Team-By-Team Preview: USports National Championships

The USports National championships get underway this week in Saskatchewan. Here's a team by team look at the schools involved.

The USports National Championships are set to drop the puck this week in Saskatchewan. They open with quarterfinals match ups on Thursday, March 14 with St. FX facing Waterloo and Concordia playing Saskatchewan, followed by the other quarterfinal games the next day with Montreal playing British Columbia and Toronto facing New Brunswick. Here's a team-by-team look at the USports national championship rosters.

If there's a "team to beat" heading into this tournament, it's Concordia who should be considered the favourite. It's a long list of veterans and newcomers who propelled Concordia to their third straight RSEQ title, but that list begins with captain Emmy Fecteau, widely considered one of the best players in the nation, and a sleeper to play a role in the PWHL next season. She was one of five Concordia players to top the point-per-game mark this season, paced by rookie standout Emilie Lussier who had 34 points in 23 games. In the postseason however, it was Fecteau notching 14 points in six games, followed by fellow veterans Jessymaude Drapeau and Rosalie Begin-Cyr. Former NCAA blueliner Alexandra-Anne Boyer is the backbone of their defence, while Concordia has two steller goalies who can easily step in, although they rode Jordyn Verbeek in the playoffs.

There's size, speed, and experience on this roster that has advanced to three straight national championship tournaments. UBC's top scorers Mackenzie Kordic, Chanreet Bassi, and Cassidy Rhodes will need to step up at the USports nationals. Kordic has enjoyed a breakout season using her 5-foot-11 frame to her advantage, but she was quiet in the postseason, a trend she'll need to reserve. The backbone of UBC is captain Rylind MacKinnon, who PWHL teams won't overlook at the 2024 Draft. A strength of UBC's is their scoring depth which proved crucial and difficult for opponents to manage in the postseason, and with Elise Hugens between the pipes, they're going to get consistent goaltending each night.

With reigning USports Player of the Year Kendra Woodland in net, the UNB Reds have security and experience to cover for mistakes. Fifth year forward Lillian George was their offensive leader up front this season, but much of UNB's attack stems from their active blueline. Rookie blueliner Katelyn Scott was the leading scorer in the nation from the point, which should bode well for her when it comes award season. She had 32 points in 28 games, and alongside second year defender Mackenzie Keenan, who was second in the nation in scoring by a defender, the pair propelled UNB's scoring. In the postseason forward Sydney Oitomen stepped up leading the team in playoff scoring en route to being named the AUS playoff MVP.

For the first time in program history, the University of Waterloo Warriors were OUA champions. Waterloo's attack at the USports national championships will lean on veterans Leah Herrfort and Tatum James. Herrfort opened her college career in the NCAA with Union College before returning home during the pandemic to study and play for Waterloo. She's been a force in her three seasons with Waterloo earning All-Canadian honors and winning Universaide gold with Canada. James, another local product is Waterloo's other point-per-game player. Waterloo's biggest asset is their depth, including the fact they ran two netminders all season.

Few players have the singular impact in USports hockey of Maggy Burbidge, who will be a prospect to watch for the PWHL Draft this year. Burbidge spent two seasons at Robert Morris University in the NCAA before the program took a hiatus, and has been one of Canada's most dominant players the past three seasons recording 51 goals and 99 points in 72 career games. Rookie Ireland McCloskey was second in scoring this season with St. FX behind Burbidge.

Do not count out a team coached by the back-to-back USports coach of the year Vicky Sunohara. What Toronto brings is experience, and depth. They lack the individual star power of other rosters, perhaps apart from netminder Erica Fryer who has a career 1.33 GAA and .934 save percentage across 86 starts. If there's a team in this tournament who could upset the rankings, it's Toronto.

Montreal was the only team to give top ranked Concordia a challenge this season on a regular basis, and that experience will benefit the Carabins at the national championships. Veteran defender Kelly-Ann Nadeau is the backbone of this roster, and a prominent feature on Montreal's blueline alongside Jade Picard. One thing Montreal lacks is game breaking offense. They'll need to score by committee, led by veterans Marie Terriault and Amelie Poire-Lehoux if they hope to fend off an early exit.

If host Saskatchewan can take any comfort, it's that Mount Royal entered as an underdog last year and won it all. It seems like a stretch to ask Saskatchewan to do the same. They finished fourth in Canada West, but were upset in the opening round ending their season early. Goaltender Camryn Drever, who was recently named the Canada West Player of the Year, will need to stand on her head to keep Saskatchewan in this tournament. She's been lights out all year, but the level will be elevated at the USports national championships. Without a point-per-game playre on their roster, Saskatchewan is going to need to grind out games. Veteran Sophie Lalor was their top scorer this season with 22 points in 28 games.