In sports, some stories are best told through the lens. The 2025–26 season for the Mount Royal University Cougars women’s hockey team unfolds not in words, but in moments, captured frame by frame. From celebration to adversity, the following gallery tells the story of a division-winning season as it happened.

1.  Oct 3 - “Dialing in the Details.” Lyvia Butz, Allee Gerrard, Scout Anderson and Keyana Bert prepare for puck drop ahead of the season kicking off against the Saskatchewan Huskies.

2. Oct 3 - “Gametime.”  Scout Anderson puts her mask on moments before the season opener. Anderson was an integral part of MRU's success this weekend but also throughout the season as she finished in the top 10 amongst all Canada West goaltenders in GAA and save percentage.

3. Oct 3 - “Starting Off Right.” Julia Duke leads the fly by line after scoring what would eventually be the game winner for the Cougars during MRU's 3-1 win over the Huskies to open up their season.

4. Oct 10/11 - “A Familiar Foe.”  Kate Holan sprawls to make a save on April Klarenbach of the U of C Dinos. This would be the first matchup between the 2 teams; MRU and Calgary would trade wins during this first acquaintance. The win also served as quite the spark for the Cougars in retrospect as this was the first win during their season long 9 game win streak. 

5. Oct 25 - “A Beatdown on the Bisons.” The Cougars pick up their first dominant win of the season in a 4-0 win over the Manitoba Bisons. 

6. Oct 25 - “All Smiles.” Captain Kaia Borbandy and Alternate Captain Ava Metzger pose for a photo while the Cougars cruised to a 4-0 win over the Manitoba Bisons.

7. Nov 7/8 - “Scout Shuts the Door.” Goaltender Scout Anderson celebrates after standing tall against the University of Alberta, capping off a weekend sweep with a shootout win. Both MRU Goaltenders were sharp across both games in the tightly contested series, with each matchup requiring extra time. The sweep marked the Cougars’ 10-game checkpoint, where they emerged as one of the hottest teams in Canada West with an 8–2 record.

8. Nov 15 - “On A Roll.” Fresh off a sweep of Alberta, the Cougars carried their momentum into Regina, securing another pair of wins to extend their streak to a season-high nine games. The run served as a statement stretch, reinforcing Mount Royal’s status as the class of the East Division.

9. Dec 6 - “Hitting the Break in Stride.” Kiana McNinch and Isa MacPhee swing through the fly by line during MRU's 4-2 win over the Manitoba Bisons. The victory capped off the first half of the season, with the Cougars posting a dominant 14–4 record.

10. Jan 10 - “Back with a Bang.”  During their first series back from the break, the Cougars were able to split a weekend series with the top ranked West Division team the UBC Thunderbirds. Isa MacPhee is seen celebrating the game winner with Summer Fomradas and Jerzey Watteyne. 

11. Jan 17 - “Filling the Net.” The Cougars had more than just pucks fill the Saskatchewan net as Isa MacPhee is seen crashing the net in pursuit of a loose puck. The effort paid off with their first sweep of the second semester, highlighted by a 3–2 overtime win and a 5–1 victory over the Huskies.

12. Jan 23 - “Celebrating the Seniors.”  Before the final home game of the regular season the Cougars honored the careers of the 6 graduating players on their roster: Jori Hansen-Young, Kaia Borbandy, Abbey Borbandy, Allee Gerrard, Sydney Benko, and Ava Metzger all of which played critical roles in the advancement of the women's hockey program and were all members of the 2023 U SPORTS National Championship team. 

13. Jan 29 - “Birds Eye View.” A couple of unique views of the Mount Royal starting lineup ahead of puck drop at the Crowchild Classic—one that only the Scotiabank Saddledome can provide.

14. Jan 29 - “Blinding Lights.” Another cinematic shot of the Cougars starting lineup and the environment ahead of the Crowchild Classic. This year's Crowchild Classic broke records for sellout time and total attendance, further solidifying it as one of the must watch events on the Calgary sporting calendar. 

15. Jan 29 - “In the Fight.”  Head Coach Scott Rivett tries to reinvigorate his team during the final media timeout of the Crowchild Classic.

16. Jan 29 - “Same Time Next Year?” The Crowchild Classic is always a must watch event because it is a game that is built upon a clash of cultures, school pride, and years of deep rooted history. Yet this photo captures something just as powerful beneath it all—sportsmanship and a genuine respect for the game.

17. Feb 13 - “Back on Track.”  In the midst of a season long 3 game losing streak, the Cougars were able to get back on track and back in the win column with a 4-0 win over the Saskatchewan, a timely win with the playoffs on the horizon.

18. Feb 13 - “Clinched.”  The Cougars celebrate during their win over the Saskatchewan Huskies, a win that clinched them the East Division title and a first round bye in the Canada West Playoffs.

19. Feb 26 - “Meet the All-Stars.” 4 Cougars made the Canada West All-Star and All Rookie teams. Summer Fomradas (First Team All-Star) Allee Gerrard (Second Team All-Star) Isa MacPhee (All Rookie Team) and Keyana Bert (All Rookie Team). MacPhee would also be recognized for her breakout season with both the Canada West and U SPORTS Rookie of the Year awards.

20. Feb 27 - “Playoff Puck Drop.”  Kiana McNinch digs into a faceoff against Sophia Anderson of the Manitoba Bisons during their semifinal playoff matchup. Mount Royal earned a first round bye for winning the East Division title, Manitoba entered the series coming off a tightly contested 3 game series with the University of Alberta.

21. Feb 27 - “In the Driver's Seat.”  Jordynne Hojnocki's first career playoff goal gave the Cougars a 2-1 win over the University of Manitoba Bisons in game one of the Canada West Semifinal.

22. Mar 1 - “Everything is on the Line.” After the Bisons were able to even the series with an impressive win in game 2, the Cougars huddle together at their net with the season and their playoff hopes on the line. 

23. Mar 1 - “Not Getting the Bounces.” A frustrated Keyana Bert personifies how the entire Cougars team felt while falling to the Manitoba Bisons in game 3 of the Canada West Semifinal. The Cougars battled hard and created their share of opportunities throughout the series, but a goaltender in rhythm combined with Manitoba’s momentum ultimately proved just enough to edge out Mount Royal.

Despite falling short of their ultimate goal, the 2025-26 season for the Mount Royal women's hockey team should still be defined as a success. The Cougars earned a first round bye in the playoffs for the 2nd time in program history and recorded one of the most successful regular seasons in both wins and points. More importantly, the Cougars continued to build on its championship standard—raising the bar for what this program expects of itself moving forward.