Though the Gryphons women’s hockey team lost to both Laurier and Waterloo this weekend, the team has secured their position in the playoffs set to begin on Feb. 16

“Record wise, it was a rough go. We lost to Laurier by a substantial amount,” said Gryphons hockey captain Tamara Bell.

The team fell hard to the Goldenhawks on Feb. 11, the third time the teams have come up against one another in regulation games, and the second time the Gryphons have lost to the feisty hawks.
“It was just kind of hard for us because we knew we had clinched second [in the OUA west division] and so we didn’t have a motivation to win or lose in this final weekend,” said Bell. “A lot of us have already looked forward to playoffs and are already planning for that, so it was hard to get into the game.”

The lack of motivation also cost the team a tough loss in overtime to the Waterloo Warriors, who were desperate for a win.

“A lot of teams really stepped up in this last stretch because the bottom five teams were so close to making playoffs and started winning big games,” said Bell. “Western this past weekend beat out two top three and four teams just to secure their spot, and by big wins too. Some of the top teams have been in the slumps, so I think it’s up for anyone really. “

Although the Gryphons likely won’t see the Goldenhawks again until the finals, Bell feels that the next time they meet the outcome will be different.

Between now and then the Gryphons will look to improve the mental part of their game.

“It’s definitely a huge part and that’s the aspect that we need to get stronger at. When we come into the Laurier game a lot of the girls are intimidated just because it is Laurier and we have such a rivaled past with them, but we just have to come in and focus on our own game,” continued Bell. “This year we’ve struggled against some of the weaker teams so I think our team is more focused on the quarter final game then we are even against Laurier, because we always put up a good game with the higher ranked teams. It’s with the lower ranked teams that we sometimes sink down to their level. So hopefully in playoffs we’ll leave that all behind and play our own game.”

In the three years that Bell has been playing for the Gryphons the team has made it to finals and walked away just shorthanded, always finishing with silver.  This year, Bell thinks the team has what it takes to claim gold.

“We’ve come so close. I think we have a very strong team this year and we’re definitely capable of winning an OUA title,” said Bell.

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