TORONTO, ON – OUA women’s hockey features a lot of different races. There’s the obvious chase for playoff positions, which has a few competitors. The points title is still very much in play, as some players have cooled down while others hit their stride. Just about every team and player has some skin in the game. Nothing is winding down, only heating up. There’s still plenty to be decided and happening.
Amidst the chaos, here are two observations from the last week in the sport.
READ MORE: Last week’s OUA Women’s Hockey Takeaways
WHKY: The playoff hunt intensifies in both divisions
Even if the TMU Bold are the only team eliminated across the OUA, they’re still challenging and have a big chance of playing spoiler in their final two games. A narrow but well-earned 3-2 win against the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks was proof of this, and the result could be a massive factor for the Ridgebacks’ outcome.
The York Lions, just above the Ridgebacks, have stormed back into a playoff spot after a 1-0 overtime victory against the Nipissing Lakers. York is extremely hit-and-miss, but when their preferred low-scoring, gritty style of play is at its best, they can be tough to beat.
Queen’s, who York is somewhat within striking distance of, endured a poor week. It’s almost all about positioning in the OUA East, but in the OUA West, the fates of three schools hang in the balance. A mere three points separate the Brock Badgers, Western Mustangs, and Laurie Golden Hawks, and mixed results have come their way in the last week.
Brock is arguably the most well-equipped to come out on top. They deploy a variety of offensive tools, perhaps the most dangerous being defender Madelyn Walsh, who has six goals and is tied for tops among defenders. Meanwhile, the Golden Hawks have to play the red-hot Waterloo Warriors team and Leah Herfort twice down the stretch. A lot could change. But as easily, it might not.
WHKY: Nipissing has plenty of scorers, but who will step up?
It’s been a rough few weeks in North Bay. Earlier in the campaign, all the anger and pain from last season, where they lost narrowly in the OUA McCaw Cup Final and were sent packing very quickly at the U SPORTS National Championship, was being brought out on opponents. A 4-1 win against Toronto in their first game, the same team who vanquished them in the McCaw Cup Final, was indicative of growth.
Recently, though, the vibe has changed. Not too long ago, the Lakers were as high as third in the U SPORTS ranking. Now, they sit ninth. Even with a variety of scorers, their inconsistencies have plagued a 2024 that, so far, isn’t as impressive. On paper, Nipissing is easily one of the top teams in OUA: three of their players are in the top four scorers. Maggie McKee has been dishing phenomenal passes all year; she has 20 assists. Kate Chomiak and Malory Dominico have posted 13 goals.
Dominco recently became the highest-scoring player in Lakers history as well, hitting a solid run of form in the leadup to the post-season. That trio hasn’t produced as much in the last few contests as they had before. The Lakers are now just six points ahead of the Varsity Blues, who technically could catch them.
A variety of scorers is not bad, but it needs to be complemented by a star putting up a couple of points per game when it matters most. Given their knockout heartbreak from 2022-23, one member of that dominant trifecta has to step up the plate so the Lakers can enter the playoffs with momentum.