WOMEN'S HOCKEY SEASON PREVIEW
With the addition of UOIT, all teams will remain playing a balanced schedule of three games against each opponent. After the regular season the top six teams will qualify for the playoffs with the top two teams receiving a bye into the semi finals. New to the OUA playoff structure this season will be the league moving from a single game elimination final four to a best of three series in the semi final and championship rounds.
Also new in 2007 the Guelph Gryphons see the introduction of a new head coach behind the bench in Rachel Flanagan. The Laurier Golden Hawks see the return of 2006-07 OUA Most Valuable Player in Andrea Bevan, and will look to open the season strong as the defending OUA champions.
BROCK BADGERS
2006: 8th in Conference (7-13-3-1)
2007: Open on the road versus Guelph Saturday September 29 at 2:00 pm
The Brock Women's Hockey team is getting ready for another season. With 14 returning players and four new faces in the lineup, the Badgers are hoping to return to playoff contention after just missing the playoffs last season.
Returning captain Briar Komenda (London, Ont.) will play a key role for the Badgers up front. Third year defender Kristy Ashton (Port Perry, Ont.) will lead the way on defence while Beth Clause (Hamilton, Ont.) will be counted upon to continue her solid play in net from her rookie season. Clause won a gold medal with Ontario South at the 2007 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships.
GUELPH GRYPHONS
2006: 5th in Conference (8-11-4-1)
2007: Open at home versus Waterloo Thursday September 27 at 7:30 pm
Under the helm of first-year Head Coach and Gryphon alumni Rachel Flanagan the Gryphon Women’s Hockey Team looks to be in good shape this season with 14 returning players from last season.
Key returning players to the squad this season include Elysia Desmier (Ottawa, Ont, left wing, power forward), Sarah Long (Scarborough, Ont, goalie) and Carrie Tokarcyzk (St.Thomas, Ont, defence). Look for rookies Erin Small (Pickering, Ont.), Tayne Hewer (Barrie, Ont.) and Jen Rivers (York, Ont.) to make an immediate impact.
The 2007 edition of the Gryphons will be highlighted by speed and offensively skilled players. The young squad includes 19 players in their first or second year. Coach Flanagan hopes to make a big impact on the league this year as they continue to aim for the elusive OUA title and CIS championship birth.
LAURIER GOLDEN HAWKS
2006: 1st in Conference (19-2-3-0) OUA Champions
2007: Open at home versus York Thursday September 27 at 7:30 pm
For the third consecutive year, the Hawks will have six new faces in the lineup this season including rookie forwards Candace Kellough (Bolton, Ont.), Katherine Shirriff (Carrying Place, Ont.), Alicia Martin (Etobicoke, Ont.), Heather Fortuna (Kitchener, Ont.), Kaley Powers (Kingston, Ont.), and defence person Vanessa Ley (Richmond Hill, Ont.). Head Coach Rick Osborne states that “Shirriff, Powers, Fortuna, Martin and Kellough are all fast, skilled, and very robust players, while Ley is a good ‘stay at home’ defenceman with an offensive upside. They all shoot the puck very well”.
The Golden Hawks will have another excellent year of leadership for both on and off the ice. Newly appointed Captain Lauren Meschino (Toronto, Ont.), along with assistants Andrea Bevan (Collingwood, Ont.), Andrea Ironside (Collingwood, Ont.) and Lauren Barch (Burlington, Ont.) will form the strong leadership team. “You cannot win championships without great team leadership in place and I have always had extraordinary leaders to work with on this team; Goodman, Stephenson, Kenworthy and now Meschino – you couldn’t find four better people to lead our teams”. “Our veteran players like Morgan Wielgosz (Dorchester, Ont.), also step up and provide invaluable support to the coaches and captains on a regular basis”, he concluded.
UOIT RIDGEBACKS
2007: Inaugural year as a member of OUA Women’s Hockey
2007: Open at home versus Western September 29 at 1:30 pm
After being accepted as the 19th member of Ontario University Athletics (OUA) in early 2006, the UOIT (University of Ontario Institute of Technology) Ridgebacks men’s and women’s hockey program began its inaugural season in fall 2007.
In addition, the Ridgebacks are applying for membership to Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) in time for the 2008-2009 academic year.
