Stellar Recruits - 2022 Edition

The animation created to the left is what NASA believes when it comes to what surrounds a neutron star. I'll never claim to be an astrophysicist in any way, but it seems pretty evident that we still have a lot to learn about our galaxy and universe before we can claim to understand it. The same could be said for the hockey universe as Canada Day is usually NHL Free Agency Day, but that has shifted to a few weeks from now. Instead, HBIC will use this time to introduce you to a number of other players getting ready to join new teams as the 2022 Canada West recruits are set to join the U SPORTS universe!

Canada West women's hockey will, once again, be highly competitive this season. Teams and players have made decisions on whether or not full eligibility options can be exercised, and we've seen some players move on as they pursue careers, explore life outside the rink, and continue to further their education opportunities.

Because of these changes, there are some larger recruiting classes once again this summer. Other changes within programs have also contributed to a few of the classes being larger than what one may expect, and I certainly have a few questions about one team in particular when it comes to how that squad is being managed. In any case, nine teams will add new players next season, so let's get you up to speed on who is going where!

As you read through these, the "Current" is the last team or current team they played with while "Prv." is the province or state where that team is found. You'll also notice a few bolded names in yellow or red. The bolded names are players who transferred in from other institutions with yellow representing a player who has used part of their five years of eligibility while players in red are also transfers, but still have all five years of eligibility available.

With that information, here are all the players joining the nine Canada West teams in 2022-23.

Canada West Recruits

Alberta Pandas

Name	Current	Prv.	Pos	G/GAA	A/SV%
Abbey Bourdeaud'hui	Pembina Valley	MB	F	36	25
Maia Ehmann	Winnipeg Ice	MB	F	55	51
Taylor Catcher	N. Alberta	AB	D	2	8
Misty Rey	Edmonton	AB	G	1.40	.932
Sarah Kazeil	Northern Alberta	AB	D	7	12
Riley Smith	St. Albert	AB	D	1	1
Cassidy Maplethorpe	Brock U.	ON	F	11	5
Taylor Kezama	U of Alberta	AB	D	DNP	DNP

Howie Draper keeps adding high-quality people and talent to his program. Abbey Bourdeaud'hui has the ability to take over a game with her skill, speed, and size. Maia Ehmann is deceptively quick with fantastic hands, and it's likely she'll be paired with former Ice teammate Reagan Yewdall once more. Sage Taylor has shown a nose for the net and won't shy away from the hard work Draper demands from his squad. Sarah Kazeil is a solid puck-moving defender who will power the Pandas from their own zone while Riley Smith, a former Robert Morris University recruit, is a solid player at both ends of the ice. Misty Rey continues the long-standing Pandas tradition of having exceptional goaltenders stop pucks.

Calgary Dinos

Name	Current	Prv.	Pos	G/GAA	A/SV%
Sophia Zuck	Prince Albert	SK	F	15	20
Miri Licis	Edmonton	AB	D	2	11
Jada Leung	Shawnigan Lake	BC	F	10	18
Jolie Nafziger	Red Deer	AB	F	10	16
Amelia Awad	Station Six	NS	G	2.33	n/a
Keagan Goulet	Northern Capitals	BC	D	12	11
Jada Burke	Lindenwood	MO	F	6	4

The first recruiting class done by Carla MacLeod is ready to go, and it is a diverse group of individuals that have all sorts of talents. Sophia Zuck, Jada Leung, and Jolie Nafziger bring scoring talent, speed, and a little toughness to the forwards. Defender Miri Licis is 5'10" and will be an imposing figure on the blue line who posseses good offensive instincts while the speedy and shifty Keagan Goulet has the ability to make all sorts of things happen. Jada Burke will play her fifth year in Canada as the Nepean, Ontario forward transfers in from Lindenwood University with experience as Calgary builds towards the future, and Amelia Awad might be a bit of a question mark here as few out west have seen her play, but she's a phenomenal stopper as per the reports written about her.

