RECAP: Women’s hockey ends season with loss to McGill

Special teams again played a factor for the Gee-Gees women's hockey team, as the McGill Martlets scored two powerplay goals to defeat Ottawa 3-0 on Saturday afternoon at the Minto Sports Complex.

The Martlets won the RSEQ Semi-Final series 2-0, advancing to the RSEQ Final and earning a berth at the 2020 U SPORTS National Championship. The Gee-Gees promising season comes to a close in the semis.

"Today's obviously not the result we're looking for," said Gee-Gees assistant coach Greg Bowles. "That's a very good team on the other side and we're happy for them, but for us, at this point it's not so much about that one game – it's about where we've come from and we're very proud of this group."

Ottawa had the best opportunity of the opening period. Marimée Godbout-Parent created a turnover below the goal line and centred for Mélodie Bouchard, who had an open look in the slot. Bouchard's shot sailed over the net, however.

McGill got on the board early in the second period. A hard pass into the slot from Jade Downie-Landry found its way off the stick of Marika Labrecque and under Gee-Gees netminder Aurelie Dubuc, giving the Martlet sniper her second goal of the playoffs.

The red shirts continued their onslaught on the powerplay in a few minutes later. Kate Devries' long drive from the point navigated through a maze of bodies and past Dubuc, doubling the McGill lead.

Ottawa showed life throughout the second and third periods, but couldn't solve Martlets netminder Tricia Deguire, who put up her fifth career shutout in the postseason.

The visitors sealed the game and the series with an empty net goal from Stephanie Desjardins.

McGill boasted the best special teams in the RSEQ in the regular season and it was a difference maker in the series. McGill went 4-for-16 on the man advantage over the home-and-home, while also holding the Gee-Gees at bay by being a perfect 9-for-9 on the penalty kill.

Deguire made 18 saves for the shutout, while Dubuc gave up two goals on 23 shots. Dubuc's save percentage for the playoffs was an impressive .934.

Curiously, McGill failed to register a goal at 5-on-5 in the series. Four of their six goals came on the powerplay, while the remaining two were into empty nets.

"We were always going in one direction, and that's up," said Bowles when reflecting on the 2019-20 season. "We have a great foundation moving forward, but that doesn't come without a great senior class as well. These seniors have really passed the proverbial torch into great hands."

Saturday marked the final game in a Gee-Gees uniform for several mainstays, including fifth year captain Mélina Roy, Mélodie Bouchard, Marimée Godbout-Parent, Meagan McGaughey, Taylor McGaughey, Valérie Bouillon and Alexe Drouin.