Friday night’s game against the Nipissing Lakers was a dominant performance for the Varsity Blues women’s ice hockey team, who cruised to a 6–2 victory at home at Varsity Arena. The Blues set the tone early, capitalizing on the Lakers’ lack of discipline to secure an important win and boost their playoff position in the OUA East standings.
What happened?
The game began with the Blues establishing an early lead just 10 minutes in, as forward Kaitlyn McKnight capitalized on a power play opportunity. She opened the scoring with a one-timer off a feed from forward Emma Elders. The Blues doubled their lead in the final seconds of the period when Elders found the back of the net on another power play, with an assist from defense Emma Potter and McKnight.
Meanwhile, the Lakers struggled with discipline, taking multiple penalties in the opening frame — a pattern that persisted throughout the game.
In the second period, the Blues maintained their offensive pressure. Almost six minutes in, McKnight struck again, assisted by Sophie Grawbarger and forward Katy McKenna, extending their lead to 3–0. Blues’ power play continued to click, with forward Aili McKeown scoring after a setup from Ashley Delahey and Potter. This goal ended the night for the Lakers’ starting goaltender, Chantelle Sandquist, who allowed four goals on 18 shots before being replaced by Sladics Jordan.
Nipissing finally broke through in the mid-second period when forward Jill Hennessy sent a wrist shot into the top right corner of the net. However, McKnight quickly responded, completing her hat trick with an awkward backhand shot that slipped through Jordan’s five-hole. The Lakers managed to cut the deficit to 5–2 with almost two minutes remaining in the period when forward Maggie McKee capitalized on a rebound, off a forward Abby Lunney helper. But the Blues quickly wrestled back control as forward Emma Irwin scored off a pass from Elders and forward Abby Whitworth, restoring the four-goal lead heading into the final period.
The third period saw a more balanced contest, with both teams trading chances but failing to find the back of the net. The Lakers had several power play opportunities but the Blues’ penalty kill remained solid, keeping the Lakers at bay. The Lakers’ offensive struggles were evident as they failed to convert on six power plays throughout the game.
Despite allowing two goals in the second period, the Blues’ goaltender, Lyla McKinnon, was stellar, making key saves, including two back-to-back stops on high-danger chances from the slot. On the other end, Jordan settled into her role after replacing Sandquist, stopping all shots she faced in the third period.
What’s next?
The Blues’ victory secured their hold on first place in the OUA East standings at the time, improving their record to 15–7. Despite the loss, the Lakers remain atop the division at 15-2-2 as of writing.
The Blues’ ability to dominate offensively, especially on special teams, proved to be the difference in the matchup, and the Blues’ performance sends a strong message to their competition, showing they can capitalize on opportunities and shut down opponents with disciplined defensive play.
Following other results over the weekend, the Blues are second in the OUA East. The Blues will play at York University on February 7, as they look to consolidate their strong position in the league.
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