It's Gold for Rustlers Women's Hockey
In just three years of official ACAC competition, the players, coaches, support staff and volunteers with women's hockey at Lakeland College have accomplished more than most collegiate teams have in decades.
The Rustlers captured the ACAC Championship, defeating the Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) Queens three games to one. Their 7-1 Game Four victory capped off a record-breaking season, which saw the squad win 23 of 25 games and tie their already historic mark of 116 goals form the previous season. They also set a finals record for most goals scored (14).
Head Coach Morgan Mann was direct in describing how he felt a week after the big win.
"A great sense of accomplishment and pride in our team," he said. "To finish winning a championship is something that as coaches, we are more familiar with than the players, in understanding that it's something they can enjoy for the rest of their lives."
"It's honestly an incredible feeling," graduating senior Mackenzie Stafford said. "To be part of something so special, especially so early in the program's history, makes it even more meaningful.
Following last year, where the Rustlers had a league best 21 wins, but lost the ACAC Finals in four games, Mann's squad came back better than ever, in both returning vets like Olivia Mann and two-time leading scorer Hailey Carothers, to the shining rookies like Addison Eurich and Mackenzie Gould- Sharpe . Coach Mann said it was important to the staff that as part of being a Rustler, every member of the team would see ice time.
"Everyone gets the same games during the regular season, every single person is important to the team, so if you put in the work, you get the opportunity on the ice," he said.
"There's no pecking order, every person next to you is just as important."
A big reason for giving that opportunity to each player is because of the requirements they must fulfill to make sure the program is funded. Mann said that community funding piece results in the players understanding the importance of giving back, telling players that not everyone gets the opportunity to be a Rustler
"Our model is fantastic and is a great thing for young athletes, to not be in a situation where they're just getting everything they want," he said "It's terrific that they have to give back, it's not about free sticks or free anything. You must work hard to make this team function.
Stafford noted the trip to Europe as a turning point for the team, where they faced strong competition, gained confidence and brought them closer together.
"After that experience, we came back more prepared, knowing that we could handle adversity and compete at a high level," she said. "That mindset stuck with us the rest of the season."
By season's end, Carothers finished first in league scoring with a new career high of 37 points. She was named to the ACAC 1st Team All-Conference Squad, while Olivia Mann and Ally Shaw were named to the 2nd Team. Eurich lead all rookies with 32 points.
Following a quick pair of wins over the SAIT Trojans to advance to the Finals again, the Rustlers faced a scrappy rival in RDP. Despite having swept their regular season series against the Queens, Lakeland was unable to score in the opener, losing 1-0. Stafford said the message afterwards was to stay positive and trust their potential.
"We knew we were capable of more," she said. "It was all about resetting, learning from our mistakes and coming out stronger, playing with more energy, being harder on the puck and capitalizing on our chances."
"Once we got back to playing our style, everything clicked."
Click, they did. The Rustlers won the next two games on home ice 5-1 and 4-1, before dominating the Queens on the road, 7-1. Carothers was named the playoff MVP.
"The success of the season isn't just about whether you win or lose the last game of the year, you have to enjoy the season in its entirety," Mann said. "But it is special when you can win the last one."
Stafford credited the veteran core of the team the victory.
"Whether it was stepping up in big moments, setting the tone in practice or just keeping the energy up in the locker room, they played a crucial role," she said. "Their experience was a big part of why we were able to stay calm under pressure and pull through in tough games.
"We've worked so hard to build this team into a championship contender to actually accomplish it is surreal, it shows how much dedication and heart this group has put in."
In addition to the records and the title, Lakeland had another important first for women's hockey, with Stafford becoming the first senior graduate for the program.
"To know she's going to stay in the community and be an excellent nurse is something we're really proud of," Mann said.