THE COUGARS
s l a n o i t a N o t d a o R
After an extended wait, the Cougars successfully defended their American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 2 Women’s Hockey National Championship Title. The Cougars Hockey program entered familiar territory at the Championship tournament, but for the majority of players, it was a first. With a roster of 17 student-athletes, only one had ever donned the Cougars logo at an ACHA National Championship, where the team won their first title in 2019. After an undefeated season in 2020 the Championship did not go forward due to the pandemic. It was cancelled again in 2021, so the Cougars returned this year as the defending champions at the 14th edition of the event. The Cougars entered the tournament as the top-ranked team in the West Region with a 14-1-0-0 record at the end of regular conference play. The tournament was held March 15-19 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Cougars put all their nerves at ease with a hot start that included two shutouts. They ran into teams they had never played, which tested the young roster and coaching staff, but the ability to adapt between periods and perform under pressure ultimately led the Cougars to success. With 16 teams competing for the gold, this journey was no easy feat.
6
March 15th March 16th March 17th March 18th March 19th
VS VS VS VS VS
University of Vermont (W 4-0) University of New Hampshire (W 5-0) Sault College (W 3-1) Northeastern (W 5-3) Dakota College at Bottineau (Final W 2-1)
Assiniboine is proud of our student athletes for putting in the effort every single day to achieve their goals. This group of athletes performed to the best of their ability under the pressure of a national stage and a history of success. The team celebrated their wins with Sweet Caroline blasting on the bus back to the hotel, then quickly shifted focus to their laptops and books to complete their college assignments. This group is much deserving of recognition and praise. Head Coach, Tony Bertone, and his coaching staff have built the hockey program around the values of respect, hard work and teamwork, and have put the Cougars on the map. With dedication and perseverance from a talented group of student athletes, the hockey program shows no signs of slowing down.
