Seven new forwards join women's hockey

The recruits are pouring in for the Cougars women’s hockey team, as head coach Scott Rivett announced his incoming class of forwards for the 2011-12 season.

Seven new players will suit up up-front for the Cougars including a trio of teammates from the Midget AAA Saskatoon Stars.

Coach Rivett says the team needed to address some needs in the off-season, including “adding team speed and becoming more physically tough to play against.” Objectives he feels he’s completed with this recruiting class.

Leading the way for the Stars, at least points wise, is 17 year old center Kacy Smith, a born and bred Saskatoon native.

Smith tallied 11 goals and nine assists in 28 games this past season for Stars, as the team finished second in the Saskatchewan Female Midget Hockey League (SFMHL).

Flanking her on the wings will be teammates Ellen Lind and Jade Osadchuk.

Lind, another Saskatoon native, was a member of Team Saskatchewan at the 2011 Canada Winter Games, where she helped her team to a fourth place finish. Lind registered nine goals and 10 assists in 28 games this past season for the Stars and will be another valuable addition to the roster come September.

Last but not least of the group is 17-year-old right-wing Jade Osadchuk. Osadchuk in her third season in the SFMHL has spent the past two campaigns with the Stars after spending her first year with the Battleford Sharks. The playmaking winger netted four goals and 12 assists in 27 games.

Rivett says while all three players are unique, they all bring desirable intangibles.

“The three Saskatoon girls all compete hard and know what it takes to win,” says Rivett.
“They are all quick, hard working, physical and will bring a lot of energy to the team. They all know what it takes to play and train at a high level and are important pieces for our program moving forward.”

Joining the Saskatoon trio up front will be another pair of Midget AAA players moving up the ranks in Warner Hockey Academy graduate Mackenzie Duncan and Thompson Okanagan Rocket forward Jenessa Jenkins.

Duncan is described as a rugged forward who competes hard on every shift and corner of the ice. While the 5-foot-6-inch Chestermere, AB, native brings some offensive upside, registering six goals and 11 assists in 58 games for Warner, it is her defensive prowess that has the Cougars the most excited.

“She is a real tough kid to play against,” claimed Rivett. “You need players who can play against the other teams top lines and make their lives difficult and I think she’ll be able to accomplish that.”

While Duncan is known for her defensive strength, Okanagan Rockets’ product Janessa Jenkins might be known for the polar opposite. The Salmon Arm, BC, native tallied a league high 23 goals and 20 assists, to tie for the league lead in scoring in the Female Midget AAA League in BC.

Jenkins was also a force at the renowned Mac’s AAA Midget tournament that takes place in Calgary every winter, as the 5-foot-9-inch forward notched home four goals and one assist in helping her team to a bronze medal finish in the 15 team tournament.

Joining the five midget AAA transfers will be a pair of university transfers in former Queens Gaels’ forward Emily Harrison and NCAA Division I transfer Kat McDonald.

Harrison spent 16 games last season with the Queen’s Gaels and was able to chip in with a goal and four assists while the team ultimately finished with a 15-8-4 record.

Prior to her CIS experience, Harrison spent time with the Calgary Flyers of the Alberta Major Midget Female Hockey League ending the season in the top 10 in league scoring.

Lastly, joining the blue and white in the fall is NCCAA Division I alumnus Kat McDonald, who spent last season with the Robert Morris University Colonials. Kat tallied eight points in 31 games for the Colonials in her stint down south and will return north of the border for the fall.

Kat’s experience runs deep, as the speedy forward attended a pair of Team Canada U18 camps, before narrowly missing the final roster – experience coach Rivett believes she can learn from and help the Cougars’ push forward to the next level.

“I think with her experience, skill set and speed she is going to be a very dynamic player for us,” said Rivett. "Adding these two girls [Harrison and McDonald] provides us with some immediate scoring depth to our lineup and will alleviate some of the scoring pressure from our first year and younger players.”

With seven new forwards ready to suit up come September, the Cougars will look reclaim their ACAC title and make it back to the finals for their third consecutive season.

Championship hopes aside, Rivett said he couldn’t be happier with the group of new recruits.

“If you look at what we have and what we are bringing in, we are really pleased with our recruiting this year,” said Rivett. “We think we have built a strong foundation for our program moving forward as we were able to add another seven terrific kids to it. It’s important for our student-athletes to understand what the culture of our program is like and how to be successful on and off the ice. Ideally, this entire group will get a chance to figure all of that out prior to us moving into Canada West which will hopefully help make the transition a little easier.”

Congratulations to the seven new recruits and welcome to the Cougars!