Big win for Voyageurs women's hockey team

There isn't a whole lot better feeling for the members of the Laurentian Voyageurs women's hockey team than the one that comes with recording a season sweep of their arch Northern Ontario rivals, the Nipissing Lakers.

Except, perhaps, when said sweep also contributes greatly towards the team goal of a first ever OUA playoff appearance.

With all signs pointing to the Laurentian crew likely fighting it out with the Brock Badgers, UOIT Ridgebacks, and perhaps York Lions for the final post-season berth in the university standings this year, a 1-0 regulation time victory over the Lakers on Saturday at home was nothing short of critical.

Emma Léger converted on passes from Renée Leclair and Jeanne Boutin, driving hard off the wing to beat Jacqueline Rochefort with the only goal of the game.

Laura Dellar made the goal stand as the game-winning tally, finishing with a 22-save performance and posting her first shutout of the year. The victory was even more sweet, since it came against the team which currently leads the league with 122 minutes in penalties, about 50 per cent more than a whole slew of teams sitting next at 80 and 82 minutes.

"They're a big team, for sure, and they're also a physical team," said Léger. "We had to keep our heads up, and not retaliate, stay out of the box. We never know what the refs are going to call in a game, and today, the ref didn't call very much, either way."

Netting her third goal of the season, tying her for the team lead with locals Julie Hébert and Elissa Bertuzzi, Léger was quick to share the praise. "It was a great pass, a great play out of the zone," noted the 20-year old native of Elmira.

"I was able to beat the girl wide, and I just saw a spot at the top of the net, but it all started down low with a great battle from our team." Léger is one of nearly a dozen seniors dotting the Voyageur lineup, ladies who have been part of the program since its inception three years ago.

Spending that time together is finally paying dividends in year three, according to the Sport & Physical Education major. "We have some experience now, which is such a huge component," said Léger.

"Coming in, we all think we're ready to go, but in reality, looking back, we were all pretty young. I think the fact that we have had those two seasons, and that both were very different, allowed us to learn a lot from both," said Léger.

With the win, Laurentian improves to 3-4-2-1, good for 14 points (OUA women's hockey awards three points for a win in regulation, two for an overtime or shootout victory, and one point for a loss in either overtime or a shootout).

Sitting in eighth place, the Voyageurs trail Western by one, Laurier by two, but more importantly, gained a three point separation ahead of Brock, with both teams having played 10 games of their 24-game schedule.

The Laurentian ladies are in Vaughan today, enjoying an exhibition encounter with Team China. The locals close out pre-Christmas play, welcoming the Guelph Gryphons to Sudbury on November 22nd, and finishing off with a GTA trek to face the Ryerson Rams and University of Toronto Blues on November 27th and 28th.