The Saint John Rapids female team delivered a pair of gritty, hard-earned victories this past weekend, showcasing resilience, defensive determination, and timely scoring as they earned wins over the Halifax Hurricanes and Dartmouth Bandits. The weekend sweep improves the Rapids’ record to 4-2 on the season and provides a significant boost of momentum as the team continues to grow and establish itself in ECJLL competition.
The weekend opened Saturday afternoon at the Lord Beaverbrook Rink with a tightly contested defensive battle against the Halifax Hurricanes. In a game where every possession mattered, the Rapids demonstrated patience and discipline to secure a thrilling 2-1 victory.
Saint John controlled much of the play from the opening whistle, outshooting Halifax 54-17 and maintaining consistent pressure throughout all three periods. Despite the significant shot advantage, Hurricanes goaltender Greer Nagel turned in a stellar performance to keep the game close, forcing the Rapids to remain patient offensively.
The breakthrough came midway through the opening period when Maddie Corrigan found the back of the net, finishing a play set up by Morgan Daley and Raine Gilmore to give the Rapids a 1-0 lead. Halifax answered early in the second period, setting the stage for a tense final frame.
Just 3:41 into the third period, Rian Deakin delivered the game-winning moment. Deakin buried her first goal of the season to restore the Rapids’ lead, and Saint John’s defence took over from there. Kat Garland was outstanding in goal, stopping 16 of 17 shots and shutting the door during several key late-game Hurricanes opportunities. Her .941 save percentage was instrumental in preserving the victory.
The Rapids’ defensive effort was equally impressive. While the game featured its share of physical play and penalties, Saint John consistently limited quality scoring chances and controlled possession for long stretches, allowing the team to emerge with a crucial one-goal win.
On Sunday, the Rapids carried that momentum into their matchup with the Dartmouth Bandits and delivered an offensive explosion.
Saint John dominated from start to finish, earning a convincing victory behind balanced scoring and contributions throughout the lineup. Maddie Corrigan led the attack with an incredible four-point performance, repeatedly finding open space and capitalizing on opportunities. Raine Gilmore scored three times, energizing the offence, while additional goals came from the sticks of Rian Deakin, Brooke O’Brien, and Kiley Brow.
The offence came to life as the Rapids moved the ball effectively and generated scoring chances throughout the contest. The Rapids built a 2-0 lead in the first period and never looked back, adding five goals in the second period. Their relentless pressure and unselfish ball movement overwhelmed the Bandits and highlighted the offensive potential of this developing squad.
Just as importantly, Saint John received another strong team effort defensively, limiting Dartmouth’s opportunities and controlling the pace of play from beginning to end. The combination of disciplined defence, excellent transition play, and balanced offence allowed the Rapids to complete the weekend sweep in impressive fashion.
After earning two victories in two very different styles—one a defensive battle and the other an offensive showcase—the Female Rapids leave the weekend with confidence and momentum. Now sitting at 4-2 on the season, Saint John has shown it can win close games, generate offence throughout the lineup, and rely on strong goaltending when needed.
If this weekend was any indication, the Rapids are beginning to find their stride and will be a team to watch as the ECJLL season continues.
