STFX X-Women sweep UNB in championship final series to capture 2025 AUS women's hockey title

(ANTIGONISH, N.S.) The STFX X-Women are once again Atlantic University Sport champions, thanks to a 2-1 victory over the UNB REDS on Wednesday night at the Charles V Keating Centre.  

2025 AUS playoff MVP Kamdyn Switzer notched the winner late in the third for her third game clinching marker of the playoffs.   

It's the 12th AUS banner for the X-Women, and first since 2020. The series win was a measure of revenge for the X-Women, who were defeated by the REDS in the past three AUS championship series. The tightly contested finale was also the second 2-1 game of the series, and fourth for STFX in the playoffs.   

The first period was tense, and while STFX led in shots, the REDS saw some solid scoring chances turned aside by X-Women goalie Bianca Zak.  The home side enjoyed a pair of late powerplays, and it was Landyn Pitts who potted the opening marker three seconds before intermission, tipping home a Mackenzie Lothian point shot.   

The REDS looked to reply with a powerplay early in the middle stanza, but a close in shot from STFX's Alexis Perry after a takeaway from Kamdyn Switzer behind the UNB net was the best chance over the two minutes.  

Josie Chisholm got the REDS on the board halfway through the period though, banging in her own rebound after a pass from Jorja Nystrom.   

The tension built with every chance in the third period, and Switzer's goal with six minutes to play brought the crowd of 1,782 to their feet. STFX's Tea Pearce won a faceoff in the UNB zone, with Switzer skating to the slot and wristing one low to the back of the net.   

UNB pulled McCallum in favour of an extra attacker, and Switzer almost scored again but hit the post. A face off in the STFX zone with one minute to go led to a flurry of UNB chances but Zak, who finished with 20 saves, kept the door closed.   

McCallum received player of the game honors for her 31 save performance, while Pitts was player of the game for STFX after opening the scoring.   

STFX and UNB are now both headed to the U SPORTS Championship in Waterloo, running March 20-23.   

Game Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics