Your 2020-21 Regina Cougars

From one set of Cougars to the other, we move west to the Queen's city in Regina where we get a look at the 2020-21 Regina Cougars for the first time! Regina made a spirited run in the second half of the season last year to make the Canada West playoffs where they eventually fell to the Mount Royal Cougars in the quarterfinal. Backed by solid goaltending from Jane Kish and some key contributions from Jaycee Magwood, Jordan Kulbida, and Tamara McVannel, the Cougars rose from last-place in Canada West past three other teams to grab a playoff spot. Where this good news ends is in knowing that three of four of those players mentioned fulfilled their eligibilities and a few other players are no longer rostered, so the 2021-22 season might be a bit of a rebuilding year for the Regina Cougars.

As I keep reminding everyone, this version of the Regina Cougars lineup is in no way correct by any means. Head coach Sarah Hodges has never needed any help from a broadcaster in setting her lineup to find success, and there's no reason to believe she'd start listening to one now. This video-game version of the Regina Cougars is who would have lined up this season for the squad, so please use this image for that purpose only!

I should note that there are a few players with odd numbers when you look at the roster above. Lauren Focht (#98), Elle Harapchuk (#96), Shaelyn Myers (#94), Katie Bassett (#95), Megan Long (#93), and Arden Kliewer (#73) are listed on Regina's roster as the Cougars' freshman class, but apparently it's a Herculean task for someone to log into the webpage and assign these players the numbers they've chosen to wear. I'm not sure why the Cougars haven't done this yet considering it's nearly February, but my repeated requests for this to be done have fallen into the social media abyss. Show these ladies some respect, University of Regina, and update the roster page with the numbers they're going wear.

Regina lost their three biggest reasons for success last season in Jane Kish, Jaycee Magwood, and Tamara McVannel as all three played their final year of eligibility. Filling their contributions means that the remaining players have a chance to step into roles, so the competition to grab top-line spots should be fun. The roster also seems to be missing Shaelyn Vallotton on the blue line and Sidney Shyiak up front - two very good depth players for Regina - so there are holes on this roster that need to be filled. In that regard, Mariah McKersie returns on the blue line for her final year of eligibility after playing at Red Deer College in the ACAC, and the rookies coming in have some good scoring talent based on past histories. The Cougars will need players to continue to evolve, so expect Paige Hubbard, Ireland Sorestad, Jordan Kulbida, and Chelsea Hallson to do a lot of heavy lifting for the Cougars in 2021-22, especially if the fifth-year players choose to remain with the team for one more season.

Here are the 26 players who would be donning the Regina Cougars uniforms this season in hockey card form. Carrying four goalies isn't necessarily recommended for any Canada West team, but the Cougars are certainly looking to 2021-22 and beyond when it comes to the youthfulness of this team. Like teams before them, some Cougars players simply don't show up in image form while playing hockey despite me knowing that Elle Harapchuk, Alex Rajsigl, and Raea Gilroy have some impressive hockey histories to tell. If you run media for teams, get images of players actually playing the game, please!

2020-21 Regina Cougars Women's Hockey Team

With a large part of their offensive output gone and a starting netminder graduating out of the program, the Regina Cougars appear to need a lot of help in 2021-22. That assessment seems unfair when one considers the talent still on the roster, and there were some inspired performances last season by a few players who remain. Will they need big contributions or contributions by committee to make up some of these shortfalls? Absolutely, but writing off the Cougars before they've even played a game seems foolish. Are they my pick to win the conference? Not entirely, but I wouldn't be surprised if they make some noise in the conference come September with the talent they have. While it might be another year they finish in the middle of the pack, there's no doubt that Cougars will rattle some cages and earn some deserved wins in 2021-22.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!