Women's Hockey | 10/1/2015 1:09:00 PM
FRIDAY: vs. Calgary Dinos, 7 p.m., The Co-operators Centre
SATURDAY: vs. Calgary Dinos, 3 p.m., The Co-operators Centre.
The University of Regina women's hockey team is set to open its 2015-16 Canada West season this weekend at home, as the Cougars play host to the Calgary Dinos on Friday night and Saturday afternoon.
The Cougars had a busy non-conference schedule leading up to the season opener, playing three exhibition games in Sweden and two in Weyburn, Sask. against Mount Royal University before finishing second in the Mandi Schwartz Challenge last weekend.
All together, the Cougars have posted a 6-2-1 record in the pre-season, and head coach
Sarah Hodges has liked what she's seen.
"I've been very impressed with our depth, we've had lots of goals from lots of different positions," Hodges noted. "I expect that if we play with consistency and put forth a solid effort for these two games we'll be in good shape."
Highlighting the returning players for the 2015 season is fourth-year forward
Kylie Gavelin. Gavelin led the team last year and finished sixth in Canada West with 13 goals in 27 games. Playing alongside Gavelin will be fifth-year
Stephanie Sawchuk and
Kylee Kupper. Other players to watch on the offensive end include sophomore
Emma Waldenberger, who notched seven goals in the nine exhibition games the Cougars have played. Rookie
Jaycee Magwood is also expected to make an impact after the departures of
Tori Head and
Natasha Kostenko from the roster. Magwood showed that she is adapting well to the CIS level of play, netting five goals and assisting on three more in the pre-season. Third-year athlete
Michela Esposito will be making the move from the back line up to a forward position this season, where she displayed speed and power in the pre-season.
Caitlin Dempsey,
Bailey Braden,
Chelsea Perepeluk,
Kelly Regnier,
Brooklyn Moskowy and
Meghan Sherven are other forwards who lit the lamp in the pre-season, proving that the Cougars will have a dynamic and balanced attack this season.
Anchoring the defensive line is team captain
Carleen Meszaros. Meszaros (pictured) is entering her fifth-year with the Cougars and currently sits second on the career points list for defencemen, behind assistant coach Joell Fiddler. Joining Meszaros on the back line is a lot of experience.
Alexis Larson and
Krista Metz are both entering their fourth years, while
Jolene Kirkpatrick and
Nikki Watters-Matthes are both heading into their third year. The new face on the blue line is rookie
Tamara McVannel. McVannel hails from MacGregor, Manitoba where she was named a Manitoba Female Midget Hockey League all-star in 2013-14.
Returning in net for the Cougars is
Toni Ross, who is second on the school's all time list for save percentage (.914) and fourth in minutes played (2485) as well as wins (19). Also expected to see some time between the pipes this season is redshirt freshman
Jane Kish. Kish earned her first win as a Cougar against the Sundsvall Wildcats in Sweden, registering a 19-save shutout in the team's 4-0 win.
"We saw strong goaltending in the pre-season and I think that's going to be a strength for us over the course of the season," Hodges added.
