After completing the sweep of their best-of-three OUA Semi-Finals series with a 5-4 double overtime victory over the Laurier Golden Hawks on Friday night, the Mustangs women's hockey team will now host the Guelph Gryphons for the OUA Championship game on Saturday, March 7 at Thompson Arena.

Friday night's victory marked the Mustangs fourth consecutive win in the post-season as the team has gone undefeated throughout both of their playoff series so far. While the double overtime victory earned the purple and white a spot in the OUA Championship game it also secured the Mustangs a spot in the CIS Women's Hockey Championship which takes place in Calgary from March 12-15.

Whether the Mustangs win or lose on Saturday afternoon they will advance to the CIS championship in Calgary, and while this fact should be a reassuring breath of fresh air, don't expect the Mustangs to rest on their laurels as they'll be looking to come out strong and capture the first OUA Championship in program history.

The Mustangs not only reigned over the OUA standings in regular season action to make themselves known as the best team in the OUA and rank third on the CIS Top 10, but they have also posted impressive performances in the post season, sweeping both of their playoff series 2-0.

If their regular season successes proved how strong of a team the Mustangs are, the post-season has certainly proved how versatile they have become. While players such as Kendra Broad, Katelyn Gosling and Brianna Iazzolino have become familiar faces on the Western scoresheet, the playoffs have seen some new scorers emerge. 

Fourth-year forward Brittany Clapham has been a key player in the Mustang's post-season success. Despite only collecting four goals and two assists in 23 games played for the Mustangs in the regular season, the Tottenham, Ont., native has racked up three points in four playoff games, as she notched one goal against Nipissing in game two of the series as well as a goal and an assist against Laurier in their second series.

Already one of the Mustangs leading scorers in the regular season, posting seven goals and five assists in 24 games played, Sydney Kidd has only increased her contributions to the purple and white offence in the post-season. The Sundridge, Ont., native has tallied four goals and one assist through Western's four playoff matchups. Kidd has been a crucial component to the purple and white successes over the past two series, opening the scoring for the Mustangs in both game one against Nipissing and game two versus Laurier.

With points coming from a number of different Mustangs players so far in the post-season the purple and white have made it painfully clear to their opponents that they have a deep line-up of players that make them an incredibly versatile team.

The Guelph Gryphons enter the OUA Championship game on Saturday after defeating the Toronto Varsity Blues 2-1 in the best-of-three OUA Semi-final series. While the Mustangs have swept their side of the OUA Quarterfinal and Semi-Final series, never having to compete in a third game of the best-of-three action, the Gryphons found themselves in a potentially season-ending match-up with the Blues on Sunday evening. Despite battling through two periods of overtime action to pull out the 3-2 victory in game one, the Gryphons were unable to seal the deal in game two as the Blues recorded the 2-1 victory. With one game left in the series the Gryphons laid their season on the line when they went up against the Blues for a third time and pulled off the 2-0 shutout win to advance to the OUA Championship.

While the Gryphons, who finished just behind the Mustangs in second place in the OUA regular season standings, endured a hard-fought series against the Blues the team posted better results in their OUA Quarterfinal series as they recorded a two game sweep over the Ryerson Rams. Despite earning two consecutive victories however, the Gryphons were up against some very tough competition. In game one of the series Ryerson got an early one-goal lead and was able to hold the Gryphons off of the scoreboard for two and a half periods before Guelph notched a goal late in the third period to send the match into overtime where the Gryphons topped off the action with the game-winner.

In game two the Gryphons battled through two periods of overtime before winning the race to the scoreboard over the Rams to claim a 2-1 victory.

The Gryphons have proven that they can persevere under pressure and battle relentlessly to come out on top. They have met some tough competition on their way to this OUA Championship game and they will fight just as hard, if not harder, against the Mustangs on Saturday when the OUA Championship title within their grasp.

Whether the Gryphons win or lose on Saturday the team will also be joining the Mustangs at the CIS Women's Hockey Championship in Calgary next week. The results of Saturday's games will determine the seeding order of next week's tournament.

Puck drop is set for 4 p.m. at Thompson Arena in London, Ont. Fans can watch the action live on OUA.tv, or listen on CHRW Radio.