Real test for the Martlets

Sssssh. No one tell the organizers of the CIS women's hockey championship that the real nationals might be taking place this weekend in Guelph at the Gryphons Invitational.

No. 1 McGill, which has looked pretty invincible all season, faces No. 3 Laurier and No. 2 Alberta today and tomorrow. Coach Rick Osborne's Golden Hawks, for their part, downed the defending national champion Pandas 3-2 yesterday.

McGill had eight players score on Friday in an 8-0 rout of the host Gryphons, who are ranked No. 8. Guelph tried to make a game of it, as Charline Labonte had to make 14 of her 21 saves in the second period, but during that frame the Martlets scored three times in a 60-second span to open a huge lead.

There have been questions about the legitimacy of McGill's record since they play in a four-team league, which not incidentally is getting two berths into the nationals (Ottawa is in as the host team). The 10-team OUA will only have one. The Martlets could quiet some people if they defeat Laurier and Alberta this weekend.