October 24, 2022
Takeaways | Momentum builds for men's teams as women's season gets underway
Toronto, Ont. - Ask any coach in the OUA, and they'll tell you just how close the conference is in every game. Whether it's the defending Queen's Cup or McCaw Cup Champions, or a team that has historically struggled, there's seldom an easy night in OUA hockey.
Two weeks into the 2022-23 season, their testament is proving true, with only one team yet to win a game this season on the men's side and just one team coming out of the women's division winless after week one.
With both divisions underway, 49 Sports looks at two takeaways from latest round of university hockey in Ontario.
WHKY: Nipissing didn't lose a step
It's only been two games for the Lakers, but they haven't slowed down after making the 2021 McCaw Cup final, where they fell to the Brock Badgers.
Their team's statistical performance in a vacuum may come off as though their defence has been stellar, allowing three goals in two games. However, in Saturday's game against the TMU Bold, the Lakers had a challenging time with clean defensive zone exits, failing to move the puck up to their more offensive players.
One of the many things the Lakers must address, in addition to making sure they have clean defensive zone exits, is their powerplay. So far, it's converting at a 14.3 percent rate, a clip the team will need to work on as the season moves past opening weekend.
The Lakers are returning to the Memorial Gardens on October 28th to host the Windsor Lancers. Winning two games on the road is quite the statement to start the season, especially holding some of TMU's talented forward to just a lone goal.
There has been no standout for the Lakers like Katie Chomiak, who has been all they could have asked for and more. The second-year forward is off to a hot start this season, scoring three goals and looking a step faster than the defenders she's faced.
WHKY: Early season struggles for the Gryphons
For a team that played only 13 games last season, coming into the 2022-23 season, it was full of question marks on how they would come out of the gates. And after the first weekend, with losses to Waterloo and Brock, there are more questions than answers for head coach Rachel Flanagan.
The first weekend of the season wasn't what Guelph would have desired. In their home opener, they fell 6-1 to Waterloo, giving up five powerplays to the Warriors and failing to force much pressure on their opponents' defence.
In their second game, the Gryphons made an improved effort, falling 2-1 in overtime to the defending McCaw Cup Champion Brock Badgers. The Gryphons outplayed the Badgers for most of the night, putting more shots on net in all three periods, but failing to beat Tiffany Hsu more than once.
A critical moment for the Gryphons now will be to improve their goal scoring, which hasn't been up to the levels they would desire, only scoring two goals in as many games. On the back end, their defence has struggled, allowing eight goals and a -6 goal differential, tied with Laurier for the worst in the OUA after opening weekend.
Despite the two losses and lone point, the Gryphons have positive takeaways to build on from the weekend, as their penalty kill has moved along at a perfect 100 percent, killing six of six penalties against.
Sure, the Gryphons have many questions to answer, but the improvements from game one to game two were exponential and are a sign of good things to come as they prepare to face the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks and Queen's Gaels next weekend.
49 Sports' Women's Skater of the Week: Keiara Raitt, Waterloo (3 goals in 2 games)
49 Sports' Women's Goalie of the Week: Emma Wedgewood, York (28 save shutout vs. Nipissing)
MHKY: RMC matches last year's win total
From preseason, it was clear that the 2022-23 RMC Paladins were not just going to be also-rans, and now, just two weeks into the season, the Paladins have matched their win total (2) from last season.
Always a hard-working team, the Paladins have found an offensive string to their fiddle this season, scoring 12 goals through four games and grabbing a pair of tight wins in a 7-6 victory over McGill last week and a close 3-2 win against Carleton this week.
The tricky thing for RMC is pushing on from a positive result to the next game. This weekend, their Carleton upset win was followed by a 9-1 thrashing at the hands of the Ottawa Gee-Gees.
Led by Chris Paquette, Austin Saint, and Josh Spratt, all at two goals and an assist, the Paladins start games with ferocity and continue to attack until the final stages. The place they'll need to work on, however, is defensive focus in the final frames.
If it weren't for goaltender Joey May, the Paladins would be in a far different position. In the two wins, he's stopped 95 shots, many of them from high-scoring areas; it's simply not a sustainable clip for a top-six finish and playoff run.
