Hurricanes Weekend Recap - March 6-8, 2026
Hurricanes Weekend Recap - March 6-8, 2026
By Reegan MacAulay
The Holland Hurricanes basketball and hockey programs concluded their 2025-26 seasons with postseason play over the weekend of March 6-8, 2026.
The women’s and men’s basketball teams competed at the 2026 Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) Basketball Championships in Halifax, N.S., and the women’s hockey squad returned to Sydney, N.S., for the 2026 Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Championship.
Here is how each team fared on the final weekend of Hurricanes action this season.
Women’s Basketball
The fourth-seed women’s basketball Hurricanes fell short in a close quarterfinal matchup against the fifth-seed UNBSJ Seawolves 65-55 on Friday, March 6, ending their season.
The two teams went back and forth in the first quarter, with names like Nykeva Wilson-Brown, Karissa George, and Riley MacDonald helping the Hurricanes stay within one, trailing 16-15 after 10 minutes.
UNBSJ picked up momentum in the second, capitalizing on a run of three-pointers to extend their lead, carrying a 38-29 advantage into halftime.
The Seawolves held the edge in the third quarter, leading 53-41 heading into the final frame. Defence dominated early in the fourth before UNBSJ stretched the lead to 16. The Hurricanes attempted a late push, with Sophie LeClair scoring a basket with 37 seconds remaining to narrow the deficit to six, but it wouldn’t be enough.
The Seawolves sealed the win at the free-throw line.
Brown led the Hurricanes with a game-high 21 points and six rebounds, with MacDonald contributing nine points and four rebounds. Nadia Barrington added eight points and seven rebounds. LeClair topped rebounds with 13.
Brown was named the Hurricanes Player of the Game and earned a spot on the 2025-26 ACAA Women’s Basketball First Team All-Conference. George was named to the Second Team All-Conference.
The women’s basketball Hurricanes’ season is now completed.
Connect with the women’s basketball Hurricanes at www.instagram.com/hurricanesbball.
Men’s Basketball
The fifth-seed men’s basketball Hurricanes dropped their quarterfinal game against the fourth-seed Crandall Chargers 82-65 on Friday, eliminating them from the playoffs.
The Chargers jumped out to an early lead, going up 22-12 heading into the second quarter. Holland responded with notable contributions by Spencer Rossiter and Zachary Dawkins, with Rossiter’s three-pointer cutting the deficit to six midway through the frame. But Crandall fired back with timely threes to maintain a 39-29 lead at halftime.
The Hurricanes trimmed the gap in the third quarter, with Rossiter and Jahreal Tomlinson sparking a run that brought the deficit to five. Quinton Martin later added a three-pointer to keep the Hurricanes within striking distance, but the Chargers held firm up 55-48 heading into the fourth and final quarter.
Holland began the fourth with a three-pointer from Dawkins, but Crandall quickly responded with a big run. Quinton and Jaidon Martin answered back with several threes, but as the minutes wound down, the Chargers increased their lead to a point where a comeback was out of reach.
Rossiter led the Hurricanes with a team-high 16 points, two rebounds, and two assists. Dawkins recorded 13 points and seven rebounds. Quinton Martin came off the bench and logged 12 points and three rebounds. Owen Parsons notched the most rebounds with nine.
Dawkins was named the Hurricanes Player of the Game and a member of the 2025-26 ACAA Men’s Basketball Second Team All-Conference.
The men’s basketball Hurricanes’ season is finished.
Connect with the men’s basketball Hurricanes at www.instagram.co/hurricanesbball.
Women’s Hockey
The women’s hockey Hurricanes are four-time defending and five all-time ACHA champions following another unbeaten postseason in Sydney, N.S.
The Hurricanes upset the Acadia Axewomen — the regular-season champions — 3-2 in the 2026 ACHA Championship Final on Sunday, March 8. An early third-period surge and a dramatic last-second save by graduating goaltender Emma Arsenault secured them the victory.
Holland’s fifth ACHA championship ties UNB for the most all-time. Counting just active programs, the Hurricanes doubled their lead over Acadia, which has three.
Holland began the tournament with two round-robin games on Saturday, March 7, first facing Acadia, and emerging victorious 3-2 in a shootout, with Josee Allain scoring the winning goal.
At the awards gathering between the two games, Taylor was selected to the 2025-26 ACHA First All-Star Team, while Abbey and Cassie Gordon were each recognized as Second All-Star Team selections.
The Hurricanes later met the hosting Cape Breton Capers and pulled off a stunning late-game comeback. After being down 3-1, Holland exploded for four unanswered goals to steal the win 5-3. Rookie netminder Olivia Lowe earned her first career playoff win.
The victory helped punch Holland’s ticket to the championship final, as they earned the most points out of all three teams in the round robin.
They avoided an early-morning semifinal on Sunday (8 a.m.), which saw Acadia surprise CBU with a pair of goals in the closing minutes to steal a 3-2 win and advance to battle Holland for the gold medal.
Congratulations, Hurricanes!
The women’s hockey Hurricanes’ season is over.
Connect with the women’s hockey Hurricanes at www.instagram.com/caneswhockey and www.facebook.com/caneswhky.
Connect with the Holland Hurricanes at www.hollandhurricanes.com, www.facebook.com/hollandhurricanes, and www.instagram.com/hollandhurricanes.
For more information about this release, please contact:
hollandhurricanes@hollandcollege.com
Date: Monday, March 09, 2026
