– File photo
The Carleton Ravens women’s hockey team had a strong season, and despite their disappointing record of 3-9-1, the team has a lot to look forward to in the near future.
“We’ve closed the gap with other teams in our division,” said Ravens head coach Pierre Alain. “We used to be beat seven or eight to nothing against the top teams like the Université de Montréal Carabins, but now we’re 2-3 against them and all the games have been one-goal games.”
This year, the team has already surpassed last year’s total goals and looks to improve upon last year’s record of 5-15. In the first four games of the season the Ravens were scoring at a pace of 3.25 goals per game, according to Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) Leaguestat. Since those first four games the scoring has dropped off to 1.6 goals per game.
“All the teams play tight, the first games were much more open. Now all the games are like playoff games, now there are less goals scored,” Alain said.
The lack of scoring has affected the team, and led to a seven-game losing streak that ended last week after a win against the Carabins.
The improvements this year have been attributed to the strong recruiting that Carleton has brought in, according to Alain.
“We have recruited first tier players who are already impacting the team . . . We found great people—not just good hockey players, great people,” Alain said.
One of these bright new recruits is first-year Delaney Ross, who is leading the team in scoring with 12 points in 13 games according to RSEQ Leaguestat.
“[Ross] is doing great. She’s very smart with the puck and has become a very talented defensive player as well,” Alain said.
Ross’ scoring should be assisted by the return from injury of both Andrea Kollova and Nicole Miners.
“[Kollova] is a great energy player who is very good on the forecheck, she skates hard, plays hard, and she plays a physical game,” Alain said.
Kollova has played three games for the Ravens after returning from injury and has yet to score, but her experience playing on the world stage for Slovakia will surely translate into a strong player for the Ravens.
Last year’s top scorer Nicole Miners also has returned from injury after missing the first nine games of the season. Miners dressed in all 20 games last year.
“When you lose your top scorer it will affect any team . . . We’re expecting and Nicole is expecting to produce offensively,” Alain said.
With these key players back in the line-up the Ravens hope to be able to turn the season around.
“We want to make the playoffs, so we need to win games,” Alain said.
The Ravens currently sit in last place in the RSEQ, but they are only four points away from tying Concordia for fourth place, which would put them in a playoff position.
While the Ravens’ playoff hopes are not unreasonable, the team would have to put together a very strong final stretch of the season to make it into the postseason.