Head Coach Richard Lim knows how to get a message across to the group, and there's some natural talent with the Paladins this season. But, more so than in past years, they have a chance to make some noise, and significant noise at that, if they can improve their 61 percent penalty kill.
MHKY: Waterloo Warriors hit their stride through veterans
Sometimes, it takes a veteran star to turn things around. For the Waterloo Warriors, it was fifth-year Jacob Cascagnette taking the reins on Saturday night, turning a 1-0 deficit against the undefeated TMU Bold into a 2-1, first win for the Warriors.
After three straight losses to Brock, Guelph, and Western, morale was fledging for the Warriors, and they needed the boost they got on Saturday night. While Friday showcased a seemingly disinterested effort in an 8-4 loss to Western, the Warriors looked invigorated in Saturday's game, not flailing under constant TMU pressure.
Rookie Cole Fraser also picked up his game, as he linked up with Cascagnette twice in the win, improving his season stat line to one goal and two assists.
In net, the Warriors have been solid, with Dan Murphy making 30 saves on 31 shots in the win over TMU. Yet, the significant struggle holding them back from improved results is a fledging powerplay, as they've converted only once on 15 attempts.
Although a single win in four games might not be how the Warriors drew things up for the start of the OUA season, they got themselves out of a rut against what was an undefeated Bold team.
Now, it's about keeping the momentum rolling into next weekend and games against Lakehead and York, two teams that have shown to be beatable in the first two weeks of the season. If all goes well, the once-winless Warriors could be at .500 in no time.
49 Sports' Men's Skater of the Week: Jacob Cascagnette, Waterloo (2 goals, 1 assist in 2 games)
49 Sports' Men's Goalie of the Week: Jett Alexander, Toronto (31 save shutout vs. Western)
UPCOMING GAMES TO WATCH
M: Oct. 26 - Guelph Gryphons @ TMU Bold (6:00 pm EST)
W: Oct. 28 - Toronto Varsity Blues @ TMU Bold (6:00 pm EST)
M: Oct. 29 - Queen's Gaels @ McGill Redbirds (7:00 pm EST)
W: Oct. 29 - Brock Badgers @ Queen's Gaels (7:30 pm EST)
Two weeks into the 2022-23 season, their testament is proving true, with only one team yet to win a game this season on the men's side and just one team coming out of the women's division winless after week one.
With both divisions underway, 49 Sports looks at two takeaways from latest round of university hockey in Ontario.
WHKY: Nipissing didn't lose a step
It's only been two games for the Lakers, but they haven't slowed down after making the 2021 McCaw Cup final, where they fell to the Brock Badgers.
Their team's statistical performance in a vacuum may come off as though their defence has been stellar, allowing three goals in two games. However, in Saturday's game against the TMU Bold, the Lakers had a challenging time with clean defensive zone exits, failing to move the puck up to their more offensive players.
One of the many things the Lakers must address, in addition to making sure they have clean defensive zone exits, is their powerplay. So far, it's converting at a 14.3 percent rate, a clip the team will need to work on as the season moves past opening weekend.
The Lakers are returning to the Memorial Gardens on October 28th to host the Windsor Lancers. Winning two games on the road is quite the statement to start the season, especially holding some of TMU's talented forward to just a lone goal.
There has been no standout for the Lakers like Katie Chomiak, who has been all they could have asked for and more. The second-year forward is off to a hot start this season, scoring three goals and looking a step faster than the defenders she's faced.
WHKY: Early season struggles for the Gryphons
For a team that played only 13 games last season, coming into the 2022-23 season, it was full of question marks on how they would come out of the gates. And after the first weekend, with losses to Waterloo and Brock, there are more questions than answers for head coach Rachel Flanagan.
The first weekend of the season wasn't what Guelph would have desired. In their home opener, they fell 6-1 to Waterloo, giving up five powerplays to the Warriors and failing to force much pressure on their opponents' defence.
In their second game, the Gryphons made an improved effort, falling 2-1 in overtime to the defending McCaw Cup Champion Brock Badgers. The Gryphons outplayed the Badgers for most of the night, putting more shots on net in all three periods, but failing to beat Tiffany Hsu more than once.
