In the final minutes of the Division 1 championship game, the reality finally began to sink in. 

Looking up at the scoreboard late in the third period, blueliner Vayda Rigaux felt a sense of relief wash over her. After four years of high school hockey—and three trips to the finals—it was finally going to be their year. 

“All that effort finally paid off,” she said. “To have what felt like half our school in the stands watching us get our gold medals and cheering after every goal was amazing.” 

Nearby, forward Jessie DeCraene had a similar moment. With just over a minute remaining and the GCI Lions holding a four-goal lead over the VMC Trojans, she allowed herself to reflect—not just on the game, but on everyone who helped bring them to that moment. 

“All I felt was gratitude,” Jessie said. “For our graduated seniors who left their mark on the program, to our coaches who pushed us every day, and our fans who stood by us through it all. Most of all, I felt grateful that I could be even a small part of something so big.” 

When the final buzzer sounded, the celebration marked a historic first: Glenlawn Collegiate Institute’s first-ever Division 1 girls hockey championship. 

A Milestone Years in the Making

For defender Kaitlynn Gluck, a senior who has spent four years with the program, the significance of the win goes far beyond a single season. 

“Winning the first Division1 championship means so much to me,” she said. “It’s not just about this season, it’s about setting a standard and showing what our team is capable of.” 

Coach Brad Nechwediuk agreed, noting the path to the final became clean once the team proved its consistency.

“When we finished first in our division, I knew we had the best path to the final for our team,” he said. 

Vayda traces that journey back even further—to 2022, when the team jumped from Division 3 to Division 1. 

“From that point on, it felt like we were building toward something big,” she said. “I don’t think any of us expected it to take as long as it did, but it shows how much we grew and how determined we were to get there.” 

For the GCI community, the title represents both achievement and recognition. 

“It shows that the girls’ hockey team deserves recognition and support,” Kaitlynn said. “Bringing that title home feels like we made history not just for us, but for everyone who will come after us.”

Jessie echoed that sentiment, pointing to the fans who showed up consistently throughout the playoffs.

“In every playoff game we played, win or lose, we had our fans cheering behind us,” she said. “Bringing this win home felt like our way of giving back.” 

A Season Defined by Resilience and Drive

Asked to describe the season, each player chose words that reflected effort more than ease. 

“Resilient,” Jessie said.

“Resilient and hard-fought,” Kaitlynn added. 

“Driven,” said Vayda. 

From the coaching perspective, the season was anything but simple. 

“Stressful,” Nechwediuk said. “We had a lot of multi-sport athletes this year—girls playing volleyball, basketball, and on other hockey teams. It was a battle to field a team right from the first game, and our division was extremely competitive. We didn’t even know if we’d make the Division 1 playoffs.” 

Those challenges were real: fluctuating rosters, injuries, busy academic schedules, and moments when things didn’t go their way. At times, the team dressed as few as 11 players. At others, injuries forced constant adjustment. 

“Instead of letting it hold us back, we used it as motivation,” Vayda said. “We pushed even harder for each other.” 

By season’s end, that perseverance translated into their strongest hockey when it mattered most. 

Belief Built Under Pressure

Belief didn’t arrive overnight. For Jessie, past finals losses kept her grounded. 

“I always believed this team was capable of something special,” she said. “But after coming up short the past two years, I tried to stay optimistic while being realistic.” 

For Kaitlynn, belief solidified when the team proved it could handle pressure. 

“There were moments where we could’ve folded,” she said. "But once we started winning those tough, close games, it felt like we weren’t just hoping anymore—we truly believed.” 

The coaching staff saw that readiness as well.

“This was a very experienced group,” said Nechwediuk. “Eight of them had lost the last two years. They understood the magnitude of the moment. They’d played in front of large crowds and noisy environments. They were ready.”

Breaking through that doubt made the championship moment even more powerful. 

“Wouldn’t Want to Win it With Anyone Else”

“We’re family,” Vayda said. “Going through losses together in previous years brought us closer and made our goal the same—to win together.”

Kaitlynn agreed, noting how that closeness showed in the way they played.

