Preview | Toronto takes McCaw Cup aspirations into OUA East Division
Toronto, Ont. (via 49 Sports) - Much like with the OUA West, the teams that make up the OUA East are finally going to be playing a regular schedule. With no arena restrictions, fans are allowed back in total capacity this season, which will make for plenty of great atmospheres.
This year, the Toronto Varsity Blues, who dominated the OUA East a season ago, have the chance to do so again, while the Nipissing Lakers try to find their way back to the McCaw Cup Final.
Toronto Varsity Blues
The Varsity Blues are surely looking to build on their dominant performance from the 2021-22 campaign, a year in which they averaged three goals per game and were statistically one of the OUA's best.
Last season, Toronto didn't show any signs of weakness. When going into the pause of the shortened season, the Blues only had one loss, and from there, it was onward and upward as they went on an 11-game winning streak down the stretch and didn't see their next loss come until dropping the last of the season to Nipissing.
Not only did the Blues know how to win blowout games, but they also knew how to prevail in the tighter contests, which was the foundation for their success. They had all the elements for a championship-winning team, but ultimately fell short to Nipissing in the OUA semifinal, losing 3-2 to the eventual 2021-22 finalists.
Erica Fryer continued her strong form for the Varsity Blues, posting a .954 save percentage through 13 games after helping Toronto to the McCaw Cup Final in 2020.
For Toronto, a championship is always the goal, and that won't be any different in 2022-23 for the veteran group mixing in some exciting rookies.
Key Player: Taylor Trussler
Nipissing Lakers
With much of the core staying intact for the Lakers, fans should expect them to make another deep push in the OUA playoffs. Last season, that push brought them to the U SPORTS Championship, wherein they fell to the Concordia Stingers, who went on to win the national title.
However, don't let their placement in the OUA regular season standings fool you of how good a team this was.
Last season, the Lakers had no rookies. In some cases, it's easier on the players not to have that much roster turnover from year-to-year, while in others, an elite player can add to the team and take it to the next level.
One of the OUA's best, Maria Dominico, is entering her fifth year with the Lakers and has been looked upon to lead the team since she was one of those first-year standouts. In her debut campaign, she scored 26 points and has constantly improved her game from there. She was one of the more consistent goal scorers last season for the Lakers, netting ten goals en route to the division's top forward selection.
Malory Dominico, Maria's younger sister, is also a threat on the ice. Last season she scored seven times and enjoyed excellent midseason form. However, her goal scoring cooled off down the stretch as she shifted to a playmaking role, having provided four assists in Nipissing's late-season surge.
If the Lakers want to make another run at U SPORTS Nationals, they have the pieces to do so defensively as well, with fifth-year starting goalie Chloe Marshall a focal point therein. Last season, she posted a 6-1-0 record with a .937 SV% and a 1.48 GAA. Whenever she starts, the Lakers have the best chance to win.
Key Player: Chloe Marshall
TMU Bold
The TMU Bold have to be happy with last year's performance, even though it left them wanting more. Eliminated in the semifinals to the Nipissing Lakers no doubt left a sour taste at the end of the season, but there was a lot to take away from the campaign.
This year, the newly renamed TMU Bold will miss Lauren Nicholson, who led the team in goals (7) and tied for the team lead in points (13) and Savannah Bouzide, who paced the group in assists (8) and tied with Nicholson in points. The duo's departure, meanwhile, creates opportunities for others to step up and produce.
On the flip side, the team does welcome back veteran fifth-year forward Olivia Giardetti, who, despite not reaching unearthly numbers in her OUA career, has played significant roles for head coach Lisa Haley's crew.
For the Bold to take the next step, they must improve their special teams, specifically their powerplay, which was a miniscule 3.3% on home ice while converting at 19.2% on the road.
Although it is preseason, the Bold have a plan in place, which centers around first-year player Ahalya Julien-Medeiros. It's clear they are trying to unlock her offensive potential, as she has been seen jumping in the rush trying to produce offensively. She brings a lot of poise to the defensive core and was even given time on the first powerplay unit.
With the departure of Jamie Watson, there is an opportunity for Julien-Medeiros to step in and become that leader on the back end for the Bold as they look towards making a deep playoff run this season.
Key Player: Ahalya Julien-Medeiros
Ontario Tech Ridgebacks
The Ontario Tech Ridgebacks are looking for a much better season this year than last. There were many things that didn't go well for the Ridgebacks in 2021-22 and that starts with the offensive output.
Natalie Wozney led the team last year with six points in 12 games, but it was hard for her to really get going. After 23 points in 24 games in 2019-20, it was a tough final season for the senior, but with her moving on, it creates a large hole for the Ridgebacks up front.
Goaltending for Ontario Tech did all they could, but with only 1.33 goals per game, it was a tall task to rack up the win. For most of the season, the Ridgebacks split starts in goal to get a gauge of who would be the better goalie going forward. Zoe McGee ended up having more starts for the Oshawa squad, despite being a rookie, and posted a record of 2-5-0 with a 2.14 GAA and a .941 SV%. McGee also got the nod in the Ridgebacks' quarterfinal loss to Queen's.
For this season, it still feels like a toss-up for who could start for the Ridgebacks. Thankfully, they still have the option of running the same tandem of McGee and Brooke Vial, so there should be some confidence and familiarity there going into the season.
One player for Ridgebacks fans to look out for is Mackenzie Krasowski. Last year, she recorded four points (2 goals, 2 assists) in 11 games, including one game-winner against York, while also and picking up a goal in the Ridgebacks' lone playoff game. A fifth-year senior, Krasowski could be one option for the Ridgebacks to look to on offence during the 2022-23 campaign.
Key Player: Mackenzie Krasowski
Queen's Gaels
It is tough to evaluate the Queen's Gaels, mainly because they played the fewest number of games in the entire OUA in 2021-22. It's no question they were the most affected team due to the mid-season pause, so this season is going to be much more informative when determining the direction the Gaels are going to go.
In the shortened 2021-22 season, only 11 players for the Tricolour played in the team's full schedule. That means Queen's only had 44% of their players suit up in all 11 games, leaving the big question for the upcoming campaign as to what the team's potential truly is when everyone is healthy.
Scout Watkins-Southward was among the standouts for the Gaels with seven points in 11 games a season ago, including five points (4 goals, 1 assist) in the final four games. Look for her to be a leader for this year's Gaels team, as well. In the past, she was the assistant captain for the Kingston Jr. Ice Wolves in the PWHL and that experience will surely prove valuable.
Key Player: Scout Watkins-Southward
York Lions
After making the McCaw Cup Final in 2019, the return of York Lions hockey in 2021-22 fell short of any such feat, as the team won just once in their first eight games before finishing the season on a 3-6-0 run.
The marquee departure for the Lions is Courtney Gardiner, who amassed 40 points in 81 games, leading the team in all major statistical categories. Already with big shoes to fill, York Lions head coach Dan Church is going to have his hands full when evaluating the talent on the 2022-23 roster as seven seniors moved on from the team.
One leading candidate to help the Lions move forward is Julia Cuccia. She has shown that she can definitely help put up points and could be a go-to leader for the young squad. Last season with the Lions, she had six points in 15 games, but the rookie found her groove late, with four points in her final four games.
Key Player: Julia Cuccia