SEASON PREVIEW: Competitive field to vie for AUS women’s hockey supremacy

UNB Reds shooting for third consecutive conference banner

By Corey LeBlanc

A common theme in conversation with head coaches as another Atlantic University Sport (AUS) women's hockey season approaches is parity; one team has the chance to beat another on any given day.

"There won't be any easy games – we are going to have to be ready to play every night," Kyle MacDonald, acting head coach of the two-time defending conference champion UNB Reds, said.

Last season, after topping the AUS with a 23-2-1-2 mark in the regular season, the Reds ousted the UPEI Panthers in the semi-final round before besting the STFX X-Women in the conference championship series for a second consecutive year.

"There is a feeling of excitement around this group," he offered.

Noting that the program has made "some great additions," MacDonald said the UNB roster returns a "solid core" of 14 student-athletes.

"We expect to have some great balance," he added.

Leading the way in the quest for a three-peat will be fifth-year goaltender Kendra Woodland, the AUS most valuable player last season and a first-team All-Canadian selection.

"We are so fortunate to have her back," MacDonald said, offering that her resume "speaks for itself."

Woodland, once again, will form an impressive one-two punch with junior Cassie McCallum (Rothesay, NB).

The talented and experienced defense corps in front of that duo will be anchored by Mackenzie Keenan (Midhurst, ON), Marisa Valla (St. Catharines, ON), Lindsey Smith (Onslow, NS), Lauren O'Neil (Osgoode, ON) and Emma Giordano (Ancaster, ON), who is expected to return from injury during the season.

There is also plenty of experience up front on the UNB roster, including fifth-year student-athlete Lillian George (Nipissing First Nation).

"She is so responsible on both ends of the ice," MacDonald said of the veteran.

Senior Payton Hargreaves (Whitby, ON) "can do it all," according to her head coach.

"We can lean on her to play some big minutes," MacDonald added.

The eclectic collection of forwards also includes Lauren Carter (Milton, ON), Sydney Oitomen (Mississauga, ON), Melanie Drost (Nepean, ON), Jorja Nystrom (Leduc, AB) and Reagan Minor (Dunnville, ON).

"We have a great group of two-way players, which is going to be a major factor for us," MacDonald noted.

Goaltender Sierra Eagles (Tumbler Ridge, BC) and defender Raine Murdoch (Sherwood Park, AB). Robyn Brokenshier (Edmonton, AB), Lauren Toner (St. Catharines, ON), Hailey Jackson (Red Deer, AB), Rylee Strohm (Kingsville, ON), Bailey McMaster (Regina, SK) and April Reiner (Kitchener, ON) are also first-year Reds to keep an eye on this season.

"They are so proud to be a part of it," MacDonald offered of the team wanting to continue the "culture of excellence" the Reds have established since the return of women's varsity hockey to UNB, when asked about their focus on winning a third consecutive AUS banner.

When it comes to goals for this season, he said, "We want to be the most improved team in Canada."

Next step for X?

In Antigonish, the STFX X-Women are coming off consecutive seasons as conference runners-up, losing both AUS final series to the Reds.

"We were right there," Ben Berthiaume – last season's coach of the year in the league – offered, noting that they wrapped up the three-game final, which ended with a 3-2 setback in double overtime, with only four healthy defenders.

After finishing second in the regular season, with a 20-5-2-1 record, and earning a first-round bye in the conference playoffs, the White and Blue bested the rival Saint Mary's Huskies in the semifinal round before bowing out to UNB.

"We are deeper in every area," Berthiaume said of his roster, which boasts a dozen newcomers.

He added of the new look line-up, "We are really excited."

With so many new faces, Berthiaume agreed that building chemistry may take a little longer than usual, but he noted that the process is off to a fast start.

Noting the recruiting class includes "really good hockey players," he added, "They are not only very capable, but they also play a very smart game."

Berthiaume expects his X-Women to be a "quick team," one that "moves the puck really well."

