by ACAC Sports Writer Curtis J. Phillips

With Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference w(ACAC) women's hockey introduced in 2000-2001, the championship final has featured the pitting of the MacEwan University Griffins and Red Deer Queens only once.

It was in 2001-2002 that the Queens were crowned , with the best-of-three series going the distance with Red Deer outscoring the Griffins by a slim seven-to-five margin in total goals for and goals against.

The Griffins, Queens and NAIT Ooks are the only three schools remaining from the inaugural season. The other two were the Mount Royal Cougars and Augustana Vikings.

During the 2017-2018 ACAC regular season the Griffins and Queens met six times.

In the month of October 2017 the Griffins won all four games by outscoring the Queens 11-5.

Their next two meetings were in January 2018 with a split, Griffins winning 2-0 and Red Deer 1-0.

So on paper, we have the Griffins winning five of six with a 13 goals for to 6 goals against variance.

But that is paper and we are talking about ice.

MacEwan University Griffins

Record: 18 wins 3 losses 3 overtime losses 70 goals for 34 goals against
ACAC Championships: 2
Coach: Lindsay MacAlpineMacEwan Griffins made quick work of the Olds College Broncos in ACAC semi-finals best of three with 6-0 and 4-2 decisions.

Of the 10 goals, four were power play goals.

MacEwan displayed balanced scoring during the series with Shyla Jans, Carley Jewell, Amanda Murray and Kyrelle Skoye each getting two goals.

"To give Olds credit, as we expected, they came at us really hard," said Griffins head coach MacAlpine in an interview with Jefferson Hagen. "I think it was a good challenge for us to be in a closer game like that heading into the next series."

That series is now focused on the Queens.

"I think again that record (ACAC regular season matchup results vs. Red Deer) flatters us as we had some close games against them. The Queens are coming off a massive win in the three-game series where they came from behind and beat NAIT where our series (against Olds) was different, so they are on an emotional high right now.

Queens Julia Murrell had a great semi-final series vs. NAIT Ooks. Photo - Tony Hansen

"Plus their goaltending is obviously the best in the league. The key for us is our balanced lineup and the depth of our roster."

Red Deer Queens

Record: 14 wins 5 losses 5 overtime loss 47 goals for 36 goals against
ACAC Championships: 3
Coach: Kelly Coulter

Of playing against the Griffins who won the regular season matchups?

"I would wipe that slate clean it is playoffs," said Coulter, the Queens semi-final bookend wins against NAIT, a 4-2 opener and 4-3 closer, with NAIT winning the middle game 3-0, vaulting his team into the gold medal game after a one-year hiatus. "Twenty-four games into the season and playoffs, our team is much more conditioned and now what to expect.

"It's a best-of-five game series and there will be ebbs-and-flows and we have to take it one game at a time."

Of the fact that 15 player on the 25-player roster are rookies?

"When we recruited, we were looking for people that we competitive and willing to compete."

The puck drops Thursday March 1, 2018

Championship website http://www.acac.ab.ca/tournament/whockey/2017-18/index