When looking at the four graduating players with the Nipissing Lakers Women’s Hockey team, this season, it really showcases the different paths athletes can take to finding their success. Start with defender Britney Zack, who didn’t join the Lakers until half-way through the season in her first year in 2018-19.
“That was a little hard because there was already a rookie group of players who all knew each other, and I was the newcomer. But I had a good rookie year and was welcomed by everyone and ended up as Rookie of the Year for the team, and it’s pretty crazy to think it’s been five years since I’ve been here,” says Zack.
The Sault Ste. Marie native became a steady presence on the blue line during her time as a Laker. A former North Bay Ice Bolt, Zack suited up in 70 career OUA regular season games – her last on home ice as a Laker taking place this past Friday night as the team held their annual ‘Seniors Night’ where they honour the graduating players during the pregame.
Goaltender Chloe Marshall was also honoured and is another player who found success with the Lakers but got a later start to the program. After a year of playing NCAA division III hockey with Northland College in Wisconsin, Marshall returned to Canada and suited up with the University of Saskatchewan in 2017-18 and with the University of Lethbridge in 2019-20 before committing to Nipissing.
“As a Laker it’s been a very positive experience. I got to meet a lot of great people and make a lot of great memories and I’ve been fortunate enough to grow as a goalie and as a person,” says Marshall who finished her Lakers career with a 13-4-0-1 record in 20 games, with 1.96 goals against average and 0.921 save percentage.
“I think we’re in a really good spot. I’m excited to keep working and keep grinding and knowing that the work I’ve put in is paying off.”
Fellow graduate and North Bay native Maria Dominico says, “What has made my university hockey career so special is being able to play in my hometown.”
Another graduate out of the North Bay Ice Boltz program, Dominico has her name all over the Lakers record book. She set single season Lakers records in her first year in goals (15) and points (26) and would go on to set the bar as the team's all-time leading scorer with 90 points, while setting the mark for career goals (44) and assists (46) in 101 games played. The individual accolades are extensive too, including multiple All-Star team nods, and a Gold Medal for Team Canada at the 2022-2023 FISU Universiade games in which she finished as the tournaments leading goal scorer.
However, the single season Lakers records were matched this year by none other than her younger sister Malory Dominico who had an identical stat line to Maria’s Freshman year (15-11-26), and Maria says, “I am incredibly thankful that I had the opportunity to share this experience with my sister.”
Maddison Stitt was the fourth of four graduates being recognized last Friday. She only suited up for the Lakers for one season as she played four years of NCAA hockey at Lindenwood University in Missouri. The Ottawa, Ontario native played in all 24 games for the Lakers this season and produced four goals and six points and will be getting her first taste of OUA playoff action when the playoffs begin on Wednesday in Kingston as the Lakers will take on the Queen’s Gaels in a best of three quarterfinal matchup. The last time Nipissing and Queen’s met in the playoffs was in 2018, and the Lakers were swept in the second round.
"I am very grateful to play under a coach like Darren Turcotte," she says, adding "I have learned lots from him and elevated my game."
Stitt scored in the Seniors Night game last Friday.
"Scoring the last goal at home on seniors night is in my top 3 memorable moments as my family was able to join me for one of my last games at Memorial Gardens before heading into playoffs."
This opening round, best of three series is shaping up to be a tightly contested meeting as all three regular season games between Nipissing and Queen’s went to overtime this year. The Lakers lone victory came on November 27th, 2022, in Kingston by a 4-3 score, in Kingston, while Queen's came away with the win one day earlier with a 5-4 finish and on January 21, 2023, when the Gaels took the 2-1 overtime win at Memorial Gardens in North Bay.
But the Lakers have been gearing up to play in tough, grind it out hockey games winning five of their last six regular season games, including back-to-back overtime wins over Toronto University during the second last weekend of the season. Toronto finished as the top team in the OUA Women's hockey standings with 70 points (23-2-2-0) this season.
Marshall says, “It was a true test of what playoff hockey is like and what we can play like in the playoffs. If we keep building off that momentum, I think we’ll be ok and as a team, we can draw a lot from that experience and to know that if we work hard, things will go our way.”
Zack adds they are looking to draw from the experience of last year's team which went all the way to the USports National finals and came back home with a silver medal. “We're coming off a good year last year and we’re hoping to repeat that success again this year. I think we have a good chance to go to the Nationals again this year. Right now, every game matters and every shift matters. In the two games against Toronto last weekend, we didn’t give up any shifts and that was a good measuring stick for us. Every team turns it up and becomes a better team in the playoffs so you really can’t take a single shift off.”
Dominico says, “Clinching a playoff spot has been a team goal since the beginning of the season. Our team has been putting in the time and effort to ensure that we are ready for what is to come. It is a very exciting time and I know everyone is looking forward to the upcoming series against Queens.”
The Lakers will host game two of the series on Friday, February 24th at 7 p.m. at the Powassan Sportsplex and if necessary, game three will be played on Sunday, February 26th at 2 p.m. at the same venue.
