From The Brandon Sun
By Jules Xavier
The Assiniboine Community College Cougars will write their 21st “chapter” of the season when they depart for Missouri on March 8.
Four days later in St. Louis, coach Tony Bertone and his players will face the Northern Michigan University Wildcats to open the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s Division 2 nationals, which features 16 teams.
Following a two-day bus trip east from Brandon, with a brief overnight stop in Minnesota, Bertone will have a few practices to shake off the players’ “bus legs.”
“Once we’re there it’s all about getting the team in the right frame of mind as we write another chapter in our season,” he explained, referencing a chapter is a game. “Our last win was our 20th chapter, so we are looking to get to our 25th chapter.”
That would mean the Cougars would be in the ACHL Division 2 championship game with Chapter 25 featuring one of the following teams besides ACC:
- Northeast Division: Providence, Northeastern, Boston College, Assumption.
- Southeast Division: Villanova, Delaware, Naval Academy, Liberty, Mercyhurst.
- West Division: ACC, Dakota College, St. Thomas.
- Central Division: Sault College, Central Michigan, Adrian, Northern Michigan.
The Wildcats have a potent one-two offensive threat in their two best snipers: Five-foot-four Chloe Valente had 33 goals and 46 points in 20 games, while five-foot-seven Paris Wegleitner had 19 goals and 36 points in 20 games.
The Cougars’ offence is led by Payton Malchuk, who had 14 goals and 24 points in 17 games, while Emmalie Thompson added nine goals and 14 assists in 20 games.
Bertone will be relying on his seven graduating senior players to help the rookies and sophomore players at nationals, where they lost in double overtime last season in a semifinal game.
“Senior players are always beneficial on any team,” said Bertone. “They have experiences and lead the way showing our rookies how to practise, and how to play the game properly.”
While the coaching staff handles the technical part of the game, Bertone said his senior players are relied on to handle the emotional part of the game.
“Coaches play a part in the leadership, but we let our senior girls do other things on and off the ice,” he said. “They are the one’s who lead by example and our younger players can follow.”
Bertone was asked to describe each of his seven graduating seniors in one word.
- PANDORA TURCOTTE: The Oakbank product, who is graduating from the construction electrician program, had nine assists in 20 games.
— BERTONE: “Energetic. She plays big and does not back down from the bigger players. She skates a 100 miles per hour up and down the ice.”
- JENSEN SHEARER: The Wawanesa product, who is graduating from the business administration program, had a goal and 12 points in 20 games.
— BERTONE: “Confident. She’s calm, with no panic in her game because she knows the game.”
- KASEY FOUILLARD: The Miniota product, who is graduating from the digital art and design program, had eight goals and 23 points in 20 games.
— BERTONE: “Powerful. She brings her speed and aggressiveness to every game. Kasey plays to win.”
- EMMALIE THOMPSON: The Ste. Rose du Lac product, who is graduating from the early childhood education program, had nine goals and 23 points in 20 games.
— BERTONE: “Competitive. She never takes a shift off, and contributes on offence.”
- EMMA RAMSEY: The Virden product, who is graduating from the social service worker program, had eight goals and 16 points in 20 games.
— BERTONE: “Versatile. We can use her on the power play and penalty kill. She’s a high-energy player.”
- GENEVA PENNER: The Steinbach product, who is graduating from the business marketing program, posted a 7-0-1 record in 10 games, with three shutouts, a 1.22 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage.
— BERTONE: “Positivity. Geneva bleeds Cougar blood. That’s why I gave her an ‘A’ … you don’t see goalies being given an ‘A’ or ‘C’ much in hockey.”
- LACI GAFFRAY: The Silver Falls product, who is graduating from the public safety and social services programs, had eight assists in 20 games.
— BERTONE: “Focused. No matter what’s happening in a game, Laci remains focused from her defensive position and was part of the national championship team in 2021-22.”
NOTES: Coach Bertone will spend Sunday at Rivers Lake with his team involved in the annual ice fishing derby. He said his players did not catch any fish last winter, and said it’s more about bonding than who hooks the biggest fish. Hotdogs will be cooked over an open fire, while the players escape the elements and sip on hot chocolate in their ice shacks while waiting for pickerel or pike to take the bait … Goalie Payton Murray played 11 games in her rookie season between the pipes, recording six shutouts, and posting a 10-1-0 record, .910 goals-against average and .946 save percentage.
(Originally published at https://www.brandonsun.com/sports/2024/03/02/cougars-to-lean-on-seniors-at-acha-nationals)
