X-Women Hockey’s Post-Season Recap

With the X-Women’s post-season coming to a close this past Saturday (March 16th), the team ended another season that exemplified the team’s top-notch grit, speed, and resilience. The post-season opened up on a pair of high notes for the club, as the team grabbed the top position in the AUS’s standings and multiple players racked up 2023-24 AUS major awards. The X-Women bested the UNB Reds by one point in the final word of the regular season, finishing with a 21-5-2 tally. Their first-place finish awarded them a buy through the first round of the AUS playoffs. On the individual side of things, Rookie Ireland McCloskey concluded a near-historic inaugural season by taking home Rookie of the Year, Most Sportsmanlike Player, and a spot on the All-Rookie Team. Ending the season at an almost point-per-game pace, she is the 6th X-Women named the AUS’s Rookie of the Year. Her Fellow freshman Mackenzie Lothian was also named to the All-Rookie Team, and X-Women captain Maggy Burbidge secured a place on the league’s Second All-Star Team.

The X-Women kicked off the story of their playoffs with their 5-game series against the St. Thomas Tommies, who were the fourth seed going into the playoffs. St. Thomas proved to be a formidable opponent for the X-Women, as the series needed all five games to arrive at a verdict. At the end of those five games, however, the X-Women’s resiliency and tenacity were the determining factors. The team battled back each time the Tommies got ahead, securing wins in both games 2 and 4 after they went 1-0 and 2-1, respectively. One thousand eighty-eight fans were present at the Charles V. Keating Centre for game 5, where the X-Women’s speed and grit overwhelmed their opponents in a 4-0 victory. The win confirmed their place in the AUS championship series, and it also sent them to the national USPORTS championship.

The AUS championship was an instance of two arch-rivals clashing with their very best efforts and one coming out on top due to the fortuity of a split second. The X-Women and the UNB Reds have been the AUS's two premier Women's hockey clubs this decade, but UNB has prevailed against StFX when it matters most in the last two years. This year's three-game series saw the Reds take the first game 2-0, where UNB's star goaltender Kendra Woodland unmistakably showcased her skills. The X-Women captured the spark that elevated them to the top of the AUS this year in game 2, forcing the game to double overtime. However, UNB's Sydney Oitomen vanquished X fans' dreams by netting the game-winner in that frame. This year's USPORTS championship at the University of Saskatchewan would be the X-Women's final chance to bring home some hardware to the school.

The X-Women, unfortunately, could not find the magic in Saskatoon that propelled them all season long. They fell 6-1 to the Waterloo Warriors in the quarterfinal, with Ireland McCloskey potting X’s lone goal. Head coach Berthiaume was quoted saying that the team simply ran out of gas in the third, yielding five goals in the span of that 20 minutes. Neither did the consolation game on Saturday produce the desired outcome, as the home team Saskatchewan Huskies outscored the X-Women 3-1.

While X-Women did not live up to their standards on the ice this past weekend, they did exemplify their characteristic Xaverian spirit that duly represents our school. They bonded with the U9 Comet Defenders team throughout the trip, who cheered them on from the stands brandishing “Go X Go” signs that would make Father Stan proud. After their consolation loss, the team rallied by donating their leftover gameday snacks to the Saskatoon Food Bank. In the coming years, the teams that follow this X-Women team will not inherit this team’s underperformance at the USPORTS championship but the culture that has allowed them to outperform their competition all year. Congratulations to the players, coaches, and staff for this outstanding season.

Woolley’s Warriors: Building Awareness of Type 1 Diabetes Through Hockey

For the X-Men hockey team's Mark Woolley, being an AUS athlete is about more than just the game of hockey. Mark is the founder of the Woolley's Warriors initiative, a non-profit organization he launched in 2019 to bring awareness to the challenges faced by athletes with type 1 diabetes. Woolley's Warriors also fundraises to send kids with type 1 diabetes to D-Camps, which are summer camps ran by Diabetes Canada that provide support and community to children who live with diabetes. Mark started and developed Woolley's Warriors during his tenure with the OHL's Owen Sound Attack but has recently brought the organization to Antigonish. The following is a conversation with Mark that explores the purpose behind Woolley's Warriors, the importance of his organization, and his message to young athletes living with type 1 diabetes.

XW: How would you describe the Woolley’s Warriors initiative?

Woolley: It’s a non-profit we launched in 2019 with the main goal of raising awareness of those living with type 1 diabetes. Also, we try to fundraise to help send athletes to [Diabetes Canada] D-Camps, which are summer camps that put kids in an environment with others that have the same lifestyle. They provide a sense of normalcy for those kids.

XW: What motivated to start the Woolley’s Warriors initiative?

Woolley: It hits close to home with my brother and I being diabetic, but the idea was sparked by a former captain of mine. He started a mental health initiative called McFadden’s Movement in my first major junior season. He actually played for the Acadia Axemen later on, and ended up bringing it out here to the AUS. He showed me the ropes of using your platform- its more than just the game of hockey. After seeing what he could do with his initiative, I got some ideas that laid the foundation for what Woolley’s Warriors became.