Conference first-team all-star Maggy Burbidge (Falmouth, NS) heads the list of key returnees for the White and Blue. The first-team All-Canadian led the conference in points (47), goals (25) and assists (22) last season; her point total bested everyone in USPORTS by 11.

Noting her "rare touch" around the net, Berthiaume said, "We expect Maggy to have another phenomenal season."

He added that she is one of the program's hardest workers – on and off the ice.

Along with Burbidge, homegrown product Landyn Pitts (Antigonish, NS), Ellie Brown (Kemptville, ON), Kamdyn Switzer (Stittsville, ON) and Anna MacCara (Yellowknife, NWT) are also important players back in the fold.

"We expect them to step up and help lead the charge," Berthiaume said.

Considering their depth up front, the Antigonish native doesn't believe they will "have to depend on one line," when it comes to goal scoring. Both on defense and at forward, he added, "We have people who can put the puck in the net."

Even with the loss of AUS all-stars Lauren Dabrowski (Tiny, ON) – a first-team All-Canadian – and team captain Josie Chisholm, the White and Blue will have experience on the back end, including last season's AUS all-rookie team member Kya Moss (Port Moody, BC), Olivia Sutton (Calgary, AB) and Ella VandeSompel (London, ON).

Between the pipes, Amaya Giraudier (Assiniboia, SK) and Maggie Johnston (Summerside, PE) have returned, while transfer Brooklyn Oakes (Richmond Hill, ON) started her career at the University of Maine.

"That's a hard one," Berthiaume offered, when asked which newcomers he expects to make an impact.

While declining to name individual student-athletes, he focused on the talent level of the group; one that includes players with abilities in a variety of areas.

"They are very skilled and fast," Berthiaume said.

He offered that the X-Women are primed to challenge for another AUS banner, and a return to the national championship stage.  

Berthiaume noted the importance of focusing on "being better every day."

He said, "We are confident in this group's ability to do what it takes to reach our goals this season."

Huskies in the hunt

As for the Huskies, the perennial contenders are expected – once again – to be in the mix to capture another AUS banner.

"We have had limited time together, but I think that we are on the right track," veteran head coach Chris Larade said the day before his group opened the pre-season versus the cross-city rival Dalhousie Tigers.

Coming off a third-place finish in the regular season (18-9-1-0) in 2022-23, the Huskies defeated Moncton in a quarterfinal playoff series, before bowing out to the rival X-Women in the semifinals.

Along with the returnees, including three goaltenders, the Huskies have added three first-year forwards and three new defenders to the roster.

"We are expecting to have some good, healthy competition," Larade said.

Larade expects the forward trio of Avery Cant (Waterloo, ON), who is coming off a gap year and spent time with Canada's U18 team; Charlotte Buffie (Winnipeg, MB) and Gillian Lapierre (Port Coquitlam, BC) to be first-year contributors.

"She is one of the top U18 players [in the country]," he offered of Cant.

As for Buffie and Lapierre, Larade praised their "high hockey IQs."

"I expect them to adapt fairly quickly on both sides of the puck," he added.

Ashley Imlach (Newtonville, ON), Ridleigh Hansen (Red Deer, AB) and Sophie Scully (Ottawa, ON) are competing for the lion's share of time between the pipes.

Larade noted that the Saint Mary's 'D' corps is as deep as any part of their line-up.

"Ideally, I would have a quicker and easier answer," he offered, with a laugh, when asked who he expects to lead the way for the Huskies this season.

Nevertheless, he said, Saint Mary's will need to rely on the steady play of veterans Aimee O'Neill (Glace Bay), Ashley Penney (Lawrencetown, NS) and Miranda Hatt (Regina, SK).

Larade explained the Huskies expect success to come "by committee," which would include second and third-year players "making some big jumps."

Noting there is "no panic," when it comes to filling the void created by roster departures – he did stress that returning student-athletes need to step it up.