The hockey programs develop personal skills to the highest level and create immediate contenders that bring championships to UOIT’s campus.
Remember that when you visit UOIT you enter Ridgebacks territory – proceed with caution and enter at your own risk. Go Ridgebacks.
Gary Pitcher, the founding coach of UOIT's Women's Hockey Club Team, brings 15 years of coaching experience in men's and women's hockey to the Ridgebacks Women's Hockey Team. A retired Toronto Police Officer, Gary is Director of Student Rights and Responsibilities at UOIT. His coaching credentials include: Head Coach positions with the Wexford Hockey Association and the Whitby Minor Hockey organization, Head Coach with the Whitby Girls Hockey Association, Coached Whitby Peewee team to semi-finals at the Quebec International Tournament, coached four Whitby teams that progressed to Ontario Provincial Championships.
“UOIT has provided me with a great experience from both hockey and program standpoints. I am very honoured that I am able to be a part of the first-ever team at UOIT for hockey, as well as, to fulfill my dream of getting a university degree from a great school too. The athletic department is truly committed to running a first-class program which really enhances each player’s experience.” Commented student-athlete Megan Friel.
QUEEN’S GOLDEN GAELS
2006: 3rd in Conference (14-7-1-2)
2007: Open at home versus Windsor September 29 at 8:30 pm
The Queen's Golden Gaels enter the 2007-08 campaign coming off an OUA silver medal finish, the team's best in three years.
Queen's returns 14 skaters and both goaltenders from last year's squad including last season's league rookie of the year Elizabeth Kench (Gananoque, Ont) Joining Liz are Victoria Kaufmann (Whitby, Ont.) and Chantelle Johnson (Hamilton, Ont.) who were OUA All Rookie team members in 2005-06 and between the three of them scored 16 goals. On the blue line joining Johnson are Kingston native Alison Bagg and Shannon Smyth of Thornhill, Ont. In net the Gaels return the tandem of Katie Boyd (Richmond Hill, Ont) and Melissa John (Markham, Ont). Both played significant minutes for Queen's with Boyd finishing with a record of 9-4-1 and John finishing 5-3-0.
The Gaels will dress five first year players this season and hope that youth combined with the veteran players will give them one of the deepest teams in the OUA and with it the possibility of their first league title since the 1978-79 season.
TORONTO VARSITY BLUES
2006: 2nd in Conference (15-5-3-1)
2007: Open at home versus Windsor October 5 at 7:30 pm
The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women’s hockey team returns a group of key veterans and adds a healthy corps of solid first-year players as they look to better their bronze medal performance in last year’s OUA Final Four. The Blues finished the 2006 regular season with four straight wins to vault them past the Queen’s Golden Gaels, into second place, and gave them an automatic berth in the championship tournament.
Backstopping the Blues last season was OUA all-star and CIS all-Canadian Stephanie Lockert, who is returning for her final year of eligibility and looks to lead the team to the CIS championship. Captain and OUA all-star, Jill Clark, is also back and will be relied upon to guide a defensive corps that held opponents to a remarkable 1.5 goals per game. Veterans Emily Patry and Laura Foster will help provide the Blues with necessary speed and touch up front.
Added to the mix are several highly-touted recruits who will look to fill the gaps left by departing veterans Mary Modeste, Justine Todd and Katie Dowdall. Durham Lightning alum, Lindsay Hill and Toronto Aeros prospect, Amanda Fawns, will provide additional depth to the forward lines. Their passing abilities and scoring prowess will undoubtedly bolster the Blues offensive attack. Stouffville Stars grad, Kelly Setter, Canada Games participant, Karolina Urban, and Kingston native Brenly Jorgensen are all expected to play significant roles as the 2007-08 Blues focus on powering their way to the top of the OUA leader board.
WATERLOO WARRIORS
2006: 6th in Conference (8-11-3-2)
2007: Open on the road versus Guelph September 27, at 7:30 pm
This years edition of the Warrior Women's Hockey team will see 13 returning players and the addition of 9 rookies. Returning for her last year of play is first team OUA all star Sarah Bryson who lead the team in scoring with 22 points (13g, 9a) good for 6th in the OUA. We are expecting Sarah to pick up where she left off last year. This years team goal is to qualify for the Final Four Championships.
