Contributed by Loups team:

The ESDC/ESPB Loups – made up of players from the Clare and Par-en-Bas shools – brought home the banner from the School Sport Nova Scotia Western Region Division 2 female regional championship, which was recently held in Berwick, and attended by six Valley High School Hockey League (VHSHL) teams.

Also competing at regionals were West Kings, Middleton, Bridgetown, Horton and Central Kings.

The Loups were down 3-1 going into the second period of their semi-final game versus the West Kings Wolverines and managed to come back and win the game 4-3 in a nail-biting overtime period, securing a spot in the Feb. 16 championship game.

Loups goals were scored by Camryn Vacon, Isabel Doucette, Sydney Reddick and Adèle Comeau.

The top two teams at regionals –  the Clare Loups and the Bridgetown Hawks – then faced off on for an evenly-matched championship final. Shots were tied at 23-23 in a 1-1 game with three minutes remaining on the clock in this intense matchup.

The Loups managed to get a goal with a mere 27 seconds remaining in the third period to win the game and bring home the banner. The Loups goals were scored by Isabel Doucette and Renée Melanson.

It is worth nothing that this is the first year the ESDC/ESPB Loups ice a female hockey team. The Loups team will be hosting the School Sport Nova Scotia (SSNS) female Division 2 provincial championships taking place Friday, Feb. 24 to Sunday, Feb. 26 at Université Sainte-Anne arena.

The team’s coaching staff and manager are also all females.

PICTURED ARE:

The championship Loups team: (Back row) Camryn Vacon, Cloe Comeau, Abby Smith, Danica Deveau, Allie Dugas, Isabel Doucette, Zoe Deveau, Brooke Boudreau, Jasmine Lombard, Denise Thibault, Janelle Lombard, Marissa Fevens, Chantal Deveau (assistant coach). (Front row) Tori Comeau (assistant coach), Josanne Deveau (head coach), Alya Belliveau, Renee Melanson, Adèle Comeau, France Boudreau, Sophie LeBlanc, Sydney Reddick, Jesse Wren-Dugas, Anique Dugas (assistant coach) and Véronique Melanson (assistant coach). Missing: Isabelle d’Entremont and Aleasha Mullen. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO