CALGARY (CIS) – The University of Guelph Gryphons have been established tournament favourites for what promises to be one of the most competitive CIS women's hockey championship in recent years, this week in Calgary.
 
CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSITE
 
The host Dinos have drawn the No. 7 seed and will take on the No. 2-seeded Montreal Carabins in their quarter-final match-up Friday at 7 p.m.

The eight-team national tournament, hosted for the second straight year by the University of Calgary, kicks off on Thursday at the Markin MacPhail Centre and culminates Sunday at 12:30 p.m. Mountain Time (2:30 p.m. Eastern) with the gold-medal final, live on Sportsnet 360 and TVA Sports 2. Saturday's semifinals are also televised live on Sportsnet ONE (2 p.m. & 5:30 p.m. Mountain) and all 11 games from the competition will be streamed on www.CIS-SIC.tv.
 
Joining the OUA conference champion Gryphons in their quest for the Golden Path Trophy are the second-seeded Carabins (RSEQ champs), No. 3 Saint Mary's Huskies (AUS champs), No. 4 UBC Thunderbirds (Canada West champs), No. 5 McGill Martlets (RSEQ finalists), No. 6 and defending national champion Western Mustangs (OUA finalists), No. 7 Dinos (hosts) and No. 8 St. Thomas Tommies (AUS finalists).
 
The quarter-final matchups include St. Thomas vs. Guelph (11 a.m.) and McGill vs. UBC (3 p.m.) on Thursday, followed by Western vs. Saint Mary's (3 p.m.) and Calgary vs. Montreal (7 p.m.) on Friday.
 
The too-close-to-call 2016 draw features a four-time CIS champion in McGill (2014, 2011, 2009, 2008), a trio of programs that recently claimed their first title in Western (2015), Montreal (2013) and Calgary (2012), as well as four teams still looking for their first triumph.
 
Heading into the national tourney as the No. 1 seed for the first time, Guelph is enjoying the best season in program history. Thanks to the nation's best defence (1.23 goal per game) and the second-best offence (3.25 gpg), the Gryphons finished atop the OUA standings with a CIS-best 21-2-1 record, before capturing their first conference banner since 1998 with five wins in six playoff outings, including a 5-1 domination in Saturday's McCaw Cup final.
 
The Gryphons, who placed fifth a year ago in their first CIS championship appearance since 2000, are led by sophomore goaltender Valerie Lamenta, who was named OUA MVP in her first season as the team's starting netminder after she led the country in goals against average (0.99) and save percentage (.957).
 
"Last season's opening game loss at nationals was a heartbreaker and is still fresh in the minds of a lot of our players," said nine-year head coach Rachel Flanagan, whose team lost 4-3 to StFX after building a 3-0 second-period lead. "We return essentially the same squad as last year, so the girls are determined to improve on our fifth-place finish. Last year, we also had the chance to go to Calgary twice, once during the preseason and once for nationals, so it's a place our players are comfortable and familiar with."
 
In only seven years of CIS hockey, Montreal is making its sixth appearance at the championship and has already racked up four podium finishes (1-2-1), including the program's lone title in 2013 in Toronto and a bronze medal last winter. The Carabins topped the country in scoring in conference play this season with 3.45 goals per game and gave top-ranked Guelph a taste of their firepower back in September, defeating the Gryphons 7-4 in preseason action.
 
"As has been the case for a number of seasons, I think it will be a highly competitive championship," said seven-year bench boss Isabelle Leclaire, whose troops dominated archrival McGill this season winning seven of eight confrontations overall, including a sweep of the best-of-three RSEQ final. "We had a good second half. I believe we're well prepared and confident going in. I think playing in Calgary again will be an advantage for the teams that were here last year."
 
Making its first tournament appearance since 2010, Saint Mary's operated an impressive turnaround this season, improving from an 11-11-2 mark a year ago to 17-6-1 and first place in the AUS standings. Looking for their first CIS medal, the Huskies are paced by third-year forward Breanna Lanceleve, who led the team in goals (11), assists (17) and points (28) in 24 league matches.
 
"We look forward to competing with the best teams in the country and giving our best efforts in representing SMU in Calgary," said five-year coach Chris Larade, whose team was pushed to the limit of three games by St. Thomas in the AUS championship series but dominated the decisive contest 5-1. "We have worked long and hard for this opportunity and hope to make the most of it."
 
After ending the fall semester on a five-game losing streak, UBC got back on track in the new year, winning 10 of its final 12 league games to finish second behind Alberta in the Canada West standings. The Thunderbirds then booked their ticket for Calgary with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Manitoba in Game 3 of the best-of-three conference final.  
 
"Our team is so excited to have the opportunity to represent our school and our extremely competitive Canada West conference," said four-year coach Graham Thomas, whose T-Birds placed fifth at the 2013 CIS rendez-vous in his first season behind the bench. "We have learned a lot as a group since our last trip to nationals in 2013 and feel we have an experienced, tight-knit group, who are driven and motivated to be a contender this year."
 
The most-decorated team at this week's competition, McGill hasn't been as dominant as in recent years this season, but you can never count out the Martlets come national championship time. The perennial powerhouse still has plenty of weapons, none more dangerous than fourth-year forward Mélodie Daoust, an Olympic gold medallist who claimed the RSEQ scoring title and ranked first in the country in points per game with an 18-16-34 tally in only 20 league contests.

