WOODSTOCK, Ont. - The Golden Hawks capped off the first half of their season with a fifth straight win and a second consecutive shutout, defeating the Western Mustangs 4–0 in their annual charity game with the Woodstock Wildcats. With the victory, Laurier heads into the break with an 11-3-2-0 record.
Goaltender Sarah Howell earned her fourth shutout of the season, continuing a standout stretch that Laurier's manager of women's hockey operations and head coach, Kelly Paton, says has been central to the team's success.
"It's always, from a team standpoint, the players that are working in front of her are trying to support her the best they can," Paton said.
"But I think when Sarah has been tested, she's been really calm and settled, helping us control the game. She's definitely earned the recognition, and I'm really proud of her; she's a big piece of the success of the program."
Laurier and Western battled through two scoreless periods marked by heavy special-teams action. The Mustangs had three power-play opportunities while the Golden Hawks had two, but neither side managed to convert.
"I was not overly shocked by the delay in offence because both teams had found five yesterday," she said. "It's not uncommon that the offence doesn't continue right away. Still, I'm happy it was a big third period for us, finding four and scoring some big goals again."
Just over five minutes into the third, defender Kara den Hoed ignited the offence. Carrying the puck through the neutral zone during a line change, she fired a shot from the slot that Brabrook initially stopped, but the rebound popped right back to her. Den Hoed stayed with it, knocking in the loose puck for her second goal in as many games.
Minutes later, Laurier doubled its lead on the power play when Clara Chisholm crashed the net and buried a rebound in tight.
With two minutes remaining, Western pulled Brabrook for the extra attacker, but it took Laurier only eight seconds to capitalize, this time with Gabrielle Lehoux scoring into the empty net against her former team.
The Hawks added one more before the buzzer. With 22 seconds left, Elle Spencer grabbed the puck off the boards and snapped a shot glove side that bounced over the goal line, sealing Laurier's fourth of the night.
Beyond the result, the annual Woodstock event carried special meaning for Paton and the program.
"It's special," she said. "I got a lot of friends and family who came, and a lot of friends who now have kids who play hockey as well."
"Our role in these spaces is to try to be great ambassadors for the sport, which includes me, too. Having these kids see two female head coaches – that's important. We like coming here, and we've had success in this rink over the years as well, which is a bonus."
The Golden Hawks return to action in the New Year when they host the Ottawa Gee-Gees on January 9th. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m.
