The Carleton Ravens women’s hockey team ended 2018 in a playoff spot with a 2-0 win over the University of Ottawa (U of O) Gee-Gees in the Bytown Battle on Nov. 30.
“I think that we stayed focused the whole game,” Ravens defence Jordan Beshara said. “We really put our game plan into effect. I think that surprised them out there. They weren’t really ready for our intensity.”
Beshara found teammate Carly Wouters on a breakaway in the first period as Wouters scored, to give the Ravens an early lead.
“I’m just glad she was there,” Beshara said. “Really was a hope pass but it worked out, so really happy.”
That would be the game-winning goal as Ravens forward Hannah Dinovitzer added to the lead with a deke on a breakaway to make it 2-0 in the second period.
Dinovitzer said she didn’t plan to deke.
“That was just in the moment, go for it,” she said.
“She’s the most quiet player on the team . . . but she makes a huge impact on the ice and her voice comes on the ice, and that’s where she shines,” Ravens goalie Katelyn Steele said on Dinovitzer.
The Ravens killed off a number of penalties to preserve the lead, raising their sticks to the crowd afterwards to celebrate their first home victory of the season.
“It’s a really good feeling because it’s the first time in a while we’ve ended on a win going into the Christmas break, so it’ll keep us fueled for the new year,” Beshara said.
None of the Ravens players have made the playoffs before, but Carleton is one point ahead of the U of O in that final playoff spot heading into the break.
“Honestly, our goal is to beat every team, but it’s just really nice that we’ve been consistent with beating [U of O] because it’s just going to be us two fighting for that last playoff spot,” Beshara said.
“I mean, if we keep winning against them, we’re pretty set,” she added.
After not winning their first five games, Carleton has now beat the U of O twice and picked up a point in a shootout loss against the McGill University Martlets.
“At the beginning of the year, it was kind of rough. We weren’t really meshing together, we were lacking in playing a whole game but these last few games, we’ve been really putting it together,” Beshara said.
The players said this year feels different than previous ones where they fell short of the playoffs.
“I think it’s been a big change since I’ve been here,” Dinovitzer said. “Chemistry is a lot different.”
Wouters credited the improvement to better depth and more shots on net as well.
The team also changed their pregame routine a few weeks ago, which makes them more ready and intense, according to Beshara.
Steele picked up her first shutout since her second season in 2015-16.
“She’s unreal. She’s amazing,” Wouters said. “She’s our backbone.”
The players also talked about how important making the playoffs would be, especially for the graduating players: Steele, Jamie Wainman, and Shannon Pearson.
“It would mean the world,” Beshara said. “They’ve been looking forward to it since their first year here.”
“I think this year is the year to do it and we have so much potential. It would be a good note to end on for them,” she added.
Steele, the only fifth-year player, said this year’s team is indeed different than the past.
“We’ve started off slow but somehow we came together and none of us wanted to give up,” she said. “This year just feels like it’s the year.”
— With files from Tim Austen
Photo by Tim Austen
