Posted: Mar 03, 2026
Tora Ward, Red Deer Queens, Women's Hockey
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Tora Ward, a third-year goaltender, was the backbone of the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens Hockey team’s success in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women’s Hockey best-of-three semi-finals against the NAIT Ooks. Over two games, Ward impressively stopped 95.1 per cent of the Ooks’ shots, helping the RDP Queens advance to the finals.
In the Queens’ 2-1 victory in the opening game, Saskatoon’s Ward was solid between the pipes, making 27 saves (0.964).
The NAIT Ooks led 2-1 late in the second period of game two, but Ward’s brilliant play sparked an RDP Queens’ comeback. Teammate Rylee Mepham scored twice in the third period to solidify a 3-2 win and the series victory. Ward, a Bachelor of Education student, stopped 31 shots (0.939).
Next, Ward and the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens will face-off against the Lakeland College Rustlers on the road on Friday, March 6 in the best-of-five ACAC Championship. The RDP Queens will host the Rustlers in game two on Saturday, March 7 at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre at 5 pm.
STAT LINES
| SAVES | SAVE % | SCORE | |
| FRIDAY | 27 | 96% | W 2-1 VS NAIT |
| SATURDAY | 31 | 94% | W 3-2 VS NAIT |
GAME ON: A GLIMPSE AHEAD
Next, Ward and the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens will face-off against the Lakeland College Rustlers on the road on Friday, March 6 in the best-of-five ACAC Championship. The RDP Queens will host the Rustlers in game two on Saturday, March 7 at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre at 5 pm.