Ice X-Women win Moncton tourney

The defending AUS champion X-Women hockey team continued their winning ways in exhibition play this season after three consecutive wins and the tournament title at the Moncton Invitational tournament this past weekend in New Brunswick. The CIS ranked #5 X-Women earned a 4-1 win over the Dalhousie Tigers in the championship game to claim the title. Forward Nicole Hansom, defence Marilynn Hay and goaltender Melissa Murphy were all named to the championship all-star team. Murphy earned the win in nets in the final game with 32 saves.

The X-Women jumped to a 2-0 lead after the first period on goals by Brayden Ferguson and Laura Grant, and were up 3-1 after two periods as Christina Davis notched a goal halfway through the period. Suzanne Fenerty rounded out the scoring for X in the third period while Kim Carcary provided the lone marker for Dalhousie.

In earlier round robin action, in their opening quarterfinal game of the tournament, the X-Women easily handled the UPEI Panthers with a 9-2 win. Christina Davis and Laura Grant each scored two goals for X while single markers came off the sticks of Brayden Ferguson, Suzanne Fenerty, Anna Barrett, Kristen Ezard and Nicole Hansom. Hansom also had 3 assists in the game. The X-Women led 1-0 after the first period but exploded for six unaswered goals in the second period. Melissa Murphy earned the win in nets with 15 saves.

In the semi-final game, the X-Women met CEGEP school College Lafleche and skated away with a 5-1 win. Marilynn Hay opened the scoring in the game with a power play goal with two minutes left in the first period. Josiane Legault of Lafleche tied it up with an early second period goal but the X-Women managed three goals before the period ended for a 4-1 lead. Goal scorers for X were Christina Davis, Brayden Ferguson and Caroline Campbell, with Catie Gavin adding their fifth goal in the third period. Katie Harvieux earned the win between the pipes with 26 saves.

With a 6-0 record in exhibition play this year, the X-Women have the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend off then will open AUS regular season play on Oct. 18 and 19 when they travel to Mount Allison and UPEI for games on the road.