Inside the Woolwich Memorial Centre, early on a Sunday, the heart and soul of the black and gold would take to the ice for one last time in 2025-26. Facing the UBC Thunderbirds in the 2026 U SPORTS Women's Hockey Championship consolation final, it would prove to be a test for the Warriors, with UBC coming into the tournament as the number one seed. The fanbase, wiping the sleep out of their eyes, were out in full support for our squad.
For the third and final time in the tournament, both coaches would go with their aces in between the pipes. Kara Mark (New Hamburg, Ont./Waterloo Oxford District Secondary School and Victus Academy) for the Warriors, Elise Hugens for the Thunderbirds.
In the first period of this clash, it was déjà vu from the Warriors' previous win against the Manitoba Bisons. Nikki McDonald opened the scoring yet again before anyone could sit still, and the Warriors broke the ice. Carly Orth (Bolton, Ont./Humberview Secondary School) threaded a perfect pass through the slot on the left side, and McDonald tucked it away on the backhand; just 1:06 into this one. McDonald's third of the tournament - and third in succession - made it 1-0 Waterloo.
After the goal, the Thunderbirds pressed the Warrior net, but the defensive star of this tournament for the black and gold – Kara Mark (New Hamburg, Ont./Waterloo Oxford District Secondary School and Victus Academy) – came to play early on this Sunday morning.
Under eight minutes in, the Warriors were called on a trip, which sent Sarah Hirst (Campbellville, Ont./Milton District) to the box and the Thunderbirds to the power play.
Katina Duscio (Kitchener, Ont./St. Mary's High School) and Erika Porter (Mississauga, Ont./Applewood Heights Secondary School) were dominant on the kill. With Duscio blocking two shots in succession, and Porter picking up a block herself, the Warriors killed it off seamlessly.
The Warriors continued to move the puck brilliantly after the kill and put more pressure on Hugens.
With seven minutes to go in the first, the Thunderbirds were sent back to the power play, as Porter took an interference penalty. With one of the Warriors' strongest penalty killers in the box, they still held their ground firmly. Duscio blocked yet another puck, and Mark made a beauty of a save on Thunderbirds forward Cassidy Rhodes in the crease. The Warriors killed it off again, thanks in large part to a clearance from Faith Mitchell (Stirling, Ont./St. Theresa's Catholic Secondary School) on a puck that was sitting in the crease.
The Warriors were skating hard and winning every puck battle. They led 1-0 after 20 minutes, despite being outshot 13-2 in the frame.
In the second, the Thunderbirds moved their legs early, and got a few pucks onto Mark – which Kara steered aside.
Under four minutes in however, the Thunderbirds would draw even. On a puck that Mark just could not get a stick on in the crease, UBC forward Olivia Buckley tapped it home. One all.
Directly after the goal, the Thunderbirds took a penalty. Meadow Carman was sent off for a bodycheck, and the Warriors got a third look at the player advantage.
Trading chances, Hugens made one of the saves of the tournament, denying Tia Lascelle (Lancaster. Ont./Ontario Hockey Academy) on the backdoor with her pad. Back the other way, Mark flashed the leather on Jaylyn Morris who was in tight. The Thunderbirds killed off the penalty, and the game remained in a deadlock.
Out of the box, and with the Thunderbirds pressing, Morris would beat Mark top corner, after a beautiful toe drag to win some open space. 2-1 UBC.
After another strong rush from McDonald, who was stopped by Hugens, UBC scored another courtesy of Ilona Markova. The seventh-round pick of the Boston Fleet in the 2024 PWHL Draft made it 3-0 for the Thunderbirds.
After quite the physical stretch of play, the Warriors went to the power play. With Thunderbird Jacqueline Fleming on a breakaway, Orth turned on the jets and steered her astray, in a phenomenal effort to keep it a two-goal contest.
After the powerplay, the Thunderbirds struck yet again. Vanessa Schaefer curled at the top of the right circle and beat Mark on the blocker side. 4-1 for the Canada West champs, and they would take the three-goal lead to the room through 40 minutes.
After the second period, Warriors captain Lyndsy Acheson (Summerland, B.C./Penticton Secondary School) was asked by Karissa Donkin of CBC Sports, what the program has meant to her throughout her career. "They've been some of the best years of my life," Acheson mentioned. "I'm so proud to be wearing this logo today. We have some of the best fans in our league, and my parents are here from out west. I just have so much love in my heart right now," she added.
Third period. Last of the season. The Warriors pounced early, with some great physicality from Orth; winning the puck for her teammates.
After an altercation on the half-wall, both Ashlyn Kroes (Milton, Ont./Craig Kielburger Secondary School) and Thunderbird Karine Sandilands were thrown to the box. Porter would also head to the box for a trip not long after.
Shorthanded, the Warriors managed to break past Hugens; courtesy of Keiara Raitt (Ancaster, Ont./Ancaster High School). Using her elite stickhandling ability – which has been on display numerous times through this postseason, caught Hugens off-guard. Raitt tucked it away on the forehand. The Warriors made it a two-goal game.
After the goal, Orth was sent to the box for head contact. The Thunderbirds went to their fifth powerplay of the morning, which they capitalized on. Markova one-timed her second of the game home. 5-2 UBC.
After the goal, Buckley was sent off for a head contact call herself, and the Warriors went to the power play for the fourth time.
It became a contest of altercation midway through the period. UBC would score two quick ones to make it 7-2, and confirm the final.
As of the conclusion of the consolation final, Warrior Nikki McDonald leads the tournament in goals with three. The senior scoring touch was completed with Raitt's marker to give the Warriors their second, and Raitt's final goal in black and gold.
In the second intermission, Warriors captain Lyndsy Acheson (Summerland, B.C./Penticton Secondary School) was asked by Karissa Donkin of CBC Sports, what the program has meant to her throughout her career. "They've been some of the best years of my life," Acheson mentioned. "I'm so proud to be wearing this logo today. We have some of the best fans in our league, and my parents are here from out west. I just have so much love in my heart right now," she added.
For 10 graduates, it was a morning full of emotions, love, and reminiscing what the past 4-6 years has represented. A McCaw Cup championship, three U SPORTS Championship berths, and a national silver medal. All program firsts.
For McDonald, Raitt, Orth, Acheson, Tatum James (Stratford, Ont./Northwestern Secondary School), Gracey Smith (Waterloo, Ont./Preston High School), Sarah Bestic (Waterloo, Ont./St. Davids), Jalen Duffy (Burlington, Ont./Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School), Jordy Wyant (Winnipeg, Man./Shaftesbury Highschool), Kathy Verth (Oakville, Ont./Oakville Trafalgar), and student trainer Aly Sitar, their names will be etched into Warriors history.
