Final push ahead for Rams in busy end to regular season

TORONTO - Few Rams teams have had as many games rescheduled as women's hockey. Just last week, the squad took on a grueling road trip, featuring a visit to North Bay and a Friday night makeup game in Kingston. The team was deeply resilient in both contests, coming back twice to earn an overtime point against Nipissing and a clutch win versus Queen's.

With their three final regular season games scheduled this week, nine crucial divisional points are up for grabs.

Before resuming the season, head coach Lisa Haley said she hoped for at least 10 regular season games for her squad. Having already played 11, the trio of games this week offer a chance to boost the Rams' winning percentage. Due to disparities in the amount of games played for each team, winning percentage is how playoff seeding will be calculated.

A single home game against the York Lions and a home-and-away contest versus the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks awaits the Rams in this critical week. The Rams sit third in the OUA East division underneath powerhouses Nipissing and Toronto. Meanwhile, the Ridgebacks are right below the Rams, separated by just 0.052 winning percentage.

However, Ontario Tech has been out of action for almost the last two weeks, having played their last game on February 17th. The Ridgebacks have seen a similar schedule to the Rams, and beat the Lakers 2-1 in their last game. They seem to benefit from home-ice advantage, with three of their four wins happening in Oshawa.

The Rams have bested the York Lions twice already this season, once to start the season and then a rally to a 6-2 win on Mattamy Home Ice two weeks ago. Though York sits last in the division, coach Haley has repeatedly discussed how every team presents a challenge for the squad.

With playoff competition starting as soon as next week, the Rams will look to hit the ice hard in this busy set of games. York visits the Rams on Wednesday, with puck drop at 6:00 p.m. The Rams then head to Ontario Tech on Friday at 7:00 p.m. before closing out the regular season on Saturday at home at 3:15 p.m.

Wednesday will mark the team's annual Do it for Daron event, with all proceeds from a Chuck-a-Puck contest going to the Do It For Daron youth mental health organization.

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