ANTIGONISH: The StFX X-Women are once again the queens of Atlantic University Sport (AUS) hockey, securing their 12th conference title with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the UNB REDS last week at the Charles V. Keating Centre in Antigonish.
The championship win capped off a dramatic best-of-three final series that saw both games decided by a single goal. Game one, played at UNB’s Aitken Centre, needed double overtime to determine a winner.
Kamdyn Switzer played the hero, tipping in Mackenzie Lothian’s point shot with just 13 seconds remaining in the second overtime period, giving StFX a 2-1 victory and a crucial 1-0 series lead.
That game was a goaltending duel, as StFX netminder Bianca Zak turned aside 28 of 29 shots, while UNB’s Cassie McCallum made an impressive 42 saves before finally being beaten in the dying moments.
After a scoreless first two periods, UNB’s Lauren Carter opened the scoring midway through the third, only for StFX’s Terryn Mozes to tie things up with just 70 seconds left in regulation, setting the stage for Switzer’s overtime heroics.
With momentum on their side, the X-Women returned home looking to clinch the championship in front of their passionate supporters. The second game of the series mirrored the tight-checking nature of the series opener, with StFX once again prevailing 2-1.
The first period ended with a bang, as Landyn Pitts tipped in a Lothian shot just three seconds before intermission to give the X-Women a 1-0 lead.
The REDS responded in the second period when Josie Chisholm, an Antigonish native, banged home her own rebound to even the score. With the tension mounting, it was Switzer who once again delivered in the clutch, snapping home the game-winner with six minutes remaining, sending the crowd of 1,782 into a frenzy.
The REDS pressed hard in the final moments, even hitting a post, but Zak stood tall to secure the championship victory.
McCallum was named player of the game for UNB with a 31-save effort, while Pitts earned the honour for StFX. Switzer, who scored three game-winning goals during the playoffs, was named the 2025 AUS Playoff MVP for her standout performances.
With the AUS title in hand, both StFX and UNB will now turn their attention to the U SPORTS National Championship in Waterloo from March 20-23, where they will represent Atlantic Canada on the national stage.