If the fifth-ranked Laurier Golden Hawks needed any extra motivation heading into this yearโs Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) finals, they got it from the Queenโs Gaels.
The upstart Gaels stunned the powerhouse Hawks in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) semifinals, winning two double-overtime games to sweep the series. This not only ended a string of seven straight OUA titles for the purple and gold but also marked the first time they didnโt at least play in the provincial final since 1999-00.
โThe first few days after, a lot of us really took it hard,โ said Hawksโ captain Abby Rainsberry. โBut weโve had to time to get over it and weโve had time to practice and prepare both tactically and mentally and I think in the end it will work in our favour.โ
That surprising loss could end up being a blessing in disguise for the Hawks, who arenโt accustomed to having any time between the OUA finals and the beginning of the CIS tournament. Not only does it give the team extra time to rest, but it allowed them to completely get over a bout of illness that took a toll on the team late in the regular season.
โIt will be quite different because normally we play the OUA finals one week and then we have to turn around right away and play on Thursday,โ said Rainsberry. โSo it was a lot more sitting around but we came back and practiced hard and now weโll be one of the most rested teams [at the tournament] and hopefully thatโll work out in our favour.โ
While the Hawks would love a chance at revenge on the Gales, the teams are in opposite pools and a re-match wouldnโt come until the final day of the tournament, where they could playing for gold, bronze or fifth-place.
โObviously weโd love another crack at them, but theyโre not in our pool, so weโre going to have to focus on getting through first,โ said Rainsberry. โBut if we do end up meeting them in the final, itโll be another great game and weโll be ready for them.โ
And if the potential for revenge on Queenโs wasnโt enough incentive added to the simple desire to be the best in the country, the Hawks can draw inspiration from two of their veterans.
Fifth-years Erin Weber and Liz Knox will be graduating this year and although they have their share of provincial hardware, the national title has always seemed to elude them. According to Laurier head coach Rick Osborne, having those players leave on a high note means a great deal to his team.
โErin Weber has been a pillar of strength and no one took the semifinal loss to Queenโs harder than her,โ he said. โAnd I know Knox is looking to write her final chapterโฆ. So thereโs a lot of incentive there.โ
The Hawks will open the tournament on Thursday night at 7:30 versus the undefeated St. F.X. X-Women, a game Osborne knows will be a tough one.
โWeโve been on the ice five of the past seven days, because we know we need to ready,โ he said. โX is undefeatedโฆ. And we know that they have four lines and six [defencemen] that can play along with some great goaltending.โ