Cougars aim to cap off dynasty with 4th straight title

Thiago Neuenschwander
tneuenschwan@saultcollege.ca

The Sault College Cougars return to the ACHA Nationals Championship with a chance to add one more chapter to a remarkable run. The three-time defending champions will compete for a fourth consecutive American Collegiate Hockey Association Division II national title beginning March 15 in St. Louis, Missouri. It could also mark the final act of one of the division's most dominant dynasties, as Sault College prepares to move on from D2 to D1 after this season. Led by first-year head coach Megan Dubas, the Cougars open the tournament at Plager Arena against Ohio State University — the first of three round-robin games in Group D.

Sault College faced Ohio State twice during the regular season and won both matches, at the opponents' home court, with scores of 4-0 and 6-0. Besides the Cougars, leaders of the Central Division, and their opponent in the opening game (C#3), the group also includes Providence College (NE#2) and Rowan University (SE#3).

The reigning champions arrive at the Nationals after an outstanding regular season. The team dominated the Central Division with 21 wins and one tie, thanks to some of the league's best offensive players, including forward Katelynn Jacques.

In her second season, Jacques ranked sixth among all Division II scorers with 45 points (25 goals, 20 assists) in 22 games. She is joined by fellow forwards Danika West (37 points, 18 goals, 19 assists) and Taryn Sullivan (36 points, 20 goals, 16 assists), both of whom finished the season among the top 20 scorers in Division II.

Despite the individual standouts, the Cougars' biggest strength has been their team play. Sault College scored 168 goals while allowing just 12 in 21 games — the highest-scoring offence across all Division II programs. For comparison, Midland University, the top-scoring team in Division I, also recorded 168 goals but needed 35 games to reach that mark.

"One of our biggest strengths is speed, combined with a range of skill sets," said head coach Megan Dubas. "We have finesse players who can stick-handle in a phone booth, and we also have players who constantly pressure opponents and bring high energy every game", added.

Dubas highlighted that the team has focused on preparation during the extended break leading up to the tournament. "Preparation has been good. We will have had about a month between our last game against LSSU and our first game at Nationals, and we've kept the team active. We've also emphasized the importance of mindset and focusing on what we can control. The team has put in a lot of work on and off the ice, and we understand we have a target on our backs. We won't take any team for granted."

Entering her first Nationals as head coach, Dubas credits the program's recent success to the foundation built by former head coach Brianne Shunock.

"As I stepped into this role, I didn't fully realize how much work goes on behind the scenes," Dubas said. "I have a new appreciation for what Brianne Shunock did for five years and the foundation she built for this program. I'm also incredibly grateful for our coaching staff. They've stepped up throughout the season as I transitioned into the head coach role while recovering from another concussion. I'm learning and improving every day while managing recruitment, logistics and the team both on and off the ice", added the head coach.

The 2026 ACHA Nationals will be held from March 12 to 22 in St. Louis, Missouri. The tournament will feature finalists from all three men's divisions and both women's divisions, with games played at the Centene Community Ice Center (CCIC) and the Maryville University Hockey Center. Regardless of the outcome at Nationals, Sault College will join the top tier of ACHA women's hockey next fall, making its debut in Division I.

Schedule:

Sun 15 - Sault College vs Ohio State (Plager Arena/CCIC - 1:45 PM CDT)

Mon 16 - Sault College vs Rowan University (USA Arena/CCIC - 12:45 PM CDT)

Tue 17 - Sault College vs Providence College (Plager Arena/CCIC - 4:15 PM CDT)

Mar 18 - Pool A/C Winner Lower Seed vs Pool A/C Winner Higher Seed (USA Arena/CCIC - 2:30 PM CDT)

Mar 18 - Pool B/D Winner Lower Seed vs Pool B/D Winner Higher Seed (USA Arena/CCIC - 5:00 PM CDT)

Mar 19 - Lower Seeded Semi Winner vs Higher Seeded Semi Winner (USA Arena/CCIC - 5:00 PM CDT)

Quick Facts

Record: 21-0-1

Goals For: 168

Goals Against: 12

Head Coach: Megan Dubas (1st season)

Top Scorer: Katelynn Jacques (45 points)

Last National Titles: 2023, 2024, 2025