With a 3-2 victory on home ice this afternoon, the Concordia Stingers women’s hockey team completed a two-game sweep of the Montréal Carabins in the RSEQ semifinals and secured a berth at the U SPORTS national championship March 16-19.
Concordia defeated Montreal, the defending national champions, 6-2 in the first game of the best-of-three series played on the road Thursday night.
While the opening game turned into a one-sided affair thanks to a three-goal, two-assist effort from second-year forward Claudia Dubois, Game 2 was a barn-burner.
Concordia rookie Stephanie Lalancette buried the puck at 15:24 of the first period to open the scoring, but Montreal evened it up with a goal from Laurie Mercier midway through the second. Dubois scored at 14:43 of the second to give the Stingers a one-goal lead that lasted until late in the third period when Jessica Cormier scored to tie the game 2-2.
Dubois was the hero once again, notching the game-winner with 2:52 left in the third period. Her totals in the two games were five goals and two assists for seven points.
Katherine Purchase was in nets for the Stingers. She turned away 38 of 40 shots to pick up the win.
The Stingers advance to the Quebec conference final, another best-of-three series, beginning next Thursday. They will play the winner of the McGill Martlets-Ottawa Gee-Gees semifinal series which is currently tied at one game apiece.
There are two spots for Quebec teams in the eight-team national championship in March. Both the conference champions and the finalists will advance. Therefore, Concordia has qualified for the tournament hosted by Queen’s University in Napanee, Ont.
The last time Concordia earned a spot at the nationals was in 2005. The Stingers finished fifth out of six teams at the championship.
