The Ravens battled through three games and six overtime periods in their last playoff series this year

( Photo: C.J. Roussakis )

It was nothing less than a heartbreaker. Tied one-all during the second overtime in the deciding semifinal game, University of Ottawa forward Brittany Jones lifted a high shot over the goaltender, deflecting it off the crossbar and into the open net.
 

The crowd roared, the opponents rejoiced and the devastated Ravens lurched back to the dressing room, crushed and defeated. After a grueling three-game series that saw every game settled in double overtime, the Gee-Gees eliminated the Raven’s women’s ice hockey team from the playoffs on Sun. March 9 with a 2-1 victory. It was the second time in the past three years the Gee-Gees beat the Ravens in the Quebec Student Sports Federation (QSSF) semifinal matchup.
 

"We all played our hardest but we couldn’t pull through . . . it’s the worst feeling," said Ravens goaltender Valerie Charbonneau, who stopped 39 shots to keep the Ravens in the game.
 

Charbonneau rescued the Ravens time and time again, stopping a breakaway and killing a penalty in the final overtime, but it wasn’t enough. U of O advanced to the CIS Women’s Hockey Championship Tournament in Antigonish, Nova Scotia on March 20-22.
 

Though the Gee-Gees had a better regular season record, the series was even and competitive in virtually every aspect. The teams traded 2-1 double overtime victories in the first two games, setting the stage for an all-important Game 3 showdown with everything on the line at the U of O sports complex Sunday night.
 

The game was tight, physical and fast-paced, much like the previous two. Each team produced good scoring chances throughout the game and each goalie played superbly. U of O forward Ashley Burrill opened the scoring late in the second period, but Sara Seiler responded for the Ravens midway through the third.
 

The first overtime produced tremendous chances for both teams, but Charbonneau and Gee-Gees goaltender Jessika Audet made crucial saves to send the game into double overtime.
 

Evidently, it was a physically and emotionally challenging game for everyone. Though the outcome wasn’t the one the Ravens were hoping for, the 2008-2009 season was still successful and there is optimism as they head into next year.
 

"Our coaching staff prepared us for success, and I’ve never seen our team come together as much as we did the past three games," Charbonneau said.
 

"We created a strong bond together and I think next year will be better," she added.
 

U of O will meet the undefeated McGill women’s hockey team in the finals later this month.