Cougars hungry for national championship

The Assiniboine College women’s hockey team has one goal this year: Win a national championship.

Last year’s team made it to the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 2 national championship game, but ultimately fell 1-0 to Sault College in a game they won’t soon forget, according to head coach Charles Tweed.

“We tried to do a lot of visualization leading into the game, but you can’t replace the feeling that you have the night before,” said Tweed. “We handled it well; we played really well, but I think to see it once and have that experience, the energy will be different the second time around.”

The Cougars made it to the national championship with a very young squad, leading the coaching staff to conclude that they were ahead of schedule.

However, with that level of success comes higher expectations.

“The truth is we are here to win a national championship,” said Tweed. “Those expectations come with a different set of responsibilities, and it can be challenging at times to manage expectations of what this year will look like, because it will look different, but we are singularly focused on winning a national championship.”

Last year, the Cougars roster consisted mainly of first-year players, which won’t be the case this year. Now, the team is largely composed of veterans who understand what ACHA Division 2 hockey is like.

FORWARDS

Team-leading scorer Jenna Walker is back for her second year with the Cougars. While she will undoubtedly be a player to watch this year, she’s just one of a large number of returning forwards primed to take a step forward.

Also returning are Victoria Mann, Abby Dixon, Katie Falkevitch, Kali Remillard, Kadence Cress and Brooke Cyr, who are all headed into their second year on the team.

The last returning player is Madison Haliuk, who scored nine goals and 24 points last year and will be starting her fifth year on the team this fall.

There are several new forwards joining the team. Karlee Poznecov is the second player ever recruited from the Vancouver Island Seals, the same program Walker came from.

“She’s got some skills,” said Tweed. “You can really tell she’s got a good head on her shoulders for hockey. (She) sees the game the right way; she’s in the right spots; super talented.”

Another new addition is veteran forward Payton Durand, who played for Lake Region State College last year. She recorded an impressive 12 goals and 12 assists in 16 games.

“(Durand) scored for them last year and we expect her to score for us,” said Tweed.

Finally, the team also added 2008-born forward Brooke Maxwell, a Boissevain native who played for the Yellowhead Chiefs U18 AAA team last year. She scored two goals and recorded six points in 30 games for the Chiefs.

With a strong core that experienced a national final, proven scorers primed to take a step forward in year two and intriguing new additions that could bolster the group, the Cougars look ready to dominate offensively.

“We’re always aggressive, so we want to play downhill,” said Tweed. “We’re going to push the pace.

DEFENCE

On defence, the Cougars boast a strong group of returners including Kylee Emms-Finnsson, who enjoyed a breakout campaign with nine goals and 27 assists last year. She’s returning for her fourth season with the Cougars.

Also back are second-year defenders Montana Jubenvill, who averaged a point-per-game last year, as well as Isabelle Gottselig and Lexi Remillard.

“(It’s) a really veteran group,” said Tweed. “Our defence is going to be stellar.”

The lone addition to the group is 2008-born defender Chloe McBeth of Brandon, who scored one goal and added five assists playing for the Central Plains Capitals U18 AAA team in the Manitoba Female Hockey League last year.

Again, the experience stands out in this group. With Emms-Finnsson acting as the longtime veteran and three second-year players in the group, there is plenty of experience to lean on.

The defence corps also stands out for its scoring. The four returners combined for 25 goals during the 2025-26 season.

“Our defenders are incredibly mobile, so we’ve asked them to be the fourth person in every rush, pushing the puck up the ice,” said Tweed.

GOALIES

Both Rachel Halldorson and Clair Merckx return for another year tending the crease with the Cougars.

“Our two goalies in net are, I would argue, the best two goalies in the league,” said Tweed. “They’d start for every team, so it’s kind of the coach’s dream on that end.”

Halldorson led the tandem last year, playing 18 games while maintaining a 0.74 goals-against average and .961 save percentage.

While Merckx only played seven games, her 0.86 goals-against average and .960 save percentage are easily on par with Halldorson’s work.

“They work out with each other; they do off-ice stuff together,” said Tweed of the pair. “They have very different personalities, but at the end of the day, they’re both ultra-competitive people.”

The tandem is an embarrassment of riches based on the numbers. The only thing that remains to be seen is whether Halldorson will maintain the clear starting role or the pair will be deployed in more of a 1A/1B style this season.

The Cougars still have a few weeks before the ACHA season starts. The coaches and players alike are keen to use the time to prepare.

“This year, I’ve already noticed there are people that are narrowly focused on the goals,” said Tweed. “(They) aren’t afraid to say what we need to got to those goals, so you just see that ownership of leadership really take over right from day one.”

With the way the team performed last year, it’s safe to say that anything short of a return to the national championship game would be a disappointment.

“We have to do all of the things right along the way to get you there,” said Tweed. “That means winning tight games, losing a couple tight games and learning about ourselves in different situations.

“You want to make (mistakes) during the season. Get them cleaned up so we are peaking for nationals, but make no mistake: The goal is to go there and house the trophy.”

The Cougars’ season begins with a road game against Dakota College at Bottineau Lady Jack on Oct. 16, followed by another away game the following day against the University of St. Thomas. They don’t play their first home game until Oct. 24 when they host the Jamestown Jimmies.

» rmccarthy@brandonsun.com