The Concordia Stingers women's hockey team starts its 2023 playoff run with a semifinal series versus the vastly improved Bishop's Gaiters on Thursday night at the Ed Meagher Arena on the Loyola campus in N.D.G.
Concordia, the No. 3-ranked team in the country, finished first in the RSEQ conference with a 20-4-1 record and 41 points.
The Gaiters, who are in just their second season of RSEQ competition, finished in fourth place with a 12-10-3 record and 27 points. In their inaugural season the previous year, they finished in last place with three wins in 15 games.
“They are better this year,” said Stinger all-star goaltender Alice Philbert. “They have more depth. They are hard-working, physical and fast.”
Concordia has a lot of offensive power to help in the series. The Stingers scored 90 goals in 25 games for an average of 3.6 a game which was tops in the conference.
Forward Emmy Fecteau is the leading scorer on the team with 13 goals and 19 assists for 32 points in 23 games. She ranks second in scoring in the Quebec conference and sixth in U Sports. Emilie Lavoie is right behind her with 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points in 25 games. She is the third leading scorer in the RSEQ.
Defensively, Concordia has been strong as well, giving up just 39 goals for an average of 1.6 a game. Philbert has been instrumental in the team’s success in its own end. She is the leading goaltender in the league with a goals-against average of 1.56 and a save percentage of .932.
Bishop’s scores an average of 2.56 goals a game and gives up 2.76 goals.
While the stats may favour the Stingers, Philbert says her team has to dig deep in this series.
“We cannot take them easy or we will get in trouble,” she said. “We have to forecheck, stay disciplined, play with grit and play 60 minutes.”
The teams have met five times with Concordia winning four of five.
2022-23 results:
Oct. 30 – Concordia 3, Bishop’s 2
Nov. 13 – Concordia 2, Bishop’s 2 OT
Dec. 2 – Bishop’s 5, Concordia 3
Jan. 20 – Bishop’s 4, Concordia 1
Feb. 5 – Concordia 3, Bishop’s 2
Series Schedule:
Game 1 — Thursday, Feb. 23 – 7:30 p.m. Bishop’s at Concordia
Game 2— Saturday, Feb. 25 – 7:30 p.m. Concordia at Bishop’s
Game 3 — Sunday, Feb. 26 – 7 p.m. Bishop’s at Concordia (if necessary).
Address:
Ed Meagher Arena on the Loyola campus, 7200 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal
Tickets:
Purchase online HERE
