The Assiniboine College Cougars concluded their regular season with impressive back-to-back shutout victories against the Dakota College at Bottineau Lumberjacks in the American Collegiate Hockey Association women”s Division 2 competition.
On Saturday, during the matchup at the Bottineau Lumberdome, goaltender Clair Merckx recorded 23 saves, while Brooke Cyr showcased her offensive prowess by netting a hat trick. The Cougars triumphed with a decisive 5-0 score. Olivia Vaagen, the goalie for Dakota College, made 48 saves during the game.
The following day at the Sportsplex, the Cougars continued their dominant performance, overwhelming the Lumberjacks with a 10-0 victory. In this game, both Madison Haliuk and Veronica Smarz scored twice, contributing to a total of eight different players finding the back of the net, including Jenna Walker, Katie Falkevitch, Hailey Sitter, Isabelle Gottselig, Kasey Fouillard, and Kali Remillard.
In goal, Rachel Halldorson achieved the shutout with 19 saves, while Dakota College”s Riley Richardson, Vaagen, and Caitlin Fillion combined to stop 36 shots.
The Cougars concluded the season with an impressive record of 23 wins and 2 losses, their last defeat occurring on November 8. They are currently on a remarkable 19-game winning streak, having outscored their opponents 126-20 throughout the season, and their goalkeepers have recorded a total of 12 shutouts this year.
As the top-ranked team in the West Region, the Cougars are set to compete in the 2026 ACHA national championships, scheduled for March 15 to 19 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis.
