After four years of dominance in Division 2 of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), Sault College Women’s Hockey is preparing for a new and significant challenge.
On Oct. 4, the Cougars will make their Division 1 debut against Michigan State at the Northern Community Centre (NCC), as head coach Megan Dubas and her players look to build on a winning legacy in a faster, more physical and increasingly competitive environment.
The 2026-27 roster will feature many familiar faces from last season, although the Cougars will have to replace several key contributors. Emma Lee, Hayden Dunn and Amelia Williams are among the players no longer on the roster.
“We still have a large part of our offence intact, but anytime you lose a goal scorer like Emma and workhorses like Hayden and Amelia, you are looking internally for someone to step up and fill those roles,” Dubas said.
“Katelynn Jacques, Danika West, Taryn Sullivan, and Materia Land will push our offence, but I truly believe you will see goal scoring from everyone. You will see Matea Glavota, Abygail McDonald, Maddy Fick and Lily Wallsmith contribute with their offensive instincts and speed.”
To help fill those gaps, four newcomers are expected to bring a fresh spark to the Cougars’ attack.
“Our first-year players are starting to settle in nicely,” Dubas said.
“Maia Hammell sees the ice well and can get to the middle and drive hard to the net. Paige Schurer is a workhorse, has a strong shot and relentless effort every time she steps on the ice. Alyssa Guy brings physicality and the ability to get to the net and cause chaos in front of any goalie. Mira Morgan has a high hockey IQ, and she is a shifty playmaker with the strong ability to score goals.”
Unfortunately, Morgan will have to wait a little longer to make her ACHA debut.
“Mira has a late birthday, so she won’t be eligible to play until the new year, but we look forward to having her in the lineup,” Dubas said.
Although they are newcomers to the Cougars and the ACHA, the four first-year players arrive with significant competitive experience.
Schurer played for the OHA Mavericks U22 AA of the OWHL during the 2025-26 season, recording nine goals and seven assists in 58 games.
Guy has played for teams including the Southern Express and Notre Dame Hounds at various levels in leagues such as the SFMAAAHL (W) and AFHL.
Hammell played on the Sudbury Lady Wolves U18 AA team in the OWHL last season, while Morgan has played with the Delta Hockey Academy in British Columbia since the 2022-23 season.
Preparation and expectations
The Cougars have been preparing all summer, working to maintain the style that has produced so much success over the past four seasons while adjusting to the demands of Division 1.
“We aren’t making huge adjustments. We will always be a team that pressures and causes turnovers with our speed and tenacity,” Dubas said. “The biggest thing is being able to read a play and react more quickly. We aren’t going to have time and space, so moving the puck quickly and efficiently is going to be important.”
The team has been preparing physically and mentally for the challenges that come with moving up to a higher level of competition.
“We have focused more on the details, the intensity of our training and being consistent every day,” Dubas said. “Over the last four seasons, we have only lost three games and let in very few goals, so we are used to a lot of success.”
“Because of that, we have been focusing a lot on our mindset, being able to handle adversity, recover quickly from mistakes and regroup as a team. With this new challenge, we know we won’t be perfect, so being able to stay composed, learn from mistakes and move to the next play has been a big part of our preparation.”
The Cougars know they will face a much different level of competition than they have been accustomed to in recent years.
Over four seasons in Division 2, Sault College posted a remarkable 109-3-3 record, including regular-season and national tournament games.
Now, the team will have to adjust to a Division 1 environment where every weekend is expected to bring a new test.
“We expect to play competitive games every weekend, and we are going to be challenged physically and with our systems,” Dubas said. “As coaches, we know there are going to be in-game adjustments, and the team will have to respond and react to changes quickly.”
The Cougars’ goal is to make the playoffs and compete once they get there, but Dubas is also focused on establishing the team’s identity at its new level.
“As a team, our goal is to make it to and compete in the playoffs,” she said. “As a coach, I just want us to compete in every game and have relentless effort and to show that we belong in Division 1.”
Home debut and community support
With the season opener approaching, the Cougars are putting the finishing touches on their preparation.
“We are really excited! We played the Jr. Hounds U18AA Girls team last night (September 23), and you can feel the energy and excitement within the group,” Dubas said. “The team is working hard, and everyone is looking forward to getting the season started. We still have a week to fine-tune things, but the group is coming together really well, and we will be raring to go against Michigan State.”
The Cougars will also be looking to the Sault Ste. Marie community to help them begin this new chapter.
“This is an exciting time for women’s hockey in Sault Ste. Marie and Sault College,” Dubas said. “We are starting to see young girls in our community admire and look up to our team, which I think is really special.”
“We hope to see the stands full of young hockey players and fans because we need your support as we start a new chapter at the highest level in the ACHA.”
Tickets will be available at the door, or attendees can buy an eight-game season pass for $40.
Feel free to provide your teams sports scores and roundup to sports@eupnews.com when your game is completed.
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