniper Sarah Bujold had the talent to continue playing. Her 2016-17 season where she scored 24 goals and 43 points in 24 games is still one of the best seasons in recent U SPORTS history, and the only award she seemed to be missing from her trophy cabinet was a U SPORTS National Championship. What also stands out from that five-year period is that she only spent 105 minutes in the sin bin despite being sent over the boards a lot for the X-Women.

Since her days in the AUS, Bujold's gone on to play in the PHF, the PWHL, and the SDHL including this season where she's lighting the lamp for Luleå HF. Through 31 games, she has nine goals and 20 points in pushing Luleå to second-place in the SDHL, sitting two points back of first-place Frölunda HC. There are players who have outscored her, but she does lead the entire SDHL by a wide margin in one statistic, and it likely isn't the one anyone expects her to lead!

In four seasons with Djurgårdens IF, HV71, and Luleå HF before this season, Bujold had 80 penalty minutes combined. In fact, she had recorded just four minor penalties last season for eight minutes, so it's not like she was some sort of goon patrolling the ice for Luleå HF. This season, however, Bujold has brought a mean streak that we simply haven't seen from her as she has sat for 78 penalty minutes already! If she's whistled for one more minor penalty this season, she'll have doubled her career SDHL PIMs in one season!

In no professional season had Bujold had more than 30 penalty minutes and, including her university career, she never got above 35 minutes. Her 78 minutes in the sin bin not only lead the SDHL, but she's 25 minutes ahead of HV71's Alva Solberg who is in second-place with 53 minutes! She's also 37 minutes ahead of her closest teammate in Nadia Mattivi, so it's not like Luleå has been gooning it up all season like they're the Swedish version of the Broad Street Bullies.

I have no idea where this side of Sarah Bujold came from this year, but it doesn't seem to be slowing her down in any way. Her team is winning, she's contributing, and she has scored three game-winners. It's just that she has visited the penalty box this season as much as she had in four previous SDHL seasons which is startling considering how she played with StFX. If this is the new Sarah Bujold at age 29, it seems Luleå is reaping the benefits despite having to kill a few more penalties than normal while Sarah watches from the penalty box!

It seems like players in the SDHL need to have their head on a swivel when Luleå's #62 comes over the boards because she's just as likely to setup or score a goal as she is to lay the body. In fact, she might be more willing to do the latter if it keeps Luleå in the win column!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

TLC Day

If there's one thing I tried to do this year while sitting in a cold rink for four-straight days, it was bundling up as best as I could. I went to great lengths to layer clothing so that heat wouldn't escape, but the colder temperatures across southern Manitoba brought a chill inside the rinks at the Hockey For All Centre that eventually infiltrated my layering. As a result, I was going in and out of the rinks all weekend, trying to reclaim some warmth between games in the lobby and the hospitality room with coffee. Despite my best efforts, the chill just continued to work its way through the jackets and sweaters I was wearing, culminating in a case of the sniffles and some grogginess yesterday that bled into today.

Granted, I did go to bed earlier last night as I was tired, but it was very clear that I had myself a head cold this morning as my sinuses were clogged and my nose was a runny mess. After a shower, some medication, and a box of tissues, I was ready to tackle the day as best I could despite the setback. Would I make it through work?

The good news is that I did make it. The bad news is that I'm feeling pretty lethargic tonight, so it's going to be another early night for me as I work to fight off this cold bug. Honestly, I hate being sick, so getting through this as quickly as possible is my goal. If it takes a few days, so be it, but I'm hoping the ol' immune system opens a can of whoop-ass on the cold so I can get back to my healthy, normal self.

I do want to point out that going in and out of the cold literally has nothing to do with catching a cold, and the fact that I was around a vast number of people all weekend likely led to the sniffles. That being said, the Mayo Clinic's Dr. Jesse Bracamonte does point to the fact that colder weather can lead to catching a cold indirectly.

"If you're a little bit colder outside, your body's immune system may just drop a little bit because it's spending extra effort to keep you warm. That's not with everybody, but, in some cases, it may predispose you to a cold," says Dr. Bracamonte.

"When it's cold outside," he continued explaining, "typically people gather around the fireplace or around your home. Therefore, if people are sick, you're more likely to be in close proximity to someone who is ill, thus catch the cold."

See? Being around people at the rink was the problem. I assume that I probably was in the vicinity of someone who had a touch of this cold bug, and now I have it as it settled into a new host. These are the unforeseen health risks I take to broadcast great hockey for people!

Jokes aside, I'm off to medicate and get some rest. I'm sure I'll bounce back tomorrow and be back with something to say about a hockey story of some sort. It seems to be what I do here on HBIC!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

Grateful And Thankful

After a night of well-needed sleep under a stack of blankets to warm up, it's time for some reflection on the 2026 Female World Sport School Challenge. This isn't going to be some autopsy on the event; rather, it's more of a showing of gratitude for allowing myself and UMFM to take part when both Balmoral Hall School and the Balmoral Hall Blazers could have opted to go with any radio station or have no radio broadcasts at all. As we said on the broadcasts, we are honoured to have been given the opportunity and we were privileged to bring the action to any and all who tuned into the broadcasts. That being said, allow me to say thanks a little more.

They say it takes a village to raise a child, but it's very clear that it takes an incredible team of people to pull off a tournament like the Female World Sport School Challenge. Balmoral Hall showed they are a close-knit team by banding together, finding solutions to problems, welcoming goofballs like me, and keeping the tournament rolling through four days of action. To the parents, the staff, and the students who volunteered in some capacity over the four days, you are the key to this tournament's success, and you deserve infinite thank-yous for your time and efforts. Thank you for everything!

To the players, staff, and coaches of the nine teams who brought boundless energy, incredible skills and talents, and unrelenting competitive spirits, thank you for the fantastic hockey all weekend long. Yes, the Winnipeg Ice may have gone home with the gold medals, but there was no shortage of amazing hockey played in each of the nine games we called. Beyond that, the abundance of talent shown at the Skills Competition was unforgettable, and we are excited to see where everyone lands, whether it be in hockey or beyond the rink. Thank you for making the hockey so great!

To Aaron, Chelsea, Bryan, Geneviève, Erin, Jennifer, and Jennifer Armstrong, thank you so much for allowing UMFM to be the voice of the tournament once again this year. We are always proud to be able to broadcast this tournament so that parents, families, friends, and fans can hear their favorite players and teams play, and we hope that we'll be a part of the tournament again next year and beyond. You guys did a phenomenal job in organizing and running the tournament, and I hope we were able to rise to the occasion with our broadcasts to meet the standard you all set! Thank you for your leadership!

To the many sponsors who supported this tournament, we are extremely grateful for your generosity! UMFM ran ads before, during, and after every game in order to recognize your efforts in supporting this tournament, and I hope the commercials we found and created for all the sponsors were as helpful as each business was in supporting this tournament. If you're reading this, please try to frequent this amazing group of businesses as they're putting women's hockey on the map in Manitoba! Thank you for your support!

Finally, I want to say thank you to all the parents, families, and fans who trekked to the Hockey For All Centre this weekend in the brutal cold to cheer on daughters, granddaughters, sisters, friends, and teams. From the moment they put skates on for the first time to the final whistle this weekend, you've been there to cheer them on, push them higher, give them comfort when things get bumpy, and celebrate all their successes. If you couldn't make it to the rink, my hope is that we did a good enough job describing the game via the UMFM broadcasts so that it felt like you were there watching. It goes without saying, but thank you for being their biggest fans!

In showing gratitude, I also want to say thanks to both Jason Pchajek and Eugene Pelland for throwing on a headset this weekend and providing great commentary. I called a number of games, but you guys elevated the broadcasts with your insights, expertise, and knowledge, and I will always be proud to sit next to you while calling a game. Thank you for your excellent broadcasting skills while making the games sound more intelligent and exciting than I ever could!

Another incredibly successful tournament is in the books with the Winnipeg Ice bringing home their second-straight gold medal. The Rink Hockey Academy are the silver medalists and the host Balmoral Hall Blazers are the bronze medalists with the Westman Wildcats falling just short at fourth-place. The Winnipeg Avros defeated the Pembina Valley Hawks in the fifth-place game, and the Yellowhead Chiefs defeated the Pilot Mound Buffaloes in the seventh-place game. The Interlake Lightning finished the tournament in ninth-place.

The Skills Competition saw Balmoral Hall's Brannagh Rae win the Fastest Skater event. The Avros had three players take home awards as Addilyn Nohlgren won the Accuracy Shooting event, defender Leah Claussen won the Hardest Shot event, and Cali Lavallee won the Breakaway Shootout event. The Ice saw defender Aliyah Texeira win the Sauce Passing event while goaltender Gina Plett was named the top netminder in the Breakaway Shootout event. Honestly, all the players who took part in these events were outstanding, and we saw some incredible performances that didn't win from players like Ivy Perkin, Rowyn Street, Joslyn Tetlock, and Kate Chuback.

With this being Balmoral Hall's first attempt at hosting, they've set a lofty standard to meet next season if they plan on hosting this tournament again. From the awesome volunteers to the talented players to the incredible action on the ice, this was an excellent event. I can only hope we'll be back again next year to see the fantastic hockey once more, so thank you to Balmoral Hall School and the Balmoral Hall Blazers for all the fun we had this year!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

The Rundown - Week 13

I watched a total of zero minutes of action from Canada West this weekend given that I was watching tomorrow's stars all weekend at the 2026 Female World Sport School Challenge, so don't expect a lot of breakdown or analysis this week. I'm cold, I'm tired, my voice is hoarse from broadcasting, and I need some serious sleep. The good news is the hockey I got to watch was pretty incredible, and there should be some Canada West teams who are very excited to have their signed players joining their programs next season. Before we get there, though, let's find out who did what on The Rundown!

FRIDAY: The Saskatchewan Huskies loaded up the bus for a short trip west to Edmonton where they met the Alberta Pandas for a two-game set this weekend with both squads hunting for points. Saskatchewan was looking to regain its playoff spot after being bumped out of the final East Division playoff spot for a week while the Alberta Pandas were aiming to grab second-place in the West Division. If everything played out as it could, this series could be a playoff preview based on where these teams may finish in the standings, so both were looking to make that statement as well. Who would improve their standing?

Huskies goals: Jayde Cadieux (1)
Huskies assists: Bronwyn Boucher (5), Kendra Zuchotzki (5)
Huskies shootout scorers: none
Huskies netminders: Clara Juca (28/29) in 65:00 plus 1/2 in the shootout

Pandas goals: Abby Soyko (7)
Pandas assists: Jadynn Morden (6)
Pandas shootout scorers: Natalie Kieser
Pandas netminder: Mackenzie Dojahn (18/19) in 65:00 plus 3/3 in the shootout

Result: 2-1 shootout victory for Alberta over Saskatchewan.

SATURDAY: Both teams grabbed points on Friday, but more were sought on Saturday as the Huskies and Pandas met in the back half of the two-game set. If this was a playoff series preview, we might have seen Friday's game go late into the night as neither side could solve the other's goaltending easily. Would we get the same results again?

Huskies goals: Jayde Cadieux (2), Peppi Virtanen (5)
Huskies assists: Shelby Williamson (1), Kendra Zuchotzki (6), Bronwyn Boucher (6)
Huskies shootout scorers: Jayde Cadieux, Sara Kendall
Huskies netminders: Colby Wilson (21/23) in 65:00 plus 2/3 in the shootout

Pandas goals: Holly Magnus (3), Sara Kazeil (3)
Pandas assists: Natalie Kieser (8), Riley Smith (4), Hailey Carothers (4), Hayleigh Craig (6)
Pandas shootout scorers: Abby Soyko
Pandas netminder: Mackenzie Dojahn (23/25) in 65:00 plus 0/2 in the shootout

Result: 3-2 shootout victory for Saskatchewan over Alberta.

FRIDAY: The MacEwan Griffins headed east to Winnipeg where the Manitoba Bisons welcomed them to the city on what might be the coldest weekend this year. The Bisons were looking to remain hot as they had won three of four games since the calendar flipped to 2026, putting them into a playoff spot in the East Division. The Griffins were simply trying to keep their slim playoff hopes alive with victories. Both sides were looking for a sweep this weekend!

Griffins goals: Sydney Jack (4), Kori Paterson (3), Allee Isley (2)
Griffins assists: Rian Santos (2), Claire Hobbs (4), Rian Santos (3)
Griffins netminder: Taya Currie (40/42)

Bisons goals: Kelsey Huibers (4), Alyssa Rasmuson (1)
Bisons assists: Dana Goertzen (8), Aimee Patrick (9), Norah Collins (4), Julia Bird (5)
Bisons netminder: Emily Shippam (9/12)

Result: 3-2 victory for MacEwan over Manitoba.

SATURDAY: Friday's game marked the second-straight Friday where the Bisons built an early lead only to surrender the lead and eventually lose the game to their opponents on home ice. This is something the Bisons will need to address moving forward if they want to participate in the playoffs as coughing up leads won't lead to much success. Could the Bisons bounce back? MacEwan needed the win on Friday, though, and they looked for more on Saturday.

Griffins goals: Shaelyn Hopkins (1)
Griffins assists: Kali MacDonald (2), Allee Isley (2)
Griffins netminder: Taya Currie (33/35)

Bisons goals: Julia Bird (8), Alyssa Rasmuson (2), Louise Fergusson (2)
Bisons assists: Hanna Bailey (5), Sophia Anderson (4), Norah Collins (5), Julia Bilous (3)
Bisons netminder: Jenna Goertzen (12/13)

Result: 3-1 victory for Manitoba over MacEwan.

FRIDAY: The Mount Royal Cougars played host to the Regina Cougars this weekend as the two Cougars squads met in Calgary. Regina was looking for wins to try and close the gap between them and the two teams who stood before them in the East Division while Mount Royal was looking for wins to lock down top spot in the East. Both squads came in knowing what they had to do, so who would go home happy?

Cougars goals: Maggie Kate Fitzpatrick (2), Kaylee Dyer (2), Bailey McMaster (1)
Cougars assists: Brooke Fofonoff (3), Quinn McLaren (4), Bailey McMaster (2), Kaitlyn Gilroy (1), Tessa Stewart (3)
Cougars netminders: Natalie Williamson (25/29)

Cougars goals: Kiana McNinch (6), Sydney Benko (10), Jori Hansen-Young (2), Jordyn Hutt (3)
Cougars assists: Isa MacPhee (8), Keyana Bert (5), Kiana McNinch (9), Allee Gerrard (8), Isa MacPhee (9), Lyvia Butz (4)
Cougars netminder: Scout Anderson (16/19)

Result: 4-3 victory for Mount Royal over Regina.

SATURDAY: The back-and-forth action between these two teams on Friday was uncharacteristic of both squads, so I was expecting some tighter defence on Saturday. Both teams were still hunting for wins in the second game of their set, but it may have been mosre pressing for Regina as they were running out of games to get back in the race.

Cougars goals: Kaylee Dyer (2), Kaylee Dyer (3)
Cougars assists: Makena Kushniruk (5), Olivia Leggett (3), Jordyn Blais (4)
Cougars netminders: Amy Swayze (42/43)

Cougars goals: Julia Duke (8)
Cougars assists: none
Cougars netminder: Katherine Holan (15/17)

Result: 2-1 victory for Regina over Mount Royal.

FRIDAY: The battle of BC was back on the schedule as Trinity Western headed north to play UBC. The Spartans needed wins against their archrivals to help their playoff standing while UBC was looking to lock up home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs with victories this weekend. Both squads had their assignments entering this series.

Spartans goals: Kara Yackel (7), Kailey Ledoux (4)
Spartans assists: Sadie Isfeld (7), Kyra Anderson (4)
Spartans netminders: Kate Fawcett (29/33)

Thunderbirds goals: Vanessa Schaefer (6), Cassidy Rhodes (1), Annalise Wong (5), Presley Zinger (1)
Thunderbirds assists: Annalise Wong (22), Ashton Thorpe (2), Madisyn Wiebe (3), Grace Elliott (10), Grace Elliott (11), Jacquelyn Fleming (6), Annalise Wong (23), Ashton Thorpe (3)
Thunderbirds netminder: Elise Hugens (11/13)

Result: 4-2 victory for UBC over Trinity Western.

SATURDAY: The home-and-home series shifted to Langley for the second game, but the stakes were still the same as both sides were looking for wins. Based on the number of games remaining, any points earned by the Spartans would eliminate the MacEwan Griffins, and UBC would officially lock up first-overall in Canada West with a win. Would the Spartans make the Thunderbirds wait another week?

Spartans goals: none
Spartans assists: none
Spartans netminders: Kate Fawcett (29/33)

Thunderbirds goals: Jaylyn Morris (8), Ilona Markova (1), Hanna Perrier (5), Jaylyn Morris (9)
Thunderbirds assists: Ashton Thorpe (4), Grace Elliott (12), Elle Lorenz (2), Annalise Wong (24), Ashton Thorpe (5)
Thunderbirds netminder: Mya Lucifora (13/13)

Result: 4-0 victory for UBC over Trinity Western.

Don't even ask about divisions. I'm not interested in that setup. It's one conference, nine teams, and we'll see who is best in the west.

