Box Score
Marking the final home game of the 2023-24 regular season, the Mount Royal University women's hockey team faced off against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds on Saturday afternoon. 

With family and friends in attendance, five graduating players were presented with their graduating athlete frames. Mackenzie Loupelle, Breanne Trotter, Emma Bergesen, Tianna Yaremko, and Athena Hauck were celebrated for their accomplishments on and off the ice. 

All five players have marked significant achievements during their time as Cougars, with each contributing to the team's 2023 National Championship title. 

The Cougars started the first period aggressively, with Sydney Benko scoring within the first two minutes of the game, putting them into an early 1 – 0 lead. She received assists from Allee Gerrard and Kiana McNinch. 

Seven minutes into the period, Mackenzie Kordic of the Thunderbirds received the first penalty of the game for cross checking, granting the Cougars a two-minute power play advantage. 

With the Thunderbirds down a player, the Cougars capitalized on the situation as Sydney Benko scored her second goal of the game, propelling them into a 2 – 0 lead. She received assists from Aliya Jomha and Emma Bergesen.  

At the nine-minute mark, Cougars Allee Gerrard received a penalty for holding an opponent's stick, while Rylind MacKinnon of the Thunderbirds was penalized for a hit to the head simultaneously.  

With roughly three minutes left in the period, the Cougars were penalized for having too many players on the ice, served by Aliya Jomha. 

Despite the disadvantage, the Cougars defence thwarted any goal attempts during the Thunderbirds power play advantage. 

In the last seconds of the period, Ashton Thorpe of the Thunderbirds received a two-minute penalty for interference, while teammate Kailee Peppler was penalized for cross checking, granting the Cougars a five-on-three advantage heading into the second period. 

The Thunderbirds defence proved effective in preventing any of the Cougars shots from finding their net. 

Just over two minutes into the second period, Mia Bierd of the Thunderbirds managed to find the Cougars net, bringing the score to 2 – 1. She received assists from Annalise Wong and Sophia Gaskell.  

Roughly five minutes later, the Cougars responded by extending their lead to 3 – 1 as Kiana McNinch scored in front of the Thunderbirds net. She received assists from Breanne Trotter and Summer Fomradas. 

In the final two minutes of the period, Thunderbirds Makenzie McCallum scored, bringing the score to 3 – 2, with an assist from Mackenzie Kordic. 

In the last seconds of the period, Cougars Jordyn Hutt received a two-minute bodychecking penalty, granting the Thunderbirds a power play advantage heading into the final period of the game. 

Despite the disadvantage, the Cougars defended their net as the third period commenced.  

Seven minutes into the period, Thunderbirds Mackenzie Kordic leveled the score to 3 – 3.

With neither team managing to score for the remainder of the period, play extended to three-on-three overtime. 

Halfway through the five-minute overtime period, the Thunderbirds seized control of the puck on a breakaway, resulting in Annalise Wong scoring and bringing the score to 3 – 4, with an assist from Grace Elliott. 

With conclusion of the regular season games, the Mount Royal University women's hockey team will embark on their quest for another national title as playoffs commence next week.