A critical moment for the Gryphons now will be to improve their goal scoring, which hasn't been up to the levels they would desire, only scoring two goals in as many games. On the back end, their defence has struggled, allowing eight goals and a -6 goal differential, tied with Laurier for the worst in the OUA after opening weekend.
Despite the two losses and lone point, the Gryphons have positive takeaways to build on from the weekend, as their penalty kill has moved along at a perfect 100 percent, killing six of six penalties against.
Sure, the Gryphons have many questions to answer, but the improvements from game one to game two were exponential and are a sign of good things to come as they prepare to face the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks and Queen's Gaels next weekend.
49 Sports' Women's Skater of the Week: Keiara Raitt, Waterloo (3 goals in 2 games)
49 Sports' Women's Goalie of the Week: Emma Wedgewood, York (28 save shutout vs. Nipissing)
MHKY: RMC matches last year's win total
From preseason, it was clear that the 2022-23 RMC Paladins were not just going to be also-rans, and now, just two weeks into the season, the Paladins have matched their win total (2) from last season.
Always a hard-working team, the Paladins have found an offensive string to their fiddle this season, scoring 12 goals through four games and grabbing a pair of tight wins in a 7-6 victory over McGill last week and a close 3-2 win against Carleton this week.
The tricky thing for RMC is pushing on from a positive result to the next game. This weekend, their Carleton upset win was followed by a 9-1 thrashing at the hands of the Ottawa Gee-Gees.
Led by Chris Paquette, Austin Saint, and Josh Spratt, all at two goals and an assist, the Paladins start games with ferocity and continue to attack until the final stages. The place they'll need to work on, however, is defensive focus in the final frames.
If it weren't for goaltender Joey May, the Paladins would be in a far different position. In the two wins, he's stopped 95 shots, many of them from high-scoring areas; it's simply not a sustainable clip for a top-six finish and playoff run.
Head Coach Richard Lim knows how to get a message across to the group, and there's some natural talent with the Paladins this season. But, more so than in past years, they have a chance to make some noise, and significant noise at that, if they can improve their 61 percent penalty kill.
MHKY: Waterloo Warriors hit their stride through veterans
Sometimes, it takes a veteran star to turn things around. For the Waterloo Warriors, it was fifth-year Jacob Cascagnette taking the reins on Saturday night, turning a 1-0 deficit against the undefeated TMU Bold into a 2-1, first win for the Warriors.
After three straight losses to Brock, Guelph, and Western, morale was fledging for the Warriors, and they needed the boost they got on Saturday night. While Friday showcased a seemingly disinterested effort in an 8-4 loss to Western, the Warriors looked invigorated in Saturday's game, not flailing under constant TMU pressure.
Rookie Cole Fraser also picked up his game, as he linked up with Cascagnette twice in the win, improving his season stat line to one goal and two assists.
In net, the Warriors have been solid, with Dan Murphy making 30 saves on 31 shots in the win over TMU. Yet, the significant struggle holding them back from improved results is a fledging powerplay, as they've converted only once on 15 attempts.
Although a single win in four games might not be how the Warriors drew things up for the start of the OUA season, they got themselves out of a rut against what was an undefeated Bold team.
Now, it's about keeping the momentum rolling into next weekend and games against Lakehead and York, two teams that have shown to be beatable in the first two weeks of the season. If all goes well, the once-winless Warriors could be at .500 in no time.
49 Sports' Men's Skater of the Week: Jacob Cascagnette, Waterloo (2 goals, 1 assist in 2 games)
49 Sports' Men's Goalie of the Week: Jett Alexander, Toronto (31 save shutout vs. Western)
UPCOMING GAMES TO WATCH
M: Oct. 26 - Guelph Gryphons @ TMU Bold (6:00 pm EST)
W: Oct. 28 - Toronto Varsity Blues @ TMU Bold (6:00 pm EST)
M: Oct. 29 - Queen's Gaels @ McGill Redbirds (7:00 pm EST)
W: Oct. 29 - Brock Badgers @ Queen's Gaels (7:30 pm EST)
