By Owen Kitzan – Sports Editor

The Gaiters women’s hockey team enters January looking strong through their first five games. With games against the Université de Montréal (UdeM), University of Ottawa and Carleton coming back from the winter break, followed shortly by McGill and Concordia, the team came out with a promising record of 3-2-0. 

The team first faced off against the Carabins on Jan. 7. The Carabins came in with a record of 5-3 and proved to be a strong opponent, edging out a narrow defeat over the Gaiters 4-3. Gaiters Justine Turcotte and Angélique Pagé scored in the first while Maude Pépin netted one in the third. This sadly wasn’t enough to stop a strong Carabins team who would score four goals on their 29 shots, coming out on top.

Moving in, the Gaiters took on the University of Ottawa on Jan. 12. The Gee-Gees boasted a record of 4-10 before the matchup and proved no match for the Gaiters. The purple claimed a 5-1 win. Goaltender Ericka Gagnon delivered a strong performance allowing only one goal on 33 shots. Justine Turcotte and Maude Pépin once again lit up the rink with two goals apiece. They were joined by teammate Neleh Vigneau Sargeant for the fifth point of the game.

The following day on Jan. 13, the Gaiters went head to head with Carleton. The Ravens posted a 5-10 record prior to the matchup, and BU would prove to be formidable. Ericka Gagnon would once again get the nod between the pipes and maintained another impressive performance with a 28-save shutout. This time it was rookie standout Gabrielle Santerre who posted a two-goal game of her own, both assisted by Marie-Camille Théorêt and Neleh Vigneau Sargeant.

Santerre would follow that up with another two goal performance against McGill on Jan. 19. Aglaé René de Cotret backstopped the Gaiters with 20 saves on 21 shots. Meanwhile, Regan Garreau and Marjorie Bolduc both potted one. As the final buzzer sounded on the game, the scoreboard read 4-1 in favor of BU.

The final game of the five that they’ve played so far in 2024 was a matchup against Concordia. Ericka Gagnon got the start but was pulled after allowing seven goals on 23 shots. Charley Wing was put in, stopping eight out of eight. Gabrielle Santerre, Noemie Garneau and Angélique Pagé found the back of the net, but the Stingers got the better of the Gaiters that day 7-3.

The Gaiters now have an impressive 11-7 record this season. With seven games remaining, BU currently sits in third behind a powerhouse Concordia and the Carabins. The next home game you can catch will be on Friday, Jan. 26 at 8 p.m. Come out and support your Gaiters!