UW Warriors women’s hockey team gearing up for another McCaw Cup Championship

UW’s women’s hockey team will compete in the provincial championship this weekend. CTV’s Ashley Bacon finds out how they’re preparing.

The University of Waterloo’s women’s hockey team will take on the University of Toronto this weekend at McCaw Cup Championship.

According to Warriors head coach Shaun Reagan, who spoke to CTV News at the team’s Thursday morning skate, the province’s reigning champs are hoping for a repeat of last year’s success.

“I think our group is pretty battle tested,” he said. “We’ve won in a number of ways this year. We’ve lost in some different ways, so I think we’re ready to go. We’ve had a good playoff run here, and we’re just really pumped to be playing at home.”

Waterloo is hosting the championship for the first time and it’s a big deal for many of the local players.

“It’s only our second time actually being in the Cup and, to be hosting for the second time in program history, is just incredible to see,” said Warriors forward Karly Orth. “I’m so proud of this program. I’m so proud of this team.”

The Warriors and Varsity Blues also faced off at the McCaw Cup last season, but they were playing on Toronto’s home ice.

“I know they’re going to come in working hard because of what happened last year,” Orth said. “We just got to bring that same energy, same thunder back towards them.”

Warriors goaltender Kara Mark is up to the challenge.

“I feel like changing the scenery here with our fans is going to be really amazing,” she said. “The [Varsity] Blues are an amazing team. They really, really work hard and I think we’re going to really have to bring our A-game against them.”

Mark currently leads the league in post-season saves, with only four goals in out of 146 shots on net, and has been named goalie of the year.

“I feel like they’re are an absolutely amazing team,” Mark added. “I really can’t say anything bad about the girls in front of me, they’re my best friends and I really couldn’t ask for anybody better to play with.”

The Warriors said they’re taking it one skate at a time ahead of the championship.

The puck drops at 4 p.m. on March 15 at the Columbia Icefield on the University of Waterloo campus.