General 2/12/2023 9:00:00 AM

WHKY: Cougars secure Canada West quarter-final playoff position

Finishing with a 18-10-0 record and 41 points, the Mount Royal University Cougars women's hockey team has secured a playoff position finishing third overall in the Canada West conference.

The women's quarter-final games will begin at 7 p.m. at Flames Community Arena on Friday, Feb. 17 against Trinity Western University Spartans who finished sixth overall in the division.The games will be played in a best-of-three series on February 17, 18 and if necessary February 19. All women's quarter-final games will begin at 7 p.m. MT at Flames Community Arena.

Tickets for the women's quarter-final hockey games can be purchased here.

The 2022-23 season marks the sixth consecutive year the women have earned a Canada West playoff spot. After their silver-medal finish against the University of Alberta Pandas in the 2019-20 season followed by an appearance that was cut short at U SPORTS Nationals due to COVID-19, the women's hockey team returned to Canada West playoffs in 2021-22 as the conference winner during regular season play. However, an upsetting and unexpected semi-final performance saw the University of Saskatchewan Huskies take out the Cougars in two straight games last year. Now, the Cougars will look to reset their playoff history and record in the 2022-23 season.

Captain Tatum Amy had an impressive season leading all Canada West skaters with 31 points (7G-24A). Forwards Courtney Kollman 26 points (12G-14A), Aliya Jomha 26 points (10G-16A) and defenceman Emma Bergesen 22 points (5G-17A) also bolster the Cougars scoring with all three players placed in the top 15 Canada West skaters.
Netminder Kaitlyn Ross has also played a major contribution to the Cougars' success with her 14-7-0 record, 1.44 goals-against average, .931 save percentage and six shutouts placing her third overall among Canada West goaltenders.

In the final week of regular season play the Cougars were named to the U SPORTS Top 10 Rankings at eighth overall. The team has hovered in and around the Top 10 rankings in the second half of the season, but has now cemented a position on the list with their quarter-final playoff appearance.

Members of the women's hockey team have also received recognition through the Mount Royal Athletes of the Week presented by Players Bench program.

Date / Player	MRU Athlete of the Week Award
Sept. 27 Emma Bergesen	X
Oct. 4 Tatum Amy	X
Oct. 25 Courtney Kollman	X
Nov. 8 Tatum Amy	X
Nov. 29	X
Feb. 11 Aliya Jomha	X
Jan. 24 Aliya Jomha	X

After a disappointing finish to the 2021-22 playoffs against the Saskatchewan Huskies in semi-finals, the Cougars are looking to bounce back and redeem their playoff luck. This year they will face the Trinity Western University Spartans who they've successfully managed to defeat in two weekend series this season.

In regular season action the Cougars beat the Spartans 3-2 and 5-3 on October 7 and 8 at home. On December 2 and 3 in Langley, B.C., the Cougars earned a 3-0 and 4-3 win. Both sets of games prove that the while the Cougars can manage the Spartans both at home and on the road, they need to keep consistent pressure on TWU to ensure those one goal games don't become a problem during this year's quarter-final playoff series.

Although Trinity Western finished in sixth place in the CW standings with a 11-17-0 record they aren't to be underestimated. Forwards Amy Potomak 24 points (12G-12A) and Brooklyn Anderson 17 points (10G-7A) combined with netminder Kate Fawcett who holds a 6-12-0 record in 19 games, 1.85 GAA and .935% will all be challenges for the Cougars to overcome.

Don't miss a minute of women's playoff hockey as the first game of the series kicks off on Friday, February 19 at 7 p.m. at Flames Community Arena. Skip the line and purchase your tickets in advance here.

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Players Mentioned

#16 Tatum Amy: Forward; 5' 8"; Third Year

#23 Emma Bergesen: Defence; 5' 5"; First Year

#32 Kaitlyn Ross: Goalie; 5' 6"; First Year

#25 Aliya Jomha: Forward; 5' 5"; Second Year

#44 Courtney Kollman: Forward; 5' 4"; Fourth Year

Players Mentioned

#16 Tatum Amy
: 5' 8"; Third Year
: Forward

#23 Emma Bergesen
: 5' 5"; First Year
: Defence

#32 Kaitlyn Ross
: 5' 6"; First Year
: Goalie

#25 Aliya Jomha
: 5' 5"; Second Year
: Forward

#44 Courtney Kollman
: 5' 4"; Fourth Year
: Forward