At CEPSUM the final horn cut through a packed arena and sticks and gloves flew into the air as a team that had rebuilt itself over a year poured onto the ice. concordia had just completed a 2-0 sweep of the Montréal Carabins to claim the RSEQ women’s hockey championship — a finish that read like the closing chapter of a season that tested and then rewarded the Stingers.
How the final unfolded
The series opened with a high-scoring Game 1, a 5-3 victory in which Émilie Lussier set up three assists and scorers for the Stingers included Jessymaude Drapeau, Frédérike Verpaelst, Zoé Thibault, Juliette Leroux and Émilie Lavoie. Goaltender Jordyn Verbeek made 22 saves in that win. Game 2 tightened into a single-goal margin: Montréal struck first on a tally by Audrey-Anne Veillette just over a minute into the third period, but Juliette Leroux answered four minutes later to tie the match. With 2: 18 remaining Émilie Lussier finished the decisive play and the Stingers held on for a 2-1 clincher that completed the sweep.
What this means for Concordia and the program
The title is the program’s 24th and its fourth in five years; the Stingers swept McGill en route to the final and then swept Montréal to capture the crown. The championship also secures the team’s place at the U Sports National Championship tournament scheduled for March 19–22 in Waterloo, Ontario. With the RSEQ crown clinched, the team appears poised for a strong showing at nationals and seems likely to secure a high seed at the tournament.
Voices from the ice and the coach’s perspective
Players and staff framed the win in terms of resilience and shared effort. Head coach Julie Chu, who guided the team through a crosstown rivalry and the pressure of a best-of-three final, highlighted the physical battles and the energy that carried the roster. “We knew there were going to be battles against Montréal, and that’s what it was today, ” Julie Chu said. “It was a tight game, it could have gone either way at different points, but the energy of our bench, the energy in our locker room was really special. ”
Captain Jessymaude Drapeau emphasized the team’s cohesion beyond single moments on the ice. “I couldn’t be more proud of everything we’ve done outside of the rink, ” Jessymaude Drapeau said. “It brought us together all year long, and in those moments, we couldn’t be more proud of all the efforts that we put in. ” Goaltender Jordyn Verbeek, whose play in net was pivotal across the final, reflected on recovery and preparation: “We’re gonna have a good day off, do the right things for our minds and our bodies and be ready to go on Saturday. ” Forward Alexis Bedier framed the victory as a step in a larger process: “It’s the first step in what hopefully ends up being a great victory. ”
The team’s individual recognitions at the RSEQ All-Star recognitions underscored its depth. First Team All-Stars included Jessymaude Drapeau (Concordia), Émilie Lussier (Concordia), Émilie Lavoie (Concordia) and Jordyn Verbeek (Concordia). Frédérike Verpaelst (Concordia) and Angelie Jobin (Concordia) were named to the All-Rookie team.
Next steps and a scene renewed
With the trophy raised and medals presented on the ice, players spoke of enjoying the moment before shifting focus to national preparation. Ekaterina Pelowich emphasized the work ahead, saying the team’s job was just getting started. In the locker room where the article began, the celebration settled into a quieter, purposeful mood: the same bench that roared at the final horn now mapped out recovery and practice plans for the road to Waterloo. For a program that has built recent success into expectation, the title is both a fulcrum of pride and a reminder of unfinished business — and concordia will carry both into the national championship.