XW: The funds raised by Woolley’s Warriors go towards sending kids to D-Camps. Why does this program fit your organization’s mission?

Woolley: The opportunity for kids to be in an environment where they can see that their diabetes doesn’t have to define them is so important. That’s a reason why I wanted to start sharing my story. It’s not the end of the world. If you have it managed and kept in control, you can still chase your dreams. You don’t have to let it get in the way of doing things.

XW: How does your personal experiences inform the work you do with Woolley’s Warriors?

Woolley: I was diagnosed when I was 12, and hockey had already become a huge part of my life. I was shy at first, but I realized that people wanted to learn and ask questions. Being comfortable with it helps improve my overall mental health. That’s a skill I want kids to learn at a young age. That’s the main goal behind Woolley’s Warriors- to have confidence in your diabetes and not have it be something that’s bringing you down.

XW: Woolley’s Warriors recently held a fundraising event at the X-Men hockey team’s November 17th game against the UPEI Panthers. How was that experience?

Woolley: It was a really special night. It was pretty cool to officially bring Woolley’s Warriors to Antigonish for the first time. Most of the work I’ve done with Woolley’s Warriors was during my time with the Owen Sound Attack. I took last year off to get used to being on the east coast and living the university lifestyle, so it was a really special moment. Especially to see how full the crowd was- I wasn’t expecting it to be that well-supported. Thank you to all the students and local community members that came out! It was a cool night, and definitely something to build on.

XW: Lastly, what is your message to young hockey players living with type 1 diabetes?

Woolley: To not let your diabetes define you. It’s a disease- you have to manage it properly, but you don’t have to let it stop you from doing things, whether that’s fun things with your friends or playing sports. As long as you learn to manage it, you don’t have to let it interfere with anything you want to do.

October: The X-Men Hockey Team’s Month of Transformation

The month of October was one of redemption for the X-Men hockey club. The squad initially underperformed in both their pre-season and opening regular season games, winning only one contest in each of these 4-game frames. The second half of the month saw the X-Men go on a 3-game tear, putting up two victories over UPEI and one over Dalhousie. They exited the month over .500 with a record of 4-3-1 and have since extended their winning streak to 5 games. The following is a brief retelling of the transformation the team has undergone in the past month.

The X-men capped off their pre-season with a ceremonial puck drop at their game against Saint Mary's on October 1st, honouring this year's National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Prior to the contest, Members of StFX's Indigenous Student Society joined team captains Bailey Webster and Andrew Coxhead at centre ice for a moment of remembrance and solidarity. The outcome of the game, however, was strikingly unfavourable for the X-men, as they yielded a 7-1 defeat to the Huskies.

The team went into the regular season with a singular pre-season win under their belt and would only register one more victory in their first four regular-season games, which came in their AUS season-opener against Acadia University (final score 3-2). The turning point for the team came after a burning home-barn defeat against one of their biggest rivals, the UNB Reds. The teams traded goals back and forth across the first 3 periods. StFX goaltender Joseph Raaymakers was pelted with 48 shots across regulation but stood tall with an outstanding .937 save percentage. The X-Men’s Liam Hawel (2023 AUS MVP) scored an overtime-clinching goal with just 30 seconds remaining, though UNB forward Michael Petizian’s dealbreaker ultimately quenched the X-Men’s fire in overtime.

This harrowing loss prompted a full-scale response from X-Men, which arrived in the form of a three-game winning streak. The first stop on their redemption tour saw StFX hosting UPEI, where they decidedly snatched a 6-3 victory over their opponent. Jacob Hudson, the X-Men’s leading scorer, put up his first hat trick this year on the occasion, this being only one chapter of his current goal-per-game tirade. The next game was an even bigger statement by the X-Men, as they bested the Dalhousie Tigers 8-1. Noteworthy in this tilt was the X-Men’s play in the second period, where five different X-Men players each put a tally on the scoreboard. The team rounded out the month with another victory over the UPEI Panthers, where they put their tenacity on display with three back-to-back goals in the third period.

In the middle of their winning streak, the X-Men congratulated the X-Women Rugby team on their AUS banner by welcoming them into the Keating Centre on October 25th. The X-Women had won the AUS championship on the same night the X-Men beat Dalhousie, so both teams gathered on the ice to revel in the win that the X-Women had brought to the entire Xaverian community. Though the merit of the X-Women’s championship should not be underplayed, the celebration was also symbolic of the arch the X-men had experienced in their first 8 regular season games. After struggling to find a spark, the X-Men caught fire and sent the message to the rest of the league that they are legitimate contenders this year. The moment when both teams posed with the AUS banner indirectly represented both the fresh trajectory of the X-Men and what is possible if they stay consistent. With their winning streak now extended to 5 games, the X-Men are only trailing UNB in the standings and are showing no signs of slowing down.

