By Kristi Patton /
Going into the fourth year of the Western Women’s Hockey League added a new team full-time, welcomed some new coaches, and established an international connection.
BC BREAKERS
The Breakers will have a new face behind the bench this season with BC women’s hockey development Natalie Christensen taking over as head coach from her previous post as assistant.
Christensen comes from a strong background in hockey as both coach and player having been both a head coach and an assistant coach with the Female High Performance program, coaching the U18 BC Best Ever, and with Team BC at the Esso Nationals. She is a former Breakers player and hopes to bring those experiences with her as a coach.
“I think I have some things up sleeves. I have some people I want to bring in that haven’t been confirmed yet. I think skill and development wise and system wise this team is prepared for what the WWHL will present to them,” said Christensen.
The Breakers have brought in talent from the East in former Toronto Aeros goalie Desi Clark who will keep guard with returning Breakers goalie Jennifer Price.
Coming from the US is forward Karen Thatcher who is up for a spot on the US Olympic team.
“(Thatcher) is a power house. She has got soft hands and a real sense for game. I don’t think not too many who go to practice and every single drill from top to bottom is going full out and that is the intensity that she brings to the ice. She definitely leads the other players to work hard,” said Christensen.
EDMONTON CHIMOS
Head coach of the Chimos Barry Medori is expecting his team to be highly competitive with their provincial rivals, the X-Treme this year.
“I think there will be more parody in the league this year than ever which is really going to make it fun to watch. This is going to be a very exciting year for us and I am really looking forward to working with our players and having a successful year,” said Medori.
A key ingredient to the Chimos success will be in their goaltending with the duo of Keely Brown and Lara Smart returning. Hoping to be a menace to opposing goaltenders will be Danielle Bourgeois and Lara McAlpine.
“Bourgeois had a good year last year and I think she will be even better this season. Then we have Lindsay McAlpine who sees the ice very well and has great hands,” said Medori of his offensive firepower.
McAlpine was the 2006/07 CIS women’s hockey player of the year for the University of Alberta Pandas.
On the blueline will be Lara Stosky and Jennifer Jeffrey. Meagan Nicholson joins them on defense with National U-22 team experience to go along with her NCAA defenseman of the year title.
MINNESOTA WHITECAPS
Last year’s runner ups are ready to make the leap to WWHL champion status with a load of talent returning to the team.
New to the team this year are Olympians Angela Ruggerio and Julie Chu who are expected to make an immediate impact. They will join the WWHL MVP Natalie Darwitz and WWHL Defensive Player of the Year Winny Brodt completing a powerful looking roster that is returning to the Whitecaps this season.
Top players also returning include Caroline Ouellete, Jenny Potter and Kristin King, all which are current Olympians. Between the pipes are the trio of Shari Vogt, Sanya Sandahl and Megan VanBeusekom as well as a strong core of skaters that bring Div. I and National Team experience.
The Whitecaps have also added depth from players wanting to remain at a competitive level in women’s hockey having played in the top conference for women’s college hockey, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA).
OVAL X-TREME
The X-treme will be under the pressure as the reigning champs of the WWHL especially since this season marks the absence of Hayley Wickenheiser (Sweden) and more than likely Danielle Goyette who is coaching full-time with the University of Calgary Dinos.
In addition the team is undergone changes in their coaching staff with Mario Amantea, a former X-treme assistant coach, taking over as head coach from Tomas Pacina.
“Meagan Walton has been leading the team the last few years even with likes of Hayley Wickenheiser and Danielle Goyette players, who actually have looked to her for leadership. (Walton) is an exceptional leader and with others like Colleen Sostorics, Gillian Ferrari, Carla MacLeod and Delany Collins on the team we have a raft of leaders so things are looking very good for us,” said Amantea.
Goaltenders Amanda Tapp and Lyndsay Baird will be taking over the duties once again for the X-treme along with a Team China netminder. The visiting goaltender is part of an initiative started by the X-treme bringing the top six Team China players to Alberta, with each of the teams in the province taking two players into their fold.
Salt Lake City Olympic gold medalist Kelly Bechard will also be returning to the X-Treme this year.
STRATHMORE ROCKIES
The Rockies are the new kid on the block in the WWHL but are no strangers to its comeption having played an exhibition season with all the teams in the league last year.
The Rockies may be new but the person manning the bench is a very familiar face.
Julie Healy, Hockey Canada female director, is responsible for overseeing all aspects of female development and high-performance.
The Rockies coach has been surrounded by high-calibre players at the Esso National Women’s Championship, Canada’s Under-18 and Under-22 programs, Canada’s National program and of course the women’s Olympic program.
“We are looking to improve upon last season's record (9-8-0) and challenge for the league championship in our first season as a full member,” said Healy by email.
The Rockies will put 16 returning players on the ice this year along with seven other newcomers.
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