Rustlers Recap 2026: Women's Hockey
Record:
Regular season: The Rustlers went 23-2, several wins clear of the competition for first place, the third straight season they have achieved the feat.
Playoff Finish:
ACAC Gold: After securing home ice advantage, the Rustlers faced the Medicine Hat Rattlers, making their first playoff appearance in just their second season. Lakeland swept the two-game semifinal series 6-1 and 8-1. In the ACAC Finals, a rematch with the RDP Queens, the Rustlers dropped the first two games 2-1 in overtime, before winning three straight to take the series 3-2.
All-Stars:
All-Conference Selections: Keyra Buziak (1st Team Forward, Leading Scorer, Player of the Year), Marly Dumanski (Rookie of the Year), Olivia Mann (1st Team Defence) and Addison Eurich (2nd Team Forward). Buziak and Dumanski also received the ACAC Overall Female Rookie and Player of the Year Awards, across all sports, and Buziak also was named Playoff MVP.
Team Awards:
Fans Choice: Addison Eurich
Players Choice: Alyssa Shaw
Rustler Award: Kylie Perry
MVP: Keyra Buziak
Graduating Athletes:
Four: third year Claudia Lammers, fourth year's Pairs Appel and Ava Cole and fifth year Julianna Giacobo. Additionally, Marleigh Mann and Addison Eurich are transferring.
Year in Review:
It's hard to top a program winning its first championship, but Lakeland's women's hockey squad accomplished just that.
The Rustlers not only had the league's best record for a third straight year, not only won the RSEQ National Collegiate Invitational in Quebec midseason, not only have the leading scorer through a record-breaking performance and not only defended the ACAC title, they did so in the most entertaining and dramatic fashion possible. Their golden moment served as the final home event of the 2026 season for Rustlers Athletics.
The team was completely dominant in the regular season, losing just twice and having the best goal differential in the league by a mile (+48 better than the next best total), which carried over in the exhibition tournament on the east coast, where they handled the best teams in Quebec. Buziak's offensive prowess was bolstered by the deepest roster in the league and the top rookie in Dumanski.
In the ACAC Finals, they faced true adversity losing two overtime games, but bounced back nicely over the next three games, outshooting the Queens 100-68 and winning 3-1 and 4-1 before the double OT thriller in Game 5, where Claudia Lammers tipped in the winner. Roughly a thousand people were in attendance for the finale, providing everyone present with a memory they will never forget.
"This is a special group with some experience, resilience and toughness," Head coach Morgan Mann said.
"Those moments help cement relationships and a bond that will last forever, so these girls will have opportunities to get together and celebrate."
The squad wrapped the semester with their annual Team Volunteer Appreciation Banquet, which allows the group to thank the people who support Rustlers women's hockey, as well as the departing players. In addition to the six that are leaving, assistant coach Erin Lundigran is departing Lloydminster for her work as an engineer.
Mann said it was a wonderful moment for the players to thank Lundrigan for her contributions to the program, noting that she gave 100% commitment.
"When you have people give that much time and energy, it's one of the reasons the team has been successful," he said. "There's people like Erin who give so much and that's all volunteer. It's become her passion for the past five years and she's been one of our pillars to our foundation. She will really, really be missed."
With the rest of their core intact and several recruits already signed for next year, women's hockey will pursue greatness again next season.