Maxime Sawicki

The Martlets hockey team captured its third CIS National Championship title in four years, won its sixth consecutive Quebec University Women’s Hockey Championships, and named four players to the All-Canadian team at the CIS Women’s Hockey Championships Awards Gala. Somehow, however, the 2011 Varsity Team of the Year still isn’t getting the appreciation it deserves.

The team was ranked second going into the season behind last year’s National Champions, the University of Alberta Pandas, the only team besides McGill to win a national title since 2005. After going undefeated in regular season play and running roughshod through the QSSF playoffs, McGill’s first game at nationals was against the Pandas. The Martlets got revenge with a 4-2 victory. The team carried on in the same controlling fashion, beating Queen’s 3-1 and cruising to the title with a 5-2 win against St. Francis Xavier.

Throughout the season, Cathy Chartrand was a consistent force for McGill. The fourth-year defender scored eight goals, had 21 assists, was named an All-Canadian, and was rewarded with the award for Female Athlete of the Year at the McGill intercollegiate sports award gala. Two Martlets to watch out for are Katia Clément-Heydra and Leslie Oles. Both in their first year, they added to McGill`s already considerable offensive firepower. All-Canadian Clément-Heydra played consistently throughout the season. She scored 11 times in the regular season. Oles stepped up to help her team on their road to nationals with six assists and one goal.

Five Martlets won’t be returning for the team next year, so a few new faces will need to step up and continue the team’s tradition of excellence.

Record: 20-0-0

MVP: Cathy Chartrand

Players to Watch:  Katia Clément-Heydra and Leslie Oles