Most of you had probably heard the news yesterday that Tommies captain Matt Eagles has had to make the tough decision to stop playing hockey. After a few too many knocks to the head the 24 year old forward and former Moncton Wildcat is going to call it a career. A full in-depth story can be found here: Concussions end Tommies captain Matt Eagles hockey career
We would like to thank Matt for the three years he has spent with the Tommies and wish him all the best. Matt is currently finishing off his degree at St. Thomas and plans on going into medicine when he completes his undergrad. Best of luck to a great hockey player, Tommie, and person. I think everybody would agree you are making the right decision. BEST OF LUCK AND THANKS FROM TOMMIE FANS EVERYWHERE.
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Tommies hand out year end awards
The St. Thomas Tommies men' and women's hockey teams were presented their annual team awards last night at the annual STU Athletics banquet. Of note was Kayla Blackmore receiving team MVP and the Cathy Wadden Commitment award for the female student-athlete who best represents the student-athlete ideal in balancing her academic, volunteer and athletic pursuits. Rookies were the story for the men's team, picking up all the awards except MVP, which was given - rightfully so - to Charles Lavigne. It was also confirmed that Lavigne will be pursuing his pro hockey career next season and will not be returning to the Tommies. Best of luck to Charlie and congratulations to the award winners and graduating players.
Men’s hockey 2011-12 winners
MVP: Charlie Lavigne
Rookie of the year: Co-winners, Steve Sanza and Jonathan Bonneau
Unsung hero: Robert Zandbeek
Best defenceman: Felix-Antoine Poulin
Most sportsmanlike: John MacDonald
Women's hockey 2011-12 winners
MVP: Kayla Blackmore
Rookie of the year: Danielle Miller
Most improved: Carly Critch
Best defensive player: Courtney Fox
Men’s hockey 2011-12 winners
MVP: Charlie Lavigne
Rookie of the year: Co-winners, Steve Sanza and Jonathan Bonneau
Unsung hero: Robert Zandbeek
Best defenceman: Felix-Antoine Poulin
Most sportsmanlike: John MacDonald
Women's hockey 2011-12 winners
MVP: Kayla Blackmore
Rookie of the year: Danielle Miller
Most improved: Carly Critch
Best defensive player: Courtney Fox
Friday, 2 March 2012
Lady Tommies finish season with OT win
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| Courtney Fox, Kayla Blackmore, Katie Brewster and Paige MacDonald celebrate the OT winner. Courtesy Richard Lafourtune |
After last nights defeat to Moncton, the Tommies really needed to win by several goals to have any hope of advancing to Sunday's final. A well rested Mounties team had different plans. Mt. A out shot STU 15 to 3 in the first period, as Julia Sharun was called upon time after time to keep STU in the game.
The past two games that St. Thomas has played have been at the Dalhousie Memorial Arena and both have seen the Tommies score zero goals. Tonight the Ladies broke through. Katie Brewster (Fox) roofed one at 13:36 on the powerplay to give STU the lead, which they held for the rest of the period. Shots favoured the Mounties 14 to 6 in the second.
STU had a few chances in the third on powerplays but nothing got by all-star Meagan Corley-Byrne. The Tommies held the lead until late when MT A was forced to pull their goalie. Cassidy McTaggart had an opportune chance to score into an empty net but narrowly missed. On the resulting rush back up the ice Courtney King of the Mounties would bang one by Sharun to tie the game with 54 seconds to play.
The Tommies would have a chance with a few seconds left in regulation but were denied. MT A. did take a penalty on the play and were assessed a 2 minute minor at the 20 minute mark of the third. Of course this penalty carried over into overtime.
St. Thomas would respond promptly. Playing 4 on 3 in the extra period, Courtney Fox would get by a Mountie penalty killer high in the zone and skate in close enough to fire one past the goalie for the overtime winner. Paige MacDonald picked up the assist on the goal. Tommies WIN.
Since Mount Allison forced overtime, it denies the Tommies any chance of advancing to Sunday's championship game, so St. Thomas ends their season with a win.
It was an entertaining season of hockey with the Ladies and we look forward to a strong recruiting class and the promise of next year's successes.
Blackmore and Miller receive AUS honours
Atlantic University Sport announced their 2011-12 Women's Hockey awards this morning in Halifax and two Tommies garnered honours.
Kayla Blackmore of Lincoln, NB was named a 2nd team all-star and STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD recipient. Captain Blackmore led STU in every major offensive category and plus/minus with 16 goals, 14 assists for 30 points and a +12. This is the second year in a row that Kayla has picked up a major award, as last year she was the leagues Most Sportsmanlike Player recipient.
From the AUS site "The Student-Athlete Community Service Award honours the individual who best combines academics, athletics and community involvement.
St. Thomas forward Kayla Blackmore, also named a second team AUS all-star today, is a three-time Academic all-Canadian who has maintained a cumulative 3.94 GPA over the past four years and is the recipient of the Dr. Tony Rhinelander Nature of History Prize for commitment to the field of history and research.
On top of her academic and athletic commitments she finds time to work part time at the university gym and volunteer as a youth hockey coach. She is a leader on her team and was previously named the 2010-11 AUS most sportsmanlike player.
Blackmore is the first Tommies player to receive this award and will now represent the conference as the AUS nominee for the CIS Marion Hilliard Award."
First year Tommies forward Danielle Miller was named to the AUS ALL-ROOKIE TEAM. Miller, a Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native, was second in team scoring registering 8 goals and 13 assists for 21 points and had a +8 +/-. Dani was a strong presence on the ice at all times and we look forward to seeing her in Green and Gold for many years to come.
