After a devastating loss in Game 2 of the RSEQ women’s hockey finals, the McGill Martlets were back at McConnell Arena on Mar. 3 to battle the Montreal Carabins in the deciding game of the series. Thanks to hundreds of fans who made it out to support their beloved Carabins, the atmosphere was charged with passion and intensity both on the ice and in the stands. Unfortunately for the Martlets, the Carabins were able to feed off this support en route to a shocking 2-1 victory, clinching a berth for the CIS national championship.

Following a scoreless first period with few chances and some chippy play between whistles, both teams looked more focused and determined to start the second period. Just two minutes in, Carabins forward Josianne Legault opened the scoring with a power play marker after the Martlets were able to survive several shorthanded sequences.

McGill answered just over a minute later when Joanne Cagianos deposited her first goal of the playoffs, completing a beautiful three-way passing play spearheaded by Leslie Oles and Mélodie Daoust. However, with less than five minutes to go in the third period, Legault tallied her second of the game, and third of the playoffs, to put a stranglehold on the series.

Despite McGill’s valiant effort to force overtime, Carabins goaltender Elodie Rousseau-Sirois continued to stand tall, capping off a 37-save performance and ensuring her team’s victory.

With their loss, the Martlets were eliminated from advancing to nationals to compete for a CIS title, a disappointing result after an undefeated regular season. McGill watched as the Carabins skated around with the RSEQ championship banner on McConnell ice—an experience that garnered several teary eyes on the Martlet bench.

When the dust settled, Martlet Head Coach Peter Smith indicated that his team was fighting nerves during the final two games.

“Well, I thought that we were a very nervous group on Friday night,” he said about the loss. “They had nothing to lose; they threw it all out there, and they played real well,” Smith said, speaking about the Carabins’ upset victory. “Today, it was a heck of a hockey game. I thought lots of good things happened, [but] we just didn’t seem to get a bounce going our way. It probably would have been good. … But I’m really proud of the team.”

Smith also mentioned that he encouraged his team to stay calm, even when it seemed like the officials missed a few calls.

“I told them to try to keep an even keel, try and stay focused on the things that we can control, and to stay away from getting emotionally involved with the officiating,” he said. “I reminded the team that the officials were doing everything that they were capable of.”

Team captain and fourth-year veteran Darragh Hamilton believes that this experience will benefit the Martlets in the future.

“I think we played great today. We really pushed the puck forward all the time,” Hamilton said. “We got lots of shots on net, [but] just didn’t get the bounces. If we got a couple bounces here and there, it could have been a totally different game. It stings right now, but it will just make us stronger next year.”

Smith noted that he is very proud of his players, despite the crushing result.

“I told them that I’m real proud of them. Not just for this game, but for the whole season. I told them to remember everything about this season. All the good stuff, because there was a lot of good stuff that happened,” he said. “It was a great team. They work hard; they’re young, impressionable, and coachable, with great leadership. But I told them to remember everything, including standing on that blue line, watching the other team get that trophy. If that doesn’t inspire them, then nothing will.”

Now that their season is over, the Martlets will have a few months to reflect on the loss and prepare for next year. While there might be some fresh faces in their lineup next season, the core members will return—hungrier than ever to complete their mission of winning a national championship.