The Assiniboine Community College Cougars and Minot State University Beavers met six times prior to the start of the 2019 American Collegiate Hockey Association’s National Women’s Division II Championship in Texas.

The Cougars lost all six but when the two teams met with the most important game of the season on the line it was the Brandon school that won the seventh.

Simone Turner-Cummer of Carman scored a power play goal with 4:51 left in the first period and Marley Quesnel of Dauphin stopped all 18 shots she faced as the Cougars defeated Minot State 1-0 in the championship game Sunday afternoon in Frisco.

Turner-Cummer was named the Tournament MVP.

Three former Pembina Valley Hawks, all from Morden, brought home gold medals from deep in the heart of Texas.

“It was great to go to Nationals twice and then to win it all is pretty amazing seeing as we had such a hard time with Minot all year,” said forward Alyssa Alderson shortly after the team cleared customs at Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport and before their congratulatory visit with Premier Brian Pallister at the Manitoba Legislative Building. “The last game meant the most to us and we pulled it off so that’s really exciting for us.”

“It was an unbelievable feeling,” added forward Erin Doherty. “We got up on them in the first and then after that – that was it. With no goals the rest of the game, everyone was kind of on their toes for the entire game. It was an unbelievable experience and I can’t describe the feeling.”

Defenseman Kenzie Heide was on the ice for the final 60 seconds.

“It was stressful. The emotions and the tension was high the last minute trying to get the last push through and make sure they didn’t have any opportunities. Ultimately the stress was high. Looking at the clock counting down, it did seem like it went on forever and ever, but when the buzzer went it was an unbelievable feeling.”

The Cougars were perfect in Texas.

ACC defeated Mercyhurst University 8-0; Northeastern University 6-1 and Rowan University 6-1 in the preliminary round. The Cougars then edged the Lakehead University Thunderwolves of Thunder Bay 2-1 in the semifinals.

Assiniboine Community College joined the American Collegiate Hockey Association Women’s Division II in the fall of 2016.


Clayton Dreger asked Cougars head coach Tony Bertone to talk about their season



 

The ACC Cougars are National Champions  (photo courtesy Justin Langan/ACC Interactive Media Arts)