CANADA WEST WOMEN'S HOCKEY

School	Record	Points	GF	GA	Streak	Next
UBC	20-2-2-0	44	75	23	W4	@ MAC
Mount Royal	12-5-6-1	37	60	37	L1	vs CAL
Calgary	12-5-1-4	30	52	40	L2	@ MRU
Alberta	8-6-1-7	25	43	47	L1	vs MAN
Trinity Western	5-12-6-1	23	53	58	L3	BYE
Saskatchewan	5-9-4-4	22	32	50	W1	@ REG
Manitoba	6-9-2-5	21	47	55	W1	vs MAC
Regina	4-11-3-4	18	34	53	W1	vs SAS
MacEwan	3-15-2-2	12	23	56	L1	vs UBC

Honour Roll

Each week on The Rundown, I highlight the best performances from the weekend's games. It won't always be the top scorer or the best goalie, but I'll have a reason for who gets picked each week. They haven't had a lot to celebrate this season as they work to get back into a playoff spot, but the Regina Cougars saw Kaylee Dyer play a big part this weekend in helping the Regina Cougars earn a win over one of the best teams in Canada. Three goals against the fourth-ranked team will do that as Kaylee Dyer adds her name to the Honour Roll!

Dyer entered this weekend's games without having dented twine this season, and her career-high for any season is four goals. Dyer put that number in jeopardy as she scored once on Friday against Mount Royal before potting both goals in the victory on Saturday to equal her total from last season and put her one back of the total she notched in 2023-24. Those three goals also pushed her to nine points this season, breaking her career-high of eight points in a season that she set last year so it was a productive weekend overall!

The fifth-year forward recently rolled over the 100-game mark, and she's just one point away from hitting double-digits in points for the first time in her university career. More importantly, she helped Regina earn a big win over Mount Royal to keep them in the race for the final playoff spot in the East Division as they stare down two important weekends against Saskatachewan and Manitoba. With Dyer catching fire this weekend, the chances of getting in got a lot better. For her three-goal weekend that included both goals in a big win, that's how Regina Cougars forward Kaylee Dyer made the list!

Playoff Situations

There are a handful of playoff situations that a few teams are facing as we barrel forward towards Week 14 of the Canada West season. A few are more dire, so here are those situaitons:

• MACEWAN: win at all costs. There is no tomorrow.
• REGINA: sweep Saskatchewan. At worst, a split will mean Regina will need help to catch the Huskies in the standings, but a sweep would be immensely helpful against their provincial rivals. Regina just has to win moving forward.
• MANITOBA: win at Clare Drake Arena. That could be a potential playoff scenario, so the Bisons have to win twice in Edmonton if they make the playoffs. Why not do that this weekend and put pressure on Saskatchewan and Regina to win games?
• SASKATCHEWAN: sweep Regina out of the playoffs. Two wins next weekend will remove one team from the playoff race, and the pressure would fall onto Manitoba to win out. Two wins over their provincial rivals would be huge for the Huskies.
• TRINITY WESTERN: cheer for Manitoba to sweep the Pandas.
• ALBERTA: sweep Manitoba, put all the pressure on the TWU.
• UBC, MOUNT ROYAL, and CALGARY: play hard, don't get hurt.

With most teams having just six games remaining, there isn't a lot of room for mistakes. Dropping a game could be the difference between playing in mid-February and watching the playoffs from home.

What We Know

As it stands, UBC will play at home throughout the playoffs thanks to their incredible season. They earned that right this weekend as the Mount Royal Cougars cannot catch them in the standings.

Mount Royal has clinched a playoff spot and can clinch a bye in the opening round if they earn a single point against the Dinos next weekend. Mount Royal is 3-1 against the Dinos this season, so they hold the tie-breaker unless Calgary sweeps the Crowchild Classic in regulation time. They did lose once in overtime, so that would give them seven points to Mount Royal's six points in the six-game season series. Of course, Calgary also has to catch Mount Royal, but Mount Royal is looking to wrap up that top spot before head coach Scott Rivett heads off to Italy for a couple of weeks for the Olympics.

Calgary is also in the playoffs, and they can still capture top spot in the East Division if they sweep the Crowchild Classic and win the two games in-hand they have on the Cougars. The first step is sweeping the two games against Mount Royal this weekend in regulation, so they'll need to be ready to play on Thursday night at the Saddledome.

Thanks to their effort against Saskatchewan this weekend, the Alberta Pandas have clinched a playoff spot. The Pandas still need to win games to put themselves in second-place, but they can put some serious pressure on Trinity Western by sweeping the Bisons at home this weekend. With Trinity Western idle thanks to the bye week, the six-point gap they could build could be the difference between playing at home in the quarterfinals and travelling to Calgary for a quarterfinal series. Forcing the Spartans to win out would be ideal.

Lastly, MacEwan has to win out if they want to play in the playoffs. They have six games remaining with two coming against Trinity Western, and any point that the Spartans earn over their remaining four games would spell the end for the Griffins' hopes. The biggest question will come this weekend as the Griffins have to sweep the Thunderbirds in Edmonton to keep the playoff dream alive.

The Next Wave...

I was privileged to be part of UMFM's broadcasts of the 2026 Female World Sport School Challenge in Winnipeg where we got to see a number of players who are heading off to post-secondary institutions next season, and I don't think it would be a stretch to say that Canada West is getting a pile of talent who will join those teams.

UBC will have lots to be excited about with all of Balmoral Hall's Payton Henwood and Kate Chuback, Winnipeg Ice's Cassie Carvalho, and Winnipeg Avros' netminder Ana Almeida joining their squad next season. All of these players finished their tournaments with a win today, and each played a major role in those wins. Kate Chuback's hat trick in the semifinal was proof she's ready to take the next step while both of Henwood and Carvalho recording multiple points today. Almeida helped the Avros secure fifth-place in the event with a strong goaltending performance, so UBC looks strong moving forward.

She didn't show up on the scoresheet as much as her teammates did, but Balmoral Hall's Hudson Bradley looks like she's going to be the prototypical Alberta Pandas defender who can contribute at both ends of the ice. Bradley was excellent in her own zone where she showed a knack breaking up plays with a touch of a mean streak, and she solid offensively as she got pucks to the net from the blue line, pinched at opportune moments, and supported her teammates well. Alberta has another solid defender coming their way.

I only had the chance to see her play once, but the Saskatchewan Huskies will be happy with Charlie Shearer's play with the Westman Wildcats. Shearer didn't have any points this weekend, but she was a force in her own zone where she blocked shots, used her stick effectively to break up plays, and made smart breakout passes. I'm not sure Charlie Shearer will lead the Huskies in scoring, but she won't have to if she's as good defensively as she was this weekend.

Perhaps the one team who could see a major turn with the players they've recruited is the Regina Cougars. Westman's Ivy Perkin was magical with the puck all weekend, and she already looks like she's a university-level player. Aliyah Texeira was excellent at both ends of the ice for the Winnipeg Ice as a leader and playmaker with the defender winning the saucer pass challenge at the FWSSC Skills Competition. Perkin was just as impressive at the Skills Competition as she just missed out on winning the accuracy shooting challenge, so the Cougars are going to have serious Manitoba talent next year.

Finally, Manitoba will get some offensive punch next season as the Winnipeg Avros' tandem of Braya Kapusta and Addilyn Nohlgren were solid all weekend in helping the Avros capture fifth-place. They led the way offensively with five goals, and they showed solid defensive responsibility in their backchecking. The Bisons can use the added scoring punch next season, and both Kapusta and Nohlgren will provide that. Nohlgren won the accuracy shooting event at the Skills Competition, so goalies may want to keep an eye on her!

... And Beyond?

There were lots of players who stood out that aren't in their graduation year this season, and it would be wise for teams to reach out and speak to these players if they need an upgrade in future seasons. Some of the players that stood out to Jason and I as we watched and called games included Westman defender Addison Henwood ('28), Balmoral Hall defender Lucy Ring ('27) and forward Brannagh Rae ('28), Winnipeg Avros defender Leah Claussen ('27), Winnipeg Ice netminder Gina Plett ('27) and forwards Sophie Woznesensky ('27), Kate Cairns ('27), and Maren Temple ('28), Rink Hockey Academy forward Georgia O'Neill ('27) and defender Piper Holbrook ('27), Pembina Valley forward Casey O'Brien ('27) and defender Ella Victor ('27), Interlake defender Ellis Pearson ('27), Pilot Mound forwards Sophie Drummond ('27) and Wytten Constant ('28), and Yellowhead forward Callee Despiegelaere ('27).

Not that anyone would want me doing it, but I could build one heckuva program if I could recruit all these players onto one team.

The Last Word

With the season into its final ten-game stretch, playoff spots will be decided soon. Some teams could take big steps forward next weekend while others are clinging to hope and need wins for the playoffs to remain a reality. For some teams, the playoffs start now if they want a shot at participating in the official Canada West playoffs.

With three weeks remaining in the season, though, all nine teams are still mathematically in the race meaning they all have a reason to play hard. Not all of them will make the playoffs, of course, but having this many teams alive this deep into the season means the intensity should remain high as we get near the end of the campaign.

Enjoy the games next week, folks. They should be good!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!