Home Opener Friday

It’s time to drop the puck on another ACAC hockey season, as the Cougars women's hockey team prepares for their first test of the season this Friday, October 14.

Last season, the Cougar women went on a remarkable run, setting the all-time mark for wins in an ACAC women’s hockey regular season with 21 wins in 24 games.

Winning their semi-final matchup versus the Grant MacEwan Griffins, the Cougars looked poised to repeat as ACAC champions, until they ran out of steam in the finals, dropping to the SAIT Trojans in their best-of-five series 3-0.

The Cougars will welcome back ten players from a year ago and 14 new faces to the program this season. Up front the team will look to Chrissy Hodgson, Tanika Dawson, Taralynn Suzuki, Shyla Stadnicki and Emma Lowry to help set the tone for the eight new faces.

Transfers Emily Harrison and Kat McDonald will help provide some additional leadership to this group of young forwards. Janessa Jenkins, Mackenzie Duncan, Jade Osadchuk, Kacy Smith and Ellen Lind have made the jump to collegiate hockey and look ready to make an impact with their new teammates.

On the back-end the Cougars will be led by returners Jess Legasse, Taylor McLeod, Kaitlyn Burke and transfer Rayna Cruickshank. Freshman Lindy Brunet, Jocelyn Froehlich and Taylor Andrews round out this talented group who look to have the tools needed to help the Cougars achieve their ultimate goal.

In goal, the Cougars return two of the league’s best goaltenders from last season as third-year Kendall Kilgour and fourth-year Leanne Pfliger return for another season. If that wasn’t enough the team brought in Jessica Ross who hasn’t shown any signs of rust after sitting out last season.

The Cougars were also able to bring in some additional leadership in Michelle Ziegler and Karlie Martens who return to the team after a year away, last playing for the Cougars after capturing an ACAC championship with the team two seasons ago. Both know what it takes to win and that experience will be invaluable if the Cougars hope to finish their last season in the ACAC on a winning note.

Game time for the home opener is set for 7:30 p.m. at Flames Community Arenas, when the Cougars will get a chance to exact some revenge on those same SAIT Trojans they fell to in last year’s championship.

Fans attending Friday night’s game will also have a chance to win an Apple iPad. Games are always free for students, staff and faculty, so get the weekend kicked off right and join us at the game on Friday night !