The Atlantic University Sport (AUS) playoffs are finally here.
STU finished third in the AUS for a second season straight, sitting three points out of second and five points out of first.
The girls in green and gold began their long playoff journey on Feb. 20 against the Saint Mary’s University (SMU) Huskies.
During the game, STU found themselves trailing 1-0 for much of the first and second periods. However, the team clawed their way back, tying the game late in the second. The goal gave the Tommies all the momentum, leading to them grabbing the lead in the third.
STU defeated SMU 2-1 in game one. On a larger scale, the Tommies swept the Huskies in two games to advance to the semifinals.
“I think it wasn’t necessarily the start that we wanted in the first period of the first game. Going into the first round of any playoff series is a little nerve-wracking, but we were able to regroup after that first period and come out strong,” said Ekaterina Pelowich, the captain of the Tommies.
“We’re a great team and being able to come back from being down in a game is super important, especially moving into the semifinals.”
Pelowich said the team have been relying on their skill and confidence all season long. This mantra has served them well, as she thinks everyone has their role to play and the team has great depth.
Aimee O’Neill is a fifth-year forward in her first season with the Tommies. She had two huge goals in game one of the quarterfinals, going pointless with one shot in game two.
O’Neill said the playoff games were much more intense than the times her team played SMU in the regular season.
SMU and STU faced off four times, with the Tommies taking wins in all four. However, she said those games “didn’t matter,” as it felt like they played a whole different team.
“It was tough. And you know, all the playoff rounds are always really tough, so we have to battle hard. I’m very proud of us and the outcome, so it just made me excited for the next one,” said O’Neill.
“Both teams just, you can tell they have a playoff mentality.”
Before coming to STU, O’Neill played four seasons at Saint. Mary’s. She said it was “tough” playing her former team on the playoff stage and eliminating some of her former teammates.
“I loved [Saint] Mary’s and the players and coaches and the whole organization. It’s similar to how I feel at St. Thomas now,” said O’Neill. “But at the end of the day, it’s just hockey, and someone was going to win either way.”
Going into the playoffs, STU ranked eighth in the country among women’s hockey teams. They were up there with teams like the UBC Thunderbirds and the Concordia Stingers.
“We’re all here for a reason and we were all chosen to be a part of this group. So just holding each other accountable and knowing that we are one of the top teams in the nation … that’s a huge confidence booster moving into the semifinals,” she said.
STU began the semifinals last Friday against the St. Francis Xavier X-Women. The team left Antigonish with a 2-0 win in game one and followed that up in game two with a tough 2-1 loss in overtime.
The series now shifts to Fredericton, with the teams tied at one game apiece.
“We still have lots of work to do. We’ve still been working on things in practice and showing up to the rink every day; all the girls are hungry for more wins,” said Pelowich.
“It’s not done,” she said.
Aimee O’Neill is a fifth-year forward in her first season with the Tommies. She had two huge goals in game one of the quarterfinals, going pointless with one shot in game two.
O’Neill said the playoff games were much more intense than the times her team played SMU in the regular season.
SMU and STU faced off four times, with the Tommies taking wins in all four. However, she said those games “didn’t matter,” as it felt like they played a whole different team.
“It was tough. And you know, all the playoff rounds are always really tough, so we have to battle hard. I’m very proud of us and the outcome, so it just made me excited for the next one,” said O’Neill.
“Both teams just, you can tell they have a playoff mentality.”
Before coming to STU, O’Neill played four seasons at Saint. Mary’s. She said it was “tough” playing her former team on the playoff stage and eliminating some of her former teammates.
“I loved [Saint] Mary’s and the players and coaches and the whole organization. It’s similar to how I feel at St. Thomas now,” said O’Neill. “But at the end of the day, it’s just hockey, and someone was going to win either way.”
Angela Wisniewski is a communications and public policy professor at STU and has been an avid fan of the hockey team for the better part of six-plus years, going to watch a majority of their games.
For Wisniewski, it’s the excitement of the “unknown factor” that keeps her coming back.
“They were two difficult games. That second game was particularly tense. But both games were evenly matched, which is what we expected from how they played through the semester,” said Wisniewski. “And, of course, [it’s] so exciting that we managed to get it done in just two games.”
“Things are shaken up in the playoffs. I think that makes it exciting too. That keeps me going back, but mostly it’s just purely having been watching for so long, being committed to it and really wanting to see the girls win another AUS title.”