“We all cared about each other,” she said. “Everyone was willing to put the team first and do whatever it took.” 

Over the season, the Lions learned how to support one another through pressure rather than turning inward. 

“No one got blamed for mistakes,” Kaitlynn said. “We treated everything as a team responsibility.” 

From the bench, that unity stood out.

“We’ve been fortunate to have a wonderful group of young women and student-athletes,” said Nechwediuk. “I’m so happy it worked out for them and that we could finally put the previous years’ losses behind us.”

Jessie described the mindset simply, “When you can’t do it for yourself, do it for the person beside you.”

Leadership Everywhere

Leadership was a shared responsibility throughout the season. 

“It didn’t just come from captains,” Jessie said. “Everyone stepped up and led by example.” 

Vayda highlighted how leadership showed up in moments of absence or adversity. 

“Not everyone could always be there,” she said. “So we relied on our voices—to encourage each other and stay positive.” 

The coaching staff also played a critical role, creating an environment rooted in trust and focus. 

“They kept us grounded,” Vayda said. “They reminded us not to get ahead of ourselves and to focus on the little details that win games.” 

Jessie added that sense of trust allowed players to focus on the game itself.

“They reminded us to just go out and play—and they’d handle everything else,” she said. 

In the final moments of the championship game, even the coaching staff struggled to process what was happening. 

“Did this just happen,” recalled Nechwediuk. “We really felt last year was our year, and to win this one by such a large margin was surreal.”

Women’s Hockey in the Spotlight

Just days after the Lions’ championship win, Winnipeg hosted a sold-out Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) Takeover Tour game, bringing professional women’s hockey to centre ice in the city. 

“It was amazing to see,” Vayda said. “The growth of female hockey is so important, and seeing that support from the city was really cool. As a female athlete, it means a lot to feel like people are starting to care about the game on our side.”

For Kaitlynn, the timing amplified the meaning of their own success.

“Seeing high-level women's hockey right after our own success, it made everything feel even more meaningful,” she said. “It showed us what the next level looks like and remind us that there are real opportunities ahead if we keep working hard. It also made us proud to be part of a bigger moment for women's hockey in our city.”

Inspiration for the Next Generation

Seeing professional women compete on a major stage matters—especially for young players.

“When you see people who look like you doing what you dream of doing, it makes those goals feel real,” Vayda said. “Growing up, I looked to the NHL for role models, but female role models show young girls what is possible and gives them something to strive for.”

That visibility, combined with the Lions’ championship, created a powerful message: progress is happening—and pathways are opening.

A Legacy Beyond Banners

When asked how they hope this team is remembered, none of the players pointed to perfection.

“I want us remembered as a team that didn’t have a perfect run, but stuck with it regardless,” Jessie said.

Kaitlynn focused on connection. “A team that genuinely loved playing together.”

And for Vayda, legacy is rooted in persistence. 

“Winning wasn’t what shaped me—it was the losing,” she said. “Losing taught me resilience and humility. Sharing this win with the same teammates I lost with made it even more meaningful.”

As women’s hockey captured the spotlight in Winnipeg, the GCI Lions ensured their place in that story—proving that belief, persistence, and community can turn years of effort into history. 

Louis Riel School Division (LRSD) Represents Well in the Division 1/2 Top 10

Dakota Lancers forward Braya Kapusta led the division with 48 points (39 goals and 9 assists), dethroning the Rigaux twins from the top spot. 

Dangerous duo Delainey and Vayda Rigaux once again led the Lions in points and were on top of the division in their final year of high school hockey. Delainey, a forward, finished third with 47 points (30 goals and 17 assists), and Vayda, a defender, finished fifth with 45 points (26 goals and 19 assists.)     

Collège Jeanne-Sauvé Olympiens’ Kaylee Robbins posted a 14-2-1 record this season. The netminder posted 1.15 goals against average, .951 save percentage, four shutouts, and 406 saves in 18 starts. 

Lion’s goaltender Anya Perchaluk recorded a 13-3-0 record, 1.79 goals against average, .930 save percentage, one shutout, and 386 saves in 16 starts. 

The division is once again proud of all its student athletes and looks forward to another exciting season.