SDHL Grabs Talent

As you might be aware, I have been banging the drum in support of U SPORTS women's hockey for a long time when it comes to Hockey Canada recognizing the value of the hockey programs operating in its own backyard. For far too long, Hockey Canada has put a premium on NCAA talent when it comes to assembling the women's national team which made sense twenty or even ten years ago. Today, I'd argue that the U SPORTS system is one of the best development systems in the world for young women, and we've seen a good example of that with the talent that has been playing in Sweden over the last few years.

The SDHL is always looking for talented players, and they added two phenomenally-gifted women to the league this past week when both MODO and Djurgårdens IF made splashes into Canadian waters to recruit two of the best women's players coming out of western Canada. While one is a born-and-bred Canadian after growing up in Manitoba, the other came to Canada to improve her game as she looked to make her nation's national team back in Norway.

We'll start with Norwegian center Mathea Fischer first, as seen up top, who signed with Djurgårdens IF. Fischer became a better player each and every year she played with UBC, and her game really blossomed as she learned to play without the puck and away from the net. She showed up in Canada West as a quiet rookie who had the potential to be dangerous as a goal scorer, but she definitely finished as one of the best play-makers in the conference to go along with her great hands and speed that allowed her to open up space and find teammates for goals for the Thunderbirds.

Fischer's first two seasons saw her score five and seven goals, respectively, which is three more collectively than what she scored in her final three seasons. It was her play-making abilities, however, that really picked up as she became a dangerous passing threat on the power-play from the corner and half-boards where she was lethal. Of her career 21 goals and 51 helpers, nine goals were scored with the man-advantage while she set up 20 power-play goals. To say Fischer loved the extra room on the ice might be a bit of an understatement.

She'll join a Djurgårdens IF team that already boasts former U SPORTS Player of the Year Sarah Bujold and Norwegian teammmates Andrea Dalen and Karoline Pedersen as they look to push Djurgårdens IF up the standings from their fourth-place finish despite the loss of Canadian Olympian Jennifer Wakefield. Adding a play-maker of Fischer's quality is never a bad move, and her addition should help Djurgårdens IF in a big way if she can continue to show the same poise and skill she had while playing in Canada West.

MODO also made a splash in western Canada when they inked Regina Cougars sniper Jaycee Magwood to a deal for the upcoming year. Magwood was, by far, the best goal scorer that the Regina Cougars have had over the last five seasons, and she'll add some real pop to the MODO lineup with her shot, her power forward-style of play, and her leadership on and off the ice. Signing Magwood might benefit MODO in a number of ways with the skills and talents she brings to the team and to the ice on a daily basis!

MODO finished in ninth-place last year as they battled a number of injuries and just couldn't seem to get everything going all at once. For a roster that boasts Czech national team netminder Klára Peslarová, Swedish national team players Sofia Engstrom and Olivia Carlsson, former Montreal Carabins teammates and current French national team teammates Lore Baudrit and Marion Allemoz, and former Manitoba Bisons defender Erica Rieder, this team should have been higher in the standings. It appears that MODO isn't happy with last year's finish, so they're bringing in a sniper.

Magwood can flat-out play - she's physical, she's fast, she has great vision, and she has a cannon for a shot with a deceptively wicked wrist shot. She scored 48 goals and 53 assists in her five years with the Cougars, and finished none of the years with less than seven goals. She scored 16 power-play goals, but she also has 18 assists as she generates shots for tips and rebounds while also using that vision to set up other teammates. Perhaps what sets her apart with her ability to light the lamp is that she does it in key situations as she also recorded 14 game-winning goals over her five seasons with Regina.

For a team that scored just 66 times last season and had just one player to hit double-digits in goals over 36 games, adding the firepower that comes with Jaycee Magwood is an astute move to help buoy the offence in a league that is only getting stronger.

Seeing names like Lindsey Post, Alexandra Anderson, Danielle Stone, Kelly Murray, and Kelty Apperson appear on scoresheets in the SDHL has to make those programs that these women played for in U SPORTS very proud. However, the work is never done as players like Rieder, Magwood, Fischer, Baudrit, and Allemoz will continue to represent U SPORTS and the programs under its umbrella as U SPORTS makes its mark on the SDHL with new talent.

Why Hockey Canada continues to overlook these women is beyond me, but I take immense pride in having watched both Mathea Fischer and Jaycee Magwood become the players they are today. Congratulations, ladies, you earned these contracts, and we'll be watching on this side of the ocean once the SDHL gets back underway!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!