Women’s Hockey
The Women’s Hockey team recorded back-to-back wins against the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks on Jan. 24 and Jan. 25, defeating the Ridgebacks in Kingston and then away in Oshawa.
In their first meeting, the Gaels dominated Ontario Tech from start to finish, winning 5-1.
Under two minutes into the first period, Sophy Aldred, ArtSci ’27, recorded her first point of the game, capitalizing on a rebound from a Rebecca Thompson, ArtSci ’25 shot, giving the Gaels a 1-0 lead.
Later in the first, Thompson and Aldred teamed up to double-down on goals for the Gaels, with Thompson redirecting Aldred’s shot into the net.
Star goaltender Emma Tennant, Sci ’26, was flawless throughout the first, ruining any chance at building momentum the Ridgebacks would attempt to compile.
Going into the second period, the Gaels showed no signs of slowing down, with Kelsey Dunn, ArtSci ’25, scoring the Gael’s third goal of the game, Aldred recording her second assist and third point of the game.
The Ridgebacks managed to score midway through the second frame, but the Gaels swiftly snuffed out any hope of a comeback as Alyson Reeves, Comm ’25, scored off a cross-crease from Taylor Eastwood, ArtSci ’27.
The third period was characterized by lockdown play in goal from Tennant and solid defence on the penalty kill. Coupled with Taya Leonard, Kin ’27, netting her only goal of the game, the Gaels left with a 5-1 win in hand.
The following night, the Gaels travelled to Oshawa to give the Ridgebacks a chance to respond to their loss on home ice; while it was a much closer game, the Gaels forced the same result upon Ontario Tech, winning a physical 2-1 game.
After being locked in stalemate throughout the first and for much of the second, Sophie Hudson, Sci ’25, found the back of the net on a powerplay opportunity with three minutes left in the second.
The Gaels found another goal courtesy of Aldred, who scored a beautiful found seam right between the Ridgeback goaltender’s pads, putting them two goals ahead of Ontario Tech halfway through the third period.
Her effort over the weekend earned her honours as one of the Gaels’ Athletes of the Week.
Strong defensive play and goaltending clinic from Tennant helped negate the late pushback from the Ridgebacks, wrapping up the 2-1 win for the Gaels, and sweeping their back-to-back weekend games against Ontario Tech.
Men’s Hockey
The Men’s Hockey team managed to bounce back from last weekend’s two-game losing skid by stringing together two wins of their own this weekend, defeating the RMC Paladins 5-2 on Jan. 24 and improving upon last week’s performance against the McGill Redbirds on Jan. 25, winning 3-1 at the Memorial Centre.
In a Carr-Harris Challenge Cup preview, the Gaels showed potential for a dominant performance, offensively pressuring the Paladins from the drop of the puck.
Just five minutes into the first period, Daniel Michaud, ArtSci ’27, capitalized on a Paladins turnover in the neutral zone. Coupled with a Michael Renwick, ArtSci ’27, tally just three minutes later, and the Gaels found themselves exiting the first period with a 2-0 lead.
Samuel Marburg, ArtSci ’27, scored off an assist from 2025 FISU World Games gold medal winner, Nolan Hutcheson, ArtSci ’25, starting the second in the same fashion as the first
The RMC goalie stood tall throughout the rest of the second, holding the Gaels off until another goal at the five minute mark in the third period, where Holden Katzalay, CompSci ’25, scored his fifth goal of the season.
In the following two minutes, both RMC and the Gaels added to their tallies, with Marburg scoring his second of the game defusing the Paladin’s hopes of a comeback.
A final push from the Paladins doubled their goal total. However, it wouldn’t be enough, as the Gaels snapped their two-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory.
The following night at the Memorial Centre, the Gaels invited their bitter rivals, the McGill Redbirds, for their second matchup in two weeks, having previously lost 1-5 on Jan. 18.
Offensively, the Gaels had found their footing early, getting numerous shots on the net and creating havoc in front of the Redbirds’ goaltender. Although they struggled to play responsibly throughout the neutral zone, Christian Purboo, ArtSci ’25, held the shutout for the Gaels.
Dharan Cap, Sci ’27, scored his first of the year and broke the tie in favour of the Gaels, less than three minutes into the second period.
By playing responsibly, the Gaels were able to refine their breakout and puck movement throughout the neutral zone, making way for another Gaels’ Athletes of the Week, Michaud to zig and zag from end-to-end, snapping one past the Redbirds goalie to add another to the Gaels’ lead.
After the Gaels conceded a goal late in the third period, Hutcheson deflected his league-leading 17th goal into the net, sealing the 3-1 victory for the Gaels.
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