Congratulations to our Lady Tommies.
AUS Story and STU Athletics Story
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| KAYLA BLACKMORE - 2011-12 AUS STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD WINNER and ALL-STAR Courtesy Dylan Buell |
From the AUS site "The Student-Athlete Community Service Award honours the individual who best combines academics, athletics and community involvement.
St. Thomas forward Kayla Blackmore, also named a second team AUS all-star today, is a three-time Academic all-Canadian who has maintained a cumulative 3.94 GPA over the past four years and is the recipient of the Dr. Tony Rhinelander Nature of History Prize for commitment to the field of history and research.
On top of her academic and athletic commitments she finds time to work part time at the university gym and volunteer as a youth hockey coach. She is a leader on her team and was previously named the 2010-11 AUS most sportsmanlike player.
Blackmore is the first Tommies player to receive this award and will now represent the conference as the AUS nominee for the CIS Marion Hilliard Award."
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| Saskatoon's Dani Miller was named to the AUS ALL_ROOKIE TEAM. Courtesy Dylan Buell |
Congratulations to our Lady Tommies.
AUS Story and STU Athletics Story
Tommies in must win position today
St. Thomas' women's hockey team continues in their quest for an AUS title tonight when they take on #3 Mount Allison at 7 PM. The Mounties and Tommies split the season series two games apiece with STU winning 2 to 1 in overtime at the LBR - the game where STU lost Kayla Blackmore to injury and the rest of the team stepped up to win - and 3 to 1 in Sackville. Mt A. won their two games 4 to 1.
Mount Allison is good, don't under estimate them. Check out their stats HERE.
The AUS awards and all-stars will be announced this morning at their annual breakfast banquet. Look for Kayla Blackmore to get an all-star selection and rookie Danielle Miller to be named to the all-rookie team. Blackmore should get some consideration for MVP but will probably fall short to Alex Normore of St-FX.
Good luck to our Tommies.
Mount Allison is good, don't under estimate them. Check out their stats HERE.
The AUS awards and all-stars will be announced this morning at their annual breakfast banquet. Look for Kayla Blackmore to get an all-star selection and rookie Danielle Miller to be named to the all-rookie team. Blackmore should get some consideration for MVP but will probably fall short to Alex Normore of St-FX.
Good luck to our Tommies.
Thursday, 1 March 2012
U de M defeat toothless Tommies
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| Julia Sharun faced 48 shots and was the Tommies first star versus Les Aigles Bleues. Courtesy Richard Lafourtune |
Moncton out shot the Tommies 48 to 19 this evening. Johannie Thibeault lead Moncton with four points. Julia Sharun was her usual brilliant self in net and was the Tommies player of the game.
STU will need to have a real good gut check tonight and put this game to rest, refocus, and prepare for Mount Allison tomorrow night at 7 PM. Let's Go Tommies!
Lady Tommies begin playoffs tonight
The Lady Tommies head to Dalhousie Memorial Arena this weekend to compete in the AUS Women's Hockey Championship entering the tournament as the fifth seed. The round robin begins this afternoon with the host Dalhousie Tigers playing the St-FX X-Women and continues at 7 PM when Fredericton's own St. Thomas Tommies take on the U de M Aigles Bleues. You can watch the game LIVE HERE.
The Tommies are in Pool B and will draw both inter-provincial rivals - Moncton and Mount Allison. Moncton is on a 5 game losing streak coming out of the regular season but rest assured they are going to be coming out looking to pay the Tommies back for two overtime losses in the second half. They should also be getting back their best defender in Genevieve David, who's absence was felt in a big way and who will likely be getting a conference all-star nod today.
In years gone bye Mount Allison didn't have great teams, I could elaborate but it isn't necessary. Not this year. The Mounties finished third in the conference and completed the season on a seven game run which included a win against every team in the AUS. They are tough and their goaltender Meagan Corley-Byrne is the last line of defense for this hard working, skilled team.
The Tommies are led by sniper and team Captain Kayla Blackmore and the other teams in the league know it. Kayla gets that extra special attention that good players do. This is where the Brewster's, MacIsaac's, and Miller's (x2) etc. need to find a way to generate some secondary scoring in the forward ranks and our D needs to unload some big shots. Of course we have our ace in the hole with Julia Sharun in net.
Good luck STU, bring it home.
2011-12 STU Tommies season stats.
The Tommies are in Pool B and will draw both inter-provincial rivals - Moncton and Mount Allison. Moncton is on a 5 game losing streak coming out of the regular season but rest assured they are going to be coming out looking to pay the Tommies back for two overtime losses in the second half. They should also be getting back their best defender in Genevieve David, who's absence was felt in a big way and who will likely be getting a conference all-star nod today.
In years gone bye Mount Allison didn't have great teams, I could elaborate but it isn't necessary. Not this year. The Mounties finished third in the conference and completed the season on a seven game run which included a win against every team in the AUS. They are tough and their goaltender Meagan Corley-Byrne is the last line of defense for this hard working, skilled team.
The Tommies are led by sniper and team Captain Kayla Blackmore and the other teams in the league know it. Kayla gets that extra special attention that good players do. This is where the Brewster's, MacIsaac's, and Miller's (x2) etc. need to find a way to generate some secondary scoring in the forward ranks and our D needs to unload some big shots. Of course we have our ace in the hole with Julia Sharun in net.
Good luck STU, bring it home.
2011-12 STU Tommies season stats.