Women’s Hockey
The Nipissing Lakers women’s hockey team kicks off the second half of the OUA season this weekend, with a pair of home games, facing both the Queens Gaels and UOIT Ridgebacks. The Lakers and Gaels met last February, with the Lakers earning a first round win, defeating Queens in overtime in North Bay and edging them on the road for the sweep. They also kicked off this season with a 5-2 win over the Gaels, one of their 10 wins through 12 games this season. Last season, the teams split a pair of games, which puts the Lakers at 3-0-1 versus Queens in their past four meetings, playoffs included.
On Saturday, Nipissing will wrap up their weekend facing the UOIT Ridgebacks, a team tied with Queens in the standings. The Lakers topped the Ridgebacks in a shootout on the road in their second game of the season and have had success against them in their program’s history. UOIT is coming off two wins before the Christmas break and finished November with a 3-2-1 record. UOIT is 3-3-0 on the road, while the Lakers boast a 4-0-1 record at home, losing just once in overtime to Brock.
Nipissing is hoping for a quick start to the second half of and to pick up where they left off in 2016. Both games are set for 4:30pm at Memorial Gardens, Friday and Saturday.
Men’s Hockey
The Nipissing Lakers men’s hockey team enter the second half of the year looking in on the playoff picture, but they’re only five points out of the final spot as they look to close the gap. Their push begins this weekend, as they host the Laurier Golden Hawks and Waterloo Warriors, two teams from the West Division, but teams the Lakers need to beat and earn points against. Laurier is fifth in the West Division with 19 points, thanks to an 8-7-3 record, while Waterloo is in the same spot as Nipissing, one spot out of the post-season.
Nipissing enters 2017 having won just a single game of their past five matchups, a win in London over Windsor. Despite just the one win in their past five, the Lakers have a 3-4-0 record in their final seven games of 2016. Saturday’s matchup against Waterloo is a big game for Nipissing, as they face a team in a similar position and while it won’t be easy, earning points are a must. With tough games against UOIT, Carleton, McGill and UQTR all coming up in the second half of the season, points will be at a premium for the Lakers and it begins this weekend. Puck drop is set for 7:15pm both Friday and Saturday night at Memorial Gardens.
