They may not have quite matched the drama of their male high-school hockey counterparts, but at least game two of the SDSSAA Division I Girls Hockey championship series was a compelling one.

With a handful of returnees to the Bishop Carter Gators lineup, bolstering a nine skater crew crew that fell behind 5-0 in the first period of game one the previous day, the Valley reps were able to push the St Charles College Cardinals right to the limit.

In the end, it was a Chloe Martin goal with just over five minutes to play that snapped a 3-3 tie and propelled the Cards to victory. Ayla Lagace added an empty-net marker before Mackenzie Purvis cut the deficit to one with 12 seconds remaining as St Charles held on for a 5-4 win.

Lagace, Madison Hollohan and Katelynn Jacques scored earlier in the contest for the winners, with BAC counters coming courtesy of Sierra Boyuk, Danika Gray and Kynlee Cresswell.

"We knew that they were going to come out big and strong and playing really hard to get that third game," noted Lagace, a 17 year-old grade 12 senior who is moving on to play junior next season with the Brampton Canadettes.

"But we knew that we wanted that trophy back in our school, so we knew that we had to push hard for it."

Bishop Carter captured the SDSSAA Division I banner for the first time ever last year while the St Charles victory this time around marks the fifth time the Cardinals have laid claim to the crown, last emerging victorious in 2022 following a three year run that covered 2013 to 2015.

While the Division I playoff finalists in girls hockey have typically featured goaltenders who are also suiting up with the Sudbury U18 AA or A Lady Wolves, such is not the case this year - all of which has made for some highly entertaining games.

Key saves by both Amber Rancourt (St Charles) and Alyssa Ranger (Bishop Carter) prevented the score in this matchup from climbing even higher.

"She (Rancourt) did really well; she got so much better throughout the year," noted Lagace, acknowledging the fact that Rancourt had never previously dressed as a goaltender. "She helped keep us in the game."

With the Gators pressing on a late power-play, Lagace added a little insurance - though it took half a second to recognize the opportunity was there.

"I thought it (my first shot) was going to go in, but it looked like it hit a pack of snow," she said. "And then I realized it's not icing because we were killing a penalty and figured: I've got to go."

Both teams are back in action on Monday and Tuesday as the NOSSA Girls Hockey Championships are hosted at the Centennial Arena.

In Division II action, the St Benedict Bears are seeking to regain the title they dropped to the Lively Hawks last year, kicking off their final with a 4-2 win over the Collège Notre-Dame Alouettes.

Sutton Morin and Mya Ricci scored two goals apiece for the Bears while Breanna Sullivan and Adrielle Charette handled the offense for CND.

Game two in that series is set for Thursday afternoon at Carmichael Arena, with game three slated for March 6th - venue TBD.