Toronto, ON – An experienced squad decorated with talented seniors. The motivation to win a second straight McCaw Cup Championship. A home barn packed with people wanting to see them do just that. The stars had truly aligned for the Toronto Varsity Blues to capture another OUA women’s hockey title on Saturday night, but it wasn’t to be as they lost 2-1 in overtime to the Waterloo Warriors.

It was a spirited performance from the visiting side, who had their backs against the wall early. A first period that was hotly contested toward the end (certainly a glimpse of what was to come over the next two frames) got started awfully fast by Toronto, whose build-up was predictably efficient.

There was a small margin for error as Toronto made no mistake scoring first, running a play they kept trying througout the game: move the puck quickly over the left wing, and have the winger pass into the low slot. Emma Elders had to deal with a few defenders, but still managed to set up Juliette Blais-Savoie, who managed to score in a similarly crowded crease six minutes in. With Nikki McDonald and Taylor Trussler finding their footing as the Blues’ top line amplified pressure, everything was coming apart for Waterloo.

Or at least, until the wicked shot of Carly Orth had something to say. Although the Warriors kept trying to play through Leah Herrfoot – who could really blame them – to creep back into the contest, their breakthrough came from a faceoff and once again keeping a high tempo. Orth found herself wide open and emphatically blasted the puck past a diving Erica Fryer.

That made it a tie game with five minutes to go in the first and then, for a long while, the contest went dormant.

Nobody could establish a foothold. Toronto and Waterloo exchanged similar chances, and as the minutes flew by desperation was in the air.

The Varsity Blues had been here before, a season ago the final was also close. Vicky Sunohara’s team went to work peppering Mikayla Schnarr, who ended up with 25 saves on the night. Waterloo’s defence spread out and forced Toronto to attempt anything but the easy passes. Maybe all along, the plucky Warriors were content with a sudden death finish. They definitely had the stamina to keep going.

Waterloo waited to pounce, trusting their judgment. Plans to push on and pursue the winner had to be stalled due to an unfortunately-timed penalty kill. That was when the tide turned for good. Continued forechecking sent Toronto looking to reset in their own end, a routine play disrupted by Orth charging forward. She swiped the puck and at the last possible moment dished it to Paige Rynne, repaying the favour that Rynne had handed out back in the first.

Yellow jerseys stormed the ice, leaping as if they weren’t on a slippery surface. Fryer collapsed, her teammates dejected but trying to console each other as Waterloo gathered at centre ice.

After topping the Western Conference in 2022-23 before bowing out to Nipissing in the semifinals, Waterloo was desperate for the opportunity to prove themselves.

And despite the regular-season juggernaut Lakers not taking them on in the postseason, Toronto in the playoffs is an equally tall order.

Giant slayed. Job done.

Cover Photo: Tiffany Luke/Waterloo Warriors Athletics