X-Women set to face-off with Q opponents

Courtesy of The Chronicle-Herald\r\n\r\nNov 16, 2007 - This weekend will provide the biggest test so far into the young season for Nova Scotia�۪s three AUS women�۪s hockey teams.\r\n\r\nThree teams from the Quebec conference ��� the Concordia Stingers, Ottawa Gee-Gees and the CIS No. 1-ranked McGill Martlets ��� will travel to the province and take on the St. Francis Xavier X-Women, the Saint Mary�۪s Huskies and Dalhousie Tigers in exhibition tilts this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.\r\n\r\nWhile the Stingers (2-5) and Gee-Gees (2-3-0-1) own sub-.500 records, the Martlets are a perfect 7-0 and have allowed only one goal, while scoring 34, in seven games.\r\n\r\nStFX head coach David Synishin said each team will give the Atlantic conference clubs a run for their money.\r\n\r\n"It�۪s certainly good for everyone to play as many out of conference games as possible just to gauge the teams where they fit in with the rest of the country and how we�۪re developing as a conference," said Synishin, whose X-Women are tops in the AUS with an 8-0 mark.\r\n\r\n"It forces ourselves, Dal and SMU to play at a level that only makes us better. Just look at McGill, they are the No. 1 team in the country and on paper they are certainly the team to beat.\r\n\r\n"But these games will give us an idea what kind of effort we need to play with the best. It�۪s going to be a fun weekend for everyone."\r\n\r\nPlay begins Friday afternoon with Concordia visiting Dalhousie at 2pm At 7 o�۪clock, StFX entertains McGill and Ottawa visits Saint Mary�۪s. Saturday�۪s games feature: Concordia at StFX, 2pm; Ottawa at Dal, 2:30pm and McGill at SMU, 7pm. The QSSF teams wrap up their road trip on Sunday with Dal hosting McGill at 1pm, while at 2 o�۪clock, Concordia visits SMU and StFX faces Ottawa.\r\n\r\nSynishin said the three games in three days will also give the AUS teams a preview of the rigors of a national championship schedule.\r\n\r\n"If one of us ends up going to nationals, this weekend really sets up what it�۪s like playing at nationals," Synishin said. "You end up playing Friday, Saturday, Sunday, three games in less than 48 hours. It shows the players what it�۪s all about and what you have to do as an athlete to prepare for these games."