St. Thomas University’s Lady Tommies opened the hockey season in style. Gangam Style that is. The Tommies beat Université de Moncton 4-2 at their snazzy new home at the Grant Harvey Centre on Saturday afternoon.
With all the new players to the team and the collective energy level, it wasn’t hard to see why second year forwards Erin MacIsaac and Cassidy McTaggart were grooving from the bench in between plays.
The Saturday afternoon game against rival U de M was fast and fierce. Fourth year forward Katie Brewster scored the first goal 11:36 in to the first period after several minutes of trading puck control for the only goal of the period. Brewster said that she was thrilled to score the first ever goal in the new Grant Harvey Centre.
“It’s actually pretty indescribable. I mean to score the first in the home opener is pretty big, but to score the first goal in the new barn is unreal. I was real fired up and finally got rid of the nerves after that goal and settled down a little bit, it was awesome.”
At the end of the first period, teams were tied for shots on goal with 10 apiece.
The second period saw lots of goals, although it was a rough start to the second period for the Tommies.
U de M controlled the puck for the first half of the period, putting STU goalie Julia Sharun through her paces.
Sharun made several saves before Genevieve David put one past her at 8:39 on powerplay. Danielle Eustache would give U de M the lead at the 9:03 mark.
However, second year forward Danielle Miller was able to tie the game back up only 24 seconds later.
With 3:30 remaining in the second period Emily Francis would score giving the lead back to the Tommies, with Kayla Blackmore getting an assist on the goal.
Then, with one second remaining in the second period, fifth year forward and team captain Blackmore scored, giving the Tommies a 4-2 lead.
U de M got in a few more shots on goal in the third as both teams started taking penalties. The Tommies would be outshot 28-22 and went 0-3 on the powerplay.
Blackmore said it was important for the Tommies get a win to start the season.
“It was definitely nice to get a win under our belts. I know we were all pretty nervous for the first period so it was a little scattered during the first but then we settled down and really started to play our style of game and put the pressure on them, I think showed what kind of team we are going to be this year and that’s a hard working team that doesn’t give up.”
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The Lady Tommies continued their hot start to the season as they rolled over the Mount Allison Mounites 5-0 Sunday afternoon. The Tommies had five different goal scorers as Katie Brewster, Kenya Marcelline, Emily Francis, Kelty Apperson and Danielle Miller all found the back of the net. Kristin Wolfe got the win in goal for the 2-0 Tommies.