"We don't spend a lot of time thinking about the tournament draw, when you go to the CIS championship, you're focused on playing your best," said long-time bench boss Peter Smith, a former national team coach who has guided the Martlets to a berth at the CIS championship in 14 of his 16 seasons, winning four national titles in addition to three silver-medal finishes and five bronzes. "Our focus is on playing our game with speed and structure. Every year there are under-achievers and over-achievers at nationals and there are upsets. We just want to go out and play the kind of hockey that we've played all year. We've got some depth and work real hard, so that's probably our best trademark."

Looking to become the first team to repeat as Golden Path Trophy champion since McGill in 2009, the Mustangs have their work cut out for them, starting with AUS champion Saint Mary's on Friday. No player is more important to Western's success than senior goaltender Kelly Campbell, who was named MVP of last year's CIS championship after she turned aside a mind-boggling 93 of 94 shots over three games, including back-to-back shutouts in the semis and final against Montreal and McGill, respectively.
 
"We are excited for the opportunity to return to Calgary in defence of our CIS championship," said second-year coach Dennis Barrett. "Last year was a phenomenal event for our players, and we look forward to another great week of competition, experiences and memories."

Despite their modest 13-19 overall record against CIS opponents this season, including a 12-12-4 mark that left them in sixth place in the Canada West standings, the tournament host Calgary Dinos boast two of the most dynamic players in CIS hockey in Russian forwards Iya Gavrilova and Sasha Vafina. Gavrilova, the CIS player of the year last season, led the country in goals (20) and points (43) in 28 league contests, while her compatriot finished second in the national scoring race with 35 points.   

"We know we are heading in as an underdog, but we think we can surprise some people, especially after our outstanding second half of the season," said eight-year mentor Danielle Goyette, whose team went 9-3 in conference play in the new year after losing 13 of 16 before the December break. "When you look at the other teams coming in, all seven are part of the top 10. We know we aren't a favourite but we have been preparing hard for the last three weeks. We've been playing really well, and when you have the national championship in your city you need to make sure to enjoy the experience. Our players might never have the chance to do this again."

St. Thomas was in a three-way battle with Saint Mary's and Moncton the entire season in the AUS, finishing two points back of the Huskies and one point behind the Aigles Bleues in the standings. Team captain Kelty Apperson, a fourth-year forward, was named conference MVP thanks to her 12-14-26 dossier in 24 games.

"Earning the chance to attend the national championship was one of our goals this season. Our players now look forward to compete against the very best teams in the country," said 14-year head coach Peter Murphy, whose team went 0-3 on home ice two years ago in its lone previous appearance at the competition. "We have several players from our team that hosted the nationals in Fredericton in 2014. They will look to inspire their teammates to bring their best performance at what will be a tremendous opportunity for our hockey program."

PARTICIPATING TEAMS
 
No. 7 CALGARY DINOS
 
Team Statistics
Head Coach: Danielle Goyette (8th season)
Regular season record: 12-12-4
Regular season standing: 6th Canada West
Playoff record: 0-2
Playoff finish: Canada West quarter-finalists
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 13-19
Top 10 final ranking (Feb. 23): Unranked
Top 10 best ranking: Unranked all season
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (15 polls): 0
National ranking (offence): 16th (2.29)
National ranking (defence): 28th (2.79)
National ranking (power play): 19th (12.0)
National ranking (penalty kill): 26th (83.6)
 
Individual Statistics
Conference award winners: Iya Gavrilova (MVP)
Conference 1st team all-stars: Iya Gavrilova (F), Sasha Vafina (F)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: None
Conference all-rookie team: None
Season leader (points): Iya Gavrilova, 20-23-43 (28 GP)
Season leader (goals): Iya Gavrilova, 20 (28 GP)
Season leader (assists): Iya Gavrilova, 23 (28 GP)
Season leader (goalie): Hayley Dowling (18 GP, 10-6, 2 SHO, 2.30 GAA, .915)
 
CIS Championship History
Appearances: 5th  
Last appearance: 2015 (tied 7th place)
All-time record: 6-5 (.455)
All-time medals: 2 (1-1-0)
Best result: Champions (2012)
Sequence: 2nd consecutive appearance (4th in 5 years)

NO. 2 MONTREAL CARABINS
 
Team Statistics
Head Coach: Isabelle Leclaire (7th season)
Regular season record: 15-3-2
Regular season standing: 1st RSEQ
Playoff record: 4-0
Playoff finish: RSEQ champions
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 24-5
Top 10 final ranking (Feb. 23): No. 2
Top 10 best ranking: No. 1 (3 weeks)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (15 polls): 15
National ranking (offence): 1st (3.45)
National ranking (defence): 5th (1.58)
National ranking (power play): 4th (20.0)
National ranking (penalty kill): 13th (88.2)
 
Individual Statistics
Conference award winners: None
Conference 1st team all-stars: Marie-Pier Chabot (G), Maude Laramée (D), Ariane Barker (F)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: Catherine Dubois (F), Alexandra Labelle (F)
Conference all-rookie team: Kim Poirier (D), Catherine Dubois (F), Alexandra Labelle (F)
Season leaders (points): Ariane Barker, 10-9-19 (19 GP) / Alexandra Labelle, 8-11-19 (20 GP)
Season leader (goals): Ariane Barker, 10 (19 GP) / Catherine Dubois, 10 (19 GP)
Season leader (assists): Alexandra Labelle, 11 (20 GP) / Maude Laramée, 11 (20 GP)
Season leader (goalie): Marie-Pier Chabot (11 GP, 8-3, 2 SHO, 1.33 GAA, .945)
 
CIS Championship History
Appearances: 6th  
Last appearance: 2015 (bronze)
All-time record: 10-5 (.667)
All-time medals: 4 (1-2-1)
Best result: Champions (2013)
Sequence: 5th consecutive appearance

-30-