Brock women’s hockey team played back-to-back games on Feb. 16 and 17 against the Western Mustangs with their season on the line. The games had serious playoff implications as the Badgers needed to win both – and have the Windsor Lancers lose both their games – to squeak into the last playoff spot in the OUA West division.
The Badgers got off to a poor start in the first period on Feb. 16. Western was relentless on the forecheck and the Badgers were unable to get anything going in the offensive zone. Just over 10 minutes into the period,the Badgers took back-to-back penalties at 10:50 and 10:53 giving Western a long five-on-three powerplay.
The penalty killers and goaltender Kenzie Harmison were able to weather the storm and kill off both penalties to keep the score tied at zero. It was not until the 14-minute mark that the Badgers registered their first shot on goal. The Badgers were able to sustain some pressure in the Western zone before the Mustangs took the game back over. Luckily, the first ended 0-0 with the shots favouring Western 14-2.
The second period was a more even fight as the Badgers came out with some pep in their step. They were able to sustain pressure in the offensive zone and get some quality shots off but Western’s netminder Ella Brabook shut the door.
Brock got a powerplay halfway through the second and was unable to convert. The shots in the second period were 11-8 Western and the score was still tied at zero.
The third period mirrored the first but Western was not able to beat Harmison. After 60 minutes, Brock and Western needed overtime.
The Badgers controlled the puck to start the overtime and did not take long to end it. Ashley Robitaille beat the Western defender on one to the outside and then beat Brabook’s short side to win the game 1-0. It was Robitaille’s first ever OUA goal and it kept the Badgers’ playoff hopes alive.
Kenzie Harmison secured the 35-save shutout and was easily Brock’s best player on the night.
The following day, the Badgers played in their last regular season game which was also senior night. The seven seniors honoured included: Teegan Dalby, Kenzie Harmison, Claudia Murphy, Madeline Nicholson, Ashley Robitaille, Camie Matteau Rushbrook and Kara Thomas. The game mirrored that of the day prior as Harmison stood on her head through three periods and led the Badgers into overtime despite being outshot 37-24.
The overtime period only lasted 38 seconds and it was a two-on-two rush finished off by Elizabeth Gauthier of the Western Mustangs that ended the game 1-0. The Badgers missed the playoffs for the first season since 2017-18 and finished with a 10-18 record.
For more information on the team, visit gobadgers.ca.