On Nov. 14, McGill’s Martlets Hockey took to the ice at McConnell Arena and showcased a full-team effort, pushing the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ)–leading Concordia Stingers to overtime in a hard-fought 2-1 loss. The effort marked a sharp turnaround from the Martlets’ earlier meetings with the Stingers this season—facing 5-0 and 2-0 defeats in October—signalling that the group is settling into a disciplined, structured identity. In front of a lively home crowd, McGill played with pace, physicality, and purpose, setting an early tone that carried through all three periods and into overtime.
“We had a really good week of practice, and we showed up tonight,” forward Mika Chang, U4 Engineering, shared in a post-game interview with The Tribune. “There was good energy on the bench the whole game.”
McGill opened aggressively, swarming Concordia’s zone for the first five minutes and keeping goalie Jordyn Verbeek under pressure. Their persistence paid off only 5 minutes and 33 seconds into the first period, when forward Anika Cormier buried a backhand upstairs to give the Martlets a 1-0 lead.
The period intensified with heavy board battles and smart body play, culminating in a major penalty awarded to Concordia for a hit on McGill forward Taylor Garcia, who left the game and did not return. McGill carried their resulting five-minute power play into the second period, but could not extend their lead.
“[Garcia] was having a good game, so that one’s going to hurt for sure,” Head Coach Alyssa Cecere said, in an interview with The Tribune. “It’s a tough loss, physically and for the team.”
Garcia’s teammates agreed.
“She’s a big contributing forward for us, and a huge personality,” defender Meganne Chailler, U3 Education, expressed in an interview with The Tribune. “But we came together to play for her.”
The game’s second period showcased McGill’s defensive discipline. The Martlets blocked shots, clogged lanes, and disrupted multiple Concordia scoring chances, with defenders Hailey Neil and Bridget O’Hare standing out.
McGill nearly extended their lead on a partial break by Jordyn Watson, but with just 0.2 seconds left, Concordia’s Emilie Lussier pounced on a loose puck in the slot and beat McGill goaltender Jade Rivard-Coulombe, tying the game 1-1.
Despite the goal, the Martlets refused to let up.
“We set the tone early, and we just kept building off each other’s energy,” Chailler said. “Getting that first goal gave us a lot of momentum.”
The game’s final 20 minutes overflowed with resilience. McGill’s forecheck created turnovers, their defensive group played with poise, and the pace grew end-to-end. Chailler and Cormier disrupted Concordia’s rushes and cleared the puck under pressure.
With 20 seconds left, McGill called a timeout to prepare for a defensive-zone draw. In the game’s ensuing final moments, Rivard-Coulombe made a spectacular chest save through traffic, ensuring the Martlets secured one of two possible points before entering extra time.
“Jade had a very good game,” Cecere said. “She’s our last line of defence, and for her to have a solid performance like that is really encouraging.”
Four-on-four overtime was frantic—full of end-to-end rushes and scrappy net-front battles. Ultimately, Concordia’s Ekaterina Pelowich shovelled in a traffic-filled goal with 36 seconds remaining, handing the Stingers a 2-1 victory.
But the Martlets still walked off with their heads high.
“We’ve improved tremendously since the start of the season,” Cecere said. “There’s a lot to be excited about with this group.”
For Chang, the game underscored the growing parity in the league.
“The league is much closer this year,” she said. “Everyone can beat everyone. It’s good to see.”
Women’s hockey is gaining momentum and visibility as the Professional Women’s Hockey League opens up career opportunities, showing RSEQ players a viable post-university path in hockey.
“There’s absolutely a different buzz,” Cecere said. “It’s awesome to see how far the game has come. There’s just a little more jump and urgency in everyone’s play now. A lot of these young women want to get to that level, and it’s really cool to see what they’re capable of.”The Martlets faced off for a second time against the Stingers on Nov. 16, again losing 2-1 in overtime to Concordia. With 15 games left, McGill now looks to turn the page—with confidence—into the rest of their regular season.
