First Ever CanWest Recruit

While there's no draft at the Canada West hockey level, I keep my ear to the ground regarding recruiting. All Canada West recruits are student-athletes with a heavy emphasis on the "student" part of that hyphenated word, so seeing these athletes find their academic passion is just as important as the results they turn in on the ice. With two new teams entering the fray next year, there was a big moment today as Trinity Western University announced their first-ever Canada West women's hockey recruit for the 2020-21 season as they leave the BCIHL to play at the U SPORTS level!

That young lady to the right is Desiree Wiens from Abbotsford, BC. Wiens, seen putting pen to paper on her letter of intent, is officially the first women's hockey player recruited by Trinity Western University for play at the U SPORTS level, and she currently plays forward with the Pacific Steelers of the JWHL! Wiens has ties to the university as her cousin, Chris Wiens, is the general manager and assistant coach of the TWU men's hockey team, but TWU women's hockey head coach Jean Laforest recruited the young lady for her skills, leadership, and personality.

"Good leaders set the standard within a program," Laforest said in the release. "Desiree is someone who will continually contribute towards our goal of building a program that strives to develop 'Complete Champions' through her positive attitude, tireless effort and desire to succeed both on and off the ice."

While her stats with the Steelers - four goals and one assist in 21 career games - might raise eyebrows as to why Laforest would target Wiens when joining the ultra-competitive Canada West Conference, there's more to see with Wiens than just the numbers on the scoresheet.

Wiens was one of 51 athletes invited to the 2018 Female U18 Team BC provincial hockey camp, proving that she has the moxie to play at a higher level. She's also an outstanding athlete as she runs sprints for her high school, Mennonite Educational Institute. On the ice for the MEI Hockey Canada Skills Academy, she posted an incredible 30-metre sprint time of 3.89 seconds as a Grade 10 student, so clearly Laforest is looking to capitalize on that amazing speed that Wiens possesses. In fact, she holds records at MEI in a number of tested categories, so she has the tools that will make her successful on the ice at the Canada West level.

The work that Desiree has put in on the ice is paying off now as she will star for the TWU Spartans next season as they begin Canada West play. While her name might be a trivia question at this point, there's no doubt that Wiens will be an important piece for the Spartans as they write new chapters into their history as they begin play next season in what is arguably the hardest conference to win at the U SPORTS women's hockey level.

Congratulations to Desiree Wiens on finding a home with the Spartans, and I'm already looking forward to watching her blaze up and down the ice in the yellow-and-navy jersey next season!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!