One of the biggest holes the team needed to fill in the off season was between the pipes with Alexis Huber electing to focus on school. The coaches feel confident that Erica Bridgewater (first year player) can step in an fill the starters role. Other rookies added to the team are Sarah Beckman (Waterloo, Ont.), Mandy Harrop (Simcoe, Ont.), Kelly McLean (St.George, Ont.), Caitlin Brydges (Ariss, Ont.), Alexandra Mazerolle (Calgary, AB), Elora Brenneman (Minesing, Ont.), Darby McGrath (Chippawa, Ont.) and Kahla Stern (Paris, Ont.). With the edition of these rookies the coaching staff feels confident and optimistic heading intothe 2007-08 OUA hockey season.
WESTERN MUSTANGS
2006: 4th in Conference (11-11-1-1)
2007: Open on the road versus UOIT September 29 at 1:30 pm
Western’s women’s hockey team will be young once again, but head coach Paul Cook thinks the experience gained in 2006 will pay dividends.
The Mustangs finished at 11-11-1-1 in 2006, just missing the Final Four which they hosted at Thompson Arena with a heartbreaking 5-4 overtime loss to Guelph ending their season.
Back are forwards Bianca Emanuele (Mississauga, Ont.) and Brampton Thunder graduate Sara Lynch (Owen Sound, Ont.), along with 2006-07 OUA rookie of the year defenceman Veronica Johnston (Oshawa, Ont.).
Emanuele led the team in scoring with six goals and six assists last year.
Cook, who coached with Sault Ste. Marie and Kingston in the OHL, expects the program to blossom this season.
“We have one of the younger programs in the OUA and even though we’re still a relative newcomer, we have a number of players in their first, second and third year of their eligibility. This bodes well for future successes.”
WINDSOR LANCERS
2006: 9th in Conference (5-14-5-0)
2007: Open on the road versus Queen’s September 29 at 8:30 pm
Entering her second season behind the bench of the Windsor Lancer Women’s hockey program, head coach Carrie Sekela has put together an outstanding recruiting class for the 2007-08 season.
Her new group of athletes is led by Frida Nevalainen (Sweden), a 2006 Olympic Silver medallist with the Swedish national team. Nevalainen is joined by fellow Swede Johanna Wernersson, a first year defensemen who will be a solid addition to the Lancer blue line.
Sekela has also added local talent Candace Rapchak (Stoney Point, Ont.) to her line-up for the 07-08 season. A native of Windsor, Ontario, Candace has enjoyed several successful years with the local Windsor Junior Wildcats program where she was an offensive leader and helped the Wildcats capture several tournament and league play victories.
Returning to the Lancer line-up are 2006-07 OUA All-Rookie team member Jamie Tessier (Copper Cliff, Ont.), and Lancer leading scorer Darris Ford (Echo Bay, Ont.).
YORK LIONS
2006: 7th in Conference (9-14-1-0)
2007: Open on the road versus Laurier September 27 at 7:30 pm
The York Lions women’s hockey team is hoping to carry over their momentum from the end of last season into the 2007-08 season. York won its final five games last season, but still fell two points short of a playoff spot. Nineteen players return from last season’s team, giving the team plenty of confidence as it tries to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2002-03.
The hardest player to replace might be star goaltender Melanie Quinn, who graduated. Megan Slumskie (Kitchener, Ont.), the backup last season, and rookie Sydney McMurter (Orillia, Ont) will battle for playing time. Justine Jackson (Rosebud, AB) and Mandy Cole (Peterborough, Ont), the team’s top goal scorers last season, give the Lions a dangerous duo up front. They’ll be joined by Courtney Unruh (Fort, St.John, Ont), a highly-regarded transfer from Mercyhurst of the NCAA. Six returning defencemen, meanwhile, will be joined by key recruit Ashley Clarke of Ottawa.
Coach Dan Church is coming off an impressive summer. Named the coach of the Canadian under-22 team this season, Church led Canada to a 3-0 record in a series against the United States in August in Lake Placid, NY.
- OUA -
Michelle Church
Communications & Media Relations Coordinator
Ontario University Athletics
Tel: (905) 540-5156
Fax: (905) 574-2840
E-mail: michelle.church@oua.ca
Web: www.oua.ca