PLAYOFF PREVIEW: Women’s hockey set for rematch against Martlets in first round of playoffs

The University of Ottawa women's hockey team will face off against the McGill Martlets in the first round of the RSEQ playoffs, for the second consecutive season. The Gee-Gees come into the series as the fourth-seeded team, with a 7-7-1 record, while the Martlets finished top of the RSEQ, with a 12-3-0 record. 

This is the tenth straight playoff appearance from the University of Ottawa, who last failed to make the playoffs in the 2010-11 season. 

Game one takes place Thursday, Mar. 3 at 7:00 p.m. at McConnell Arena in Montreal. Game two is slated for the Minto Sports Complex on Saturday, Mar. 5 at 3:00 p.m. If necessary, a decisive third game will take place in Montreal on Sunday, Mar. 6 (2:00 p.m. puck drop).

McGill holds the head-to-head record this season, winning two of the three meetings. They outscored the Gee-Gees 10-7 through those three games. Apart from the first time they met, a Martlet 4-1 victory at the Minto Sports Complex, the games were close contests separated only by one goal.

Ariane Aubin, in her second year of eligibility, lead the Garnet and Grey in scoring this season and will be called upon in this series as the offensive focal point. Katherine Birkby, whose five goals were good for second on the team, loved playing the Martlets. Three of her seven points came in the three games against McGill, including two goals. 

On the backend, rookie Angélique Proulx will be vital to the Gee-Gees in both defence and offence. She led all Gee-Gees in assists this season (7) and added two in the previous meeting between the two teams.

The play of Gee-Gees goalies Aurélie Dubuc and Mahika Sarrazin will be crucial throughout this series. McGill had the second-best offence this season, averaging over three goals a game. The Martlets were led by their top unit of Jade Downie-Landry, Marika Labrecque, and Chrissy Colizza – who combined for 66 points this season. This is the most of any line in the division. 

Downie-Landry netted 14 goals this season – six more than the next RSEQ player, Concordia's Marie-Pascale Bernier. 

Last season, the Gee-Gees bowed out of the playoffs against the Martlets following a two-game sweep in the first round. This time around, Gee-Gees head coach Chelsea Grills and her coaching staff are focusing on the things that they can control.

"We are going to take things one game at a time," said Grills. "We are focusing on our game, our play and our pace regardless of our opponent. The playoffs are a new season, and that is what we are excited about."

Thursday and Sunday's games will be streamed live HERE (paid). Saturday's game will be streamed on the Gee-Gees YouTube page.

Tickets for this Saturday's game and all uOttawa varsity events must be purchased beforehand at tickets.geegees.ca. Fans planning on attending an event are encouraged to read the Tickets and Gameday Information document, which includes pertinent health and safety measures. The document can be found HERE.