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Manitoba Bisons Bring Home Women’s Hockey Championship for First Time

March 19, 2018 8:14 PM | Sports


Manitoba Bisons Champions

The Manitoba Bison women’s hockey team returns home in Winnipeg on Monday after winning the U Sports national championship for the first time in their team’s history Sunday night in London, Ont. (CHRISD.CA)

WINNIPEG — It’s never happened before, but on Sunday, the Manitoba Bisons slid into the history books. The women’s hockey team hoisted a national championship trophy for the first time in the program’s 21-year history.

Twenty-four hours later, the feeling is still sinking in.

Welcomed home by cheering fans at Winnipeg’s James Richardson International Airport Monday evening, the Herd arrived from London, Ontario with a U Sports national championship to their name.

The Bisons shutout the Western University Mustangs 2-0 at the hands of rookie goaltender Lauren Taraschuk. The Bisons’ two goals were secured by Lauryn Keen and Olympian Venla Hovi.

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“The last month has been crazy. It’s been fun. It’s been everything a playoff run like this should be,” said Bisons head coach Jon Rempel.

“This group never felt the pressure… we were the best team there and I think anyone there that watched will tell you that. And they [the team] were rewarded for it.”

The Bisons entered the championship weekend as the No. 1 seed for the first time in their sixth appearance at the nationals.

“Coming back here… it’s just been unbelievable,” said fifth-year captain Caitlin Fyten. “In the moment it was hard to believe, but it felt incredible to raise that trophy up and celebrate with our teammates on the ice.”