Tommies Weekend Recap Feb 13 - 15
It was a dominant weekend for the St. Thomas University Tommies, who secured victories in almost every matchup across hockey, basketball, and volleyball from February 13 to 15. The Tommies protected home court and ice in Fredericton while finding similar success on the road in Saint John. Whether it was the high-octane scoring displays at the LB Gym or the defensive masterclasses at the Grant-Harvey Centre, STU proved they are a force to be reckoned with as the post-season approaches. This sweep of crucial conference matchups not only bolsters their standings but also provides significant momentum for the final stretch of the 2025-26 season.
Tommies Basketball Sweeps the Hurricanes
Both the Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams successfully defended the LB Gym this weekend, taking all four games against the visiting Holland Hurricanes.
The Women’s Basketball team (15-1) continued their stellar season with a pair of wins. On Saturday, they set the tone early with a 23-12 first quarter, eventually cruising to an 81-50 victory. Charlee Connors led the charge with 18 points and 9 rebounds. Sunday’s rematch was a tighter affair, but the Tommies defense held firm in the fourth quarter to secure a 60-52 win, fueled by a team-high 18 points from Claudia Steeves to lead the scoring.
The Men’s Squad (14-2) was equally impressive, showcasing an explosive offense. On Saturday, they jumped out to a massive 31-14 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, winning 94-63. Jeven Eddy led the way with 18 points. They completed the sweep on Sunday with a 91-80 win, fueled by a 24-point performance from Marcus Wilson and a near double-double from Evan Valanne (17 points, 6 assists).
Women’s Hockey Earns Back-to-Back Home Wins
The Tommies women's hockey team enjoyed a perfect weekend at the Grant-Harvey Centre, picking up two crucial wins against AUS opponents.
On Friday night, STU shut out the Dalhousie Tigers 4-0. Tayler Cohen was perfect in net, stopping all 17 shots she faced. Lauren Smith led the offense with two goals, while Amber Daley and Tahlia Mallaley added singles to secure the victory. The Tommies showed great puck movement throughout the night, with Amy Dvernichuk, Laura Brown, Nadia Lavoie, Carys Cross, and Tristyn Endicott all picking up assists in the winning effort.
The momentum carried into Saturday afternoon as the Tommies edged out the Saint Mary’s Huskies 2-1. After falling behind early, Nadia Lavoie tied the game on a first-period power play off a feed from Grace McGunigal. Lauren Smith then netted the game-winner in the third period, assisted by Ella Chambers. Goaltender Katie Sweeney was named the game's first star for her steady performance between the pipes, making 38 saves to preserve the one-goal lead and secure the weekend sweep.
Volleyball Find Success on the Road
The Tommies traveled to Saint John to face the UNBSJ Seawolves, coming home with three wins out of four matches.
The Men’s Volleyball team (18-1) remained nearly perfect on the season. They dominated Saturday’s match with a straight-sets victory (25-17, 25-16, 25-10) and followed it up with a 3-1 win on Sunday. Their efficient attack and strong net presence proved too much for the Seawolves to handle.
The Men’s Volleyball team (18-1) remained nearly perfect on the season. They dominated Saturday’s match with a straight-sets victory (25-17, 25-16, 25-10). Brenton Romanchuk led the offense with 10 kills and a stellar .588 hitting percentage, while Raph Fiset orchestrated the attack with 30 assists. They followed it up with a 3-1 win on Sunday. Brenton Romanchuk again reached double digits with 10 kills, and Raph Fiset recorded 33 assists and 10 digs. Their efficient attack and strong net presence, highlighted by Mason Brewster’s 6 total blocks over the weekend, proved too much for the Seawolves to handle.
The Women’s Volleyball team (14-5) showed incredible resilience over the weekend. After a heartbreaking five-set loss on Saturday (15-5 in the fifth), where Ella Estey recorded 16 assists and 12 digs, the Tommies found themselves down 2-0 on Sunday. However, they staged a massive comeback, winning three straight sets (26-24, 25-15, 15-12) to take the match 3-2 and split the weekend series. Cali Nadeau was a standout in the comeback victory, leading the team with 13 kills, while Ella Estey provided 32 assists and 12 digs to fuel the turnaround. Anna Osborne also anchored the defense at the net with 8 total blocks during the Sunday win.
What’s on Tap for next weekend
The excitement continues next weekend as several Tommies programs look to maintain their momentum in crucial post-season and road matchups. Both the Men's and Women's Basketball teams will head out on the road for a two-game series against the MSVU Mystics. On Saturday, February 21st, the women's team tips off at 4:00 PM, followed by the men at 6:00 PM. The action continues Sunday, February 22nd, with the women starting at 3:00 PM and the men following at 5:00 PM.
The Women's Hockey team enters the post-season as they take on the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleues in an AUS Women's Hockey Championship quarterfinals best-of-three series. Game 1 will be held Tuesday, February 17th at 7:00 PM at the Grant-Harvey Centre. Game 2 moves to Moncton on Friday, February 20th at 7:00 PM, with Game 3 scheduled if necessary for Sunday, February 22nd at 7:00 PM back at the Grant-Harvey Centre. Be sure to come out and support your Tommies as they begin their playoff push!
Written by: Brady Chapman