By Leighton Geraghty – Contributor

On Thursday, Feb. 22, the Université de Montréal Carabins visited your Bishop’s Gaiters for the best of three RSEQ semi-finals series. Puck drop was set for 7:30 p.m. A sea of purple filled the Jane and Eric Molson arena, as the first 500 people received a rally towel to show their support. Before the games kicked off though, there was a different type of atmosphere coming off of the ice. Both teams rallied back out of their locker rooms to receive regular season awards.

Assistant captain Neleh Vigneau-Sargeant continued her excellence in purple as she once again joined an all-star selection. The junior accounted for 29 points on the year which earned her a second team all-star nod. 

The Gaiters boasted three more all-star candidates who were each amongst the RSEQ first team. Defenceman and captain Marie-Camille Théorêt earned a first team all-star selection for her second year in a row. Théorêt’s impact on the team throughout her career has been tremendous both on and off the ice. 

Fellow senior Maude Pépin was also a part of the RSEQ first team. Her 20 goals on the year was the highest the conference has seen since the 2013-14 season. She led both the RSEQ and the country in goals. Her explosive offensive strides elevated her to an all-star for the first time in her Bishop’s career.

The last all-star was a special one: the freshman phenom, sensational Santerre. Gabrielle Santerre led the country in points as she tallied in 45 points through 25 games. Her rookie campaign was incredible. She won the RSEQ rookie of the year award, RSEQ MVP and was selected for both the RSEQ all rookie team and first team all-star. She is a contender for national recognition as a nominee for USports player of the year. Santerre helped the Gaiters make history earlier on in the season as they ranked nationally for the first time. This time, Santerre’s individual accolades now made history. As a better way of phrasing it, Gabrielle Santerre made her-story. 

The awards concluded, and both teams were set to get the series started. Montreal started their fifth year veteran Aube Racine in between the pipes. Aube is known as one of the best goalies in the RSEQ. However, Bishop’s had proven throughout regular season play their ability to find some success at the back of the net. For the Gaiters, freshman Ericka Gagnon took the net.

Game one was action packed. The Carabins came out of the first period with 16 shots on goal while the Gaiters shot three. Gagnon kept the team in the game and tallied a tremendous 30-save shutout. The game stood at a standstill 0-0 through the first two periods. When the third period came around, Bishop’s found themselves with a golden opportunity. Angélique Pagé came up from the goal line and sent a beautiful pass across the ice to Théorêt. The defenceman, showcasing her poise, took her time before distributing the puck back to the high slot for Pagé. Pagé shot the puck bar down over Racine’s shoulder. That goal remained the only goal of the game.

Bishop’s would head down to Montreal for a 2 p.m. puck drop that Saturday with a 1-0 lead in the series. Game two did not start off as Bishop’s would have liked, as the Carabins scored 17 seconds into the game. Bishop’s would come back to tie the game up later in the first period but struggled to find any type of offensive productivity. Getting outshot 34-21, Bishop’s dropped the second game of the series and would head back home for game three the following day. 

Win or go home. On Sunday, Feb. 25 at 4 p.m., Lennoxville’s Jane and Eric Molson arena was yet again alive. The winner of the game would not only move on to play Concordia, but they would also clinch a spot at nationals. It was do or die, and both teams knew it. Montreal brought a great number of fans to try to stand strong against the Gaiters’ home ice advantage.

From the puck drop, the intensity was indeniable. Gagnon and Racine took their spots in the nets for their third games in a row. Montreal was first to score as their captain Jessika Boulanger capitalized off of a turnover and beat Gagnon high blocker side.

The Gaiters’ response to the goal was amazing. They switched into a different gear and took over for the rest of the period. Halfway through the first, the puck came up to the half wall. Both teams battled for possession as the puck was pried loose by the game-one hero Angélique Pagé. She distributed the puck to Justine Turcotte who buried her first goal of the series.

The rest of the game was all goaltending. Both goalies went back and forth making highlight reel save after highlight reel save. Bishop’s found themselves shorthanded nine times in the game. The home crowd was not pleased with the officiating, as they perceived it to favour one side. At the end of regulation, the game was still tied 1-1. 

Overtime came along, and Gagnon remained steady, stopping two breakaways and a penalty shot – forcing a second overtime period. The game broke records as it was the longest game in RSEQ history. This period is where it would all come to an end. The players, visibly tired, battled through countless hacks and wacks from the Carabins. No calls for Montreal.

An opportunity arose for the Carabins as Bishop’s was yet again found shorthanded in overtime. Montreal maneuvered the puck around, seeking an open lane to shoot in. The puck came up to the blueline and down to the boards near the fans. On the other side of the rink, two Carabins players jumped onto the ice. Montreal, having five players at this point, quickly realized they had too many. Both players turned around in hopes that the referees did not see them, and to their benefit, they went unnoticed. Carabin Amélie Poiré-Lehoux took possession of the puck, finishing shortside over Gagnon’s shoulder to win the game for the Carabins. The missed call by the referees enraged not only the Bishop’s bench but the home crowd as well. 

Despite the unfortunate ending for the Gaiters, the tremendous season featured milestones for the women’s hockey team. A huge congratulation goes out to the award winners and the graduating players. If the country did not already know about a small purple school in Lennoxville, they will now. As Coach Valerie Bois’ first season as head coach concludes, this season’s ending is sure to drive future missions.