When it comes to expectations for this season, Larade said, "We have to strike a balance – not peak too early or too late. We want to be playing our best hockey in February and March."

He noted that the Huskies can't "leave any stone unturned."

"We have to push each other a little more in practice, which will help us be more battle tested," he added.

Panthers primed

Across the Northumberland Strait, the UPEI Panthers are eying an improvement on their fourth-place finish last season, with a 17-9-1-1 mark, which concluded with a quarterfinal victory over the Dalhousie Tigers and semifinal loss to UNB.

"I think that we are in a pretty strong place – things are looking good," UPEI head coach Sean Fisher said.

The Panther roster, which includes 21 skaters from last season, welcomes six newcomers.

He added, "Our student-athletes are highly motivated – on and off the ice."

Noting UPEI finished with double-digit victories last season, Fisher explained, "We hope to build on that momentum."

He said that they are confident in their leadership group being able "to take a big step forward."

Fisher noted the importance of seeing continuing improvement in the quarter of Lexie Murphy (Charlottetown, PE), top defender in the AUS last season; Ruby Loughton (Toronto, ON), Avery Penner (Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON) and Stephanie Leger (Memramcook, NB), who are expected to be leaders for the Panthers this season.

Junior McKinley Nelson (Calgary, AB), a 2022-23 conference second-team all-star, will be counted on to continue her scoring pace this season.

"We expect her to take a step forward," Fisher offered of sophomore defender Orianna MacNeil (Mabou, NS) – the top rookie in the conference last season – who also garnered spots on the AUS second-team all-star and all-rookie teams.

When it comes to the first-year Panthers, he said they are "having a really good camp," including walk-on Anjali Simms.

"She has been a very pleasant surprise," Fisher noted of the strong skater and puck mover.

As a team, he explained, the Panthers will have to make strides defensively, if they hope to make a jump into the upper echelon of the conference.

"We are going to have to grow together," Fisher said – both as individual and team defenders.

Noting that he expects another "highly competitive season" in the AUS, he added, "We are really excited and ready to go."

Moncton on the move

As for the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleues, who secured the final AUS playoff spot last season (11-17-0) – before being eliminated by the Huskies in quarterfinal action, they are focused on recording more wins than losses after coming off a pair of sub-500 campaigns.

"We were stagnant," head coach Marc André Coté offered of those recent years.

Although it is early in this season, he offered, "We are happy with where we are at."

Coté added, "It won't be long before we are put to the test."

When it comes to the Moncton line-up, he said, "We have pretty good balance," which includes a combination of "older" and first and second-year student-athletes.

Coté added, "We are really happy with the make-up of our roster."

Forwards Erica Plourde (Pigeon Hill, NB), a second-team conference all-star last season, and Élodie St-Jacques (St-Jérôme, Que.), an all-rookie team member, are expected to continue as key contributors for Moncton.

Coté expects a lot from his "nucleus," which is mainly made up of third-year players.

"We need them to take a strong step forward," he offered.

Noting the importance of the process of adjusting to the AUS, Coté balked at singling out first-year Moncton players who could contribute immediately.

"We are really happy with this group. As they grasp things and adjust [at this level], we are going to have some good players down the road," he said.

He added that Moncton has what it takes to "move in the right direction," but the program "will see what happens."

Coté said, considering it should be another "competitive season" in the AUS, making a move up the standings won't be an easy task.

Back in action

Rounding out the AUS field this season will be the Dalhousie Tigers, who finished fifth last season – with a 13-10-1-4 mark – before being ousted in the quarterfinals by the Panthers.

The St. Thomas Tommies (8-18-2) and Mount Allison Mounties (2-24-1-1) will be shooting for a return to the conference playoffs.

Puck drop for the 2023-24 AUS regular season is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 4, when UPEI hosts Moncton while Dalhousie hosts Mount Allison. Puck drop in both games is set for 7 p.m. ADT. All games of the AUS regular season and postseason will be webcast live on AUStv.