Cant scores twice as Huskies open season with 4-2 win over Tigers

HALIFAX, NS - Huskies first year forward Avery Cant scored twice, as Saint Mary's began the 2023-24 AUS Women's Hockey season with a 4-2 win over their crosstown rivals the Dalhousie Tigers on Friday night at the Halifax Forum.

It was all Huskies possession early, but Tigers forwad Emma Bishop (Bedford, N.S.) was sprung on a partial breakaway by an off the board pass from Olivia Eustace (Riverview, N.B.), the forward nearly got loose, but Huskies goaltender Ridleigh Hansen (Red Deer, AB) came up with a sprawling save to turn away the first dangerous chance of the game.

Saint Mary's kept on the pressure, and it finally got on the scoresheet.

Just five minutes into the game, Huskies forward Kara MacLean (Antigonish, N.S.) picked Gabrielle Noordijk's (Oakville, ON) pocket and with little room put it top shelf over Maggie Baxter's (Mahone Bay, N.S.) far side shoulder to light the lamp for Saint Mary's.

The Tigers immediately answered back with a takeaway in their own zone by Alix Yallowega (Winnipeg, MB) that ended up on Abby Walmboldt's (Hammonds Plains, N.S.) stick who launched Bishop for a two on one, and Bishop eventually put it across to Eustace who somehow knocked it into the net with a defender all over her.

The Huskies nearly took the lead when Aimee O'Neil found Kara MacLean in the high slot, but she couldn't find the back of the net.

Several moments later, the Huskies would take the lead when a point shot from defenceman Maddy Corbett (Sydney, N.S.), squeezed through Baxter's pads, where Huskies forward Mackenzie Beggs (Kemptville, ON) redirected it into goal to give the Huskies a 2-1 lead, which would remain the score after the first intermission.

The second period saw the opportunities continue for both teams, as Huskies forward Jillian Duggan (Halifax, N.S.) had an early breakaway opportunity, but took a long shot that was stopped by Baxter.

Then came the Tigers chances to equalize, and Ridleigh Hansen was sharp in Huskies goal, stopping forward Natasha Falk (Brandon, MB) out front to keep her in team in front.

But the Tigers would find the equalizer at the 12 minutes mark, as Noordijk put the puck on net from the blueline, and it bounced off Falk, to Anika Curri (New Canaan, CT) who put it past Hansen to tie the game at 2-2.

Less than 30 seconds later, the Huskies regained the lead, with defenceman Maddy McCleary (Swift Current, SK) walking her line and finding first year forward Avery Cant (Waterloo, ON) who wired it top corner past Baxter for her first career AUS goal.

The Tigers continued to generate offensive opportunities, but Hansen was sharp, robbing Anika Curri on another breakaway opportunity, and Saint Mary's took a 3-2 lead into the second intermission.

Early in the third period, Natasha Falk had a great opportunity to score, but Hansen made a diving save to retain the visitors lead.

With just over a minute remaining, Avery Cant would add an insurance marker on a Huskies powerplay, scoring her second of the night to give Saint Mary's the 4-2 victory.

Saint Mary's outshot Dalhousie 31-24 on the night, with Ridleigh Hansen stopping 22 shots for the win, while Tigers goaltender Maggie Baxter made 27 saves in defeat.

Huskies forward Avery Cant (Waterloo, ON) was named Player of the Game with two goals in her first career AUS regular season game. Defender Maddy Corbett (Sydney, NS) added two assists, while forwards Gillian Lapierre (Port Coquitlam, BC) and defender Ella MacLean (Antigonish, NS) recorded their first career AUS regular season points on a pair of assists.

The Huskies win gave them a 1-0-0 record to begin the 2023-24 AUS season. Saint Mary's will be back in action for their home-opener on Thursday night, as they host the Moncton Aigles Bleues (2-0-0) at 7 p.m. at the Dauphinee Centre.

The Tigers loss gives them a 1-1-0 record to begin the campaign. Dalhousie will also be back in action on Tuesday night, visiting the STFX X-Women (1-0-0) at 7 p.m. in Antigonish, NS.

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
Photos by Tamara Joseph / Dalhousie Tigers Athletics