A Conversation with X-Women Head Coach Ben Berthiaume: Reflecting and Looking Forward

During the X-Women Hockey team’s preseason, I sat down with head coach Ben Berthiaume to discuss how last season’s success is impacting his approach to this season. We discussed the X-Women’s participation in last year’s U SPORTS National Championship, the atmosphere and goals of this year’s training camp, the values that shape the X-Women’s identity, and the players that fans can expect to excel this season.

XW: How has your team evolved from last year to this year?

Ben Berthiaume: The number one thing is more bodies. We brought in 12 new players this year. Last year, we went through a lot of injury issues, so we needed to solve that problem. We are also a bit of a quicker team this year than we were last year, in all areas.

XW: What was the X-factor that brought your team to nationals last year?

Berthiaume: The X-factor was our resiliency. If you look back at last year, we started off with injuries in September, when we were away on a road trip. The girls stepped up all year—at times we were playing with the equipment manager in the line-up, we called up a kid that was essentially not playing hockey, and we had our number one centre playing defense. That resiliency and toughness flowed throughout the year. It was the X-factor for sure.

XW: How would you describe the X-Women’s style of play?

Berthiaume: We are very quick, like I mentioned before. We are going to be very fast, especially up front. We are going to have an in-your-face style of play, using our speed to our advantage. In

all aspects of the game, we are going to be the first to the puck. We are going to be a gritty hockey team this year—that will be the difference maker for us.

XW: Who is the most dynamic player on the X-Women roster?

Berthiaume: If you look at the season that Maggy Burbidge had last year, she led the country in points. I think she went only one game without a goal last year—if she has time and space, she is going to bring it. We’re going to look to her to lead that charge again, although there are a lot of kids in the line-up that have potential. Kamdyn Switzer came back playing well this year; we have big expectations for her. She came back this year ready to prove something. We have a lot of good players down through the line-up that are ready to chip in.

XW: What was your message to players going into training camp this year?

Berthiaume: The biggest change for us this year has to be the way we practice on a daily basis. We needed to get better at having a high intensity approach every single day—practicing like it’s a game. So far, we’ve done that. We’ve been practicing intensely, and at game-speed, which will make a big difference, I think.

XW: Who will your biggest rivals be this season?

Berthiaume: If you don’t bring your A-game, you will struggle against any team in this league. But, if I look at our biggest rivals over the years, Saint Mary’s has always been a huge rival, UNB is there, and UPEI has been a big rival, too. You could keep going down through the league, to be honest. Every team is a rival, and every team wants to beat us on any given night. That’s the biggest message—we have to be prepared for whoever we play.

XW: What is the most important small detail of hockey that translates into success?

Berthiaume: The players without the puck, playing away from the puck. A big thing for us is secondary support. We also talk a lot about thinking about the game and being proactive rather than reactive. If you are reacting to the game, you are always chasing. The players away from the puck are very important.

XW: What was the most crucial moment of the season for the team as a group last year?

Berthiaume: There were a lot of key moments last year. We had to play short-staffed many times, and we realized early on that we couldn’t feel sorry for ourselves—it was just the situation we were in. A lot of people stepped up right from the get-go. Like I said, our equipment manager not only covered our equipment manager duties, but also played a lot of minutes in the line-up. I think it was the realizations that we had to be resilient, we couldn’t be down on ourselves, and we just had to push through.

XW: What defines X-Women hockey?

Berthiaume: Our grittiness, our passion for the game, and our culture. Our culture is very good, it’s something we work on consistently. We started making progress on it back in the spring when we knew what our team was going to be. If you have a good culture—a group that wants to come to the rink every day, and a group that wants to compete for each other—then you have a solid chance of winning.

XW: What is the most exciting part of your team’s offensive game?

Berthiaume: I think it’s our speed. There is a lot of talent up-front. We’ve brought in a lot of talent this summer. If you look at the two exhibition games we’ve had, especially game one here [at StFX], our speed was on display. We joke about the fact that speed kills, so using that speed to our advantage will be a big thing for us this year.

XW: What is one player on defense that fans should pay attention to this year?

Berthiaume: Right through our defensive line-up, one through eight, all of them are capable of getting the job done. We have a really good defensive core this year. I don’t know if I can point out just one in particular. They all move the puck very well—we have a very skilled group back there.

XW: UNB has been at the top of the league the last couple of years, winning the U Sports Championship back-to-back the last two years. How do you think the X-Women matched up against them in the AUS final last year?

Berthiaume: I think we played them very well during the playoffs last year. In game one, we played very well, and won. In game two, we played pretty well. It was a 1-0 game, but they have a very good goalie. [UNB Goaltender] Woodland is a very good goalie—she is very difficult to score on. In game three, we only had four defensemen on the bench. It went into double overtime, and we hit three or four posts. It was a very good game—we played well, there was just a lot of difficulty scoring against Woodland. Going into this year, she’s back, so we have to do a better job of getting in her face, and making sure the game is difficult for her.