MacEwan Griffins

Name	Current	Prv.	Pos	G/GAA	A/SV%
Kali MacDonald	Edmonton	AB	D	6	13
Shaelyn Hopkins	Edmonton	AB	D	5	8
Allee Isley	Northern Alberta	AB	F	10	12
Kori Paterson	Northern Alberta	AB	F	9	16
Breanne Powell	Delta	BC	F	7	9
Lindsey Johnson	Edmonton	AB	G	0.50	.974

Lindsay McAlpine's team battled until the very end last season, and I expect another solid season from the Griffins in Year Two with the additons above. Lindsey Johnson immediately solidifies the goaltending if she can play as well as she did last season where she pitched ten shutouts for the Pandas AAA club. In front of her will be two familiar defenders as Kali MacDonald and Shaelyn Hopkins could be a solid pairing for years to come for MacEwan. I like the additions to the forward unit of Aimee Isley, Kori Paterson, and Breanne Powell as all three showed consistent scoring in helping their teams. Once again, the Griffins are going to make life difficult for all eight other Canada West teams.

Manitoba Bisons

Name	Current	Prv.	Pos	G/GAA	A/SV%
Norah Collins	Winnipeg Avros	MB	F	48	31
Dana Goertzen	Balmoral Hall	MB	F	24	14
Louise Fergusson	Yellowhead	MB	D	5	22

Jon Rempel's recruiting class sees the Manitoba Female Hockey League's top scorer and MVP in Norah Collins join the Bisons. He also added the MFHL's top defender in Louise Fergusson to the mix. And he capped it off with offensive dynamo Dana Goertzen from Balmoral Hall. Rempel's team will also see a number of key players return from injury such as Miressa Mäkelä and Aimee Patrick, so the Bisons could have a whole new look to them next season. One area to keep an eye on is the crease as veteran goalie Erin Fargey reportedly decided to move on, leaving second-year netminders Kimmy Davidson and Meagan Relf along with the redshirting Emily Shippam to battle for minutes. If the Bisons can get their injured reserves back and work in these new scoring threats, though, they'll be back in the mix at the top of the standings.

Mount Royal Cougars

Name	Current	Prv.	Pos	G/GAA	A/SV%
Scout Anderson	Okanagan Academy	BC	G	2.64	.915
Allee Gerrard	Regina Rebels	SK	F	12	30
Kiana McNinch	Swift Current	SK	F	11	17
Jordyn Hutt	Edge School	AB	F	7	10
Ava Metzger	Swift Current	SK	F	9	9

Scott Rivett's squad lost a few key pieces with players graduating out, but he's put together a nice recruiting class. The playmaking Allee Gerrard should give him some options when it comes to building lines as Gerrard has excellent hands and vision. Both Kiana McNinch and Ava Metzger will provide some scoring punch up front once again with their well-rounded skills. Jordyn Hutt looks like a Cougars-type player with her hustle and doggedness in getting to pucks. Scout Anderson should settle in nicely among the netminders with her steady play and good fundamentals. Expect Mount Royal to be competitive with these new additions next year and in future years!

Regina Cougars

Name	Current	Prv.	Pos	G/GAA	A/SV%
Kaitlyn Gilroy	Notre Dame	SK	F	15	14
Julianna Giacobbo	Morrisville State	NY	D	0	2
Shelley Rublee	Swift Current	SK	D	2	4
Samantha Thompson	Swift Current	SK	F	6	17
Lexi Peace	Weyburn	MB	G	4.18	.906
Kelsey Page	Westman	MB	D	8	12

Sarah Hodges went to work in finding players who could help Regina take the next step. Kaitlyn Gilroy is a solid scoring threat as the Gilroy sisters are reunited. Samantha Thompson should be a solid contributor up front as well. The blue line will be reinforced by the leadership and vision of Kelsey Page, the solid defensive play of Shelley Rublee, and the slick skating of Julianna Giacobbo. Lexi Peace was under siege most days in the Weyburn net last season, but she's a very sound goalie who may shake things up in the crease. That being said, Regina rostered four goalies last season - Natalie Williamson, Arden Kliewer, Alex Rajsigl, and Katie Crowther - so it would appear that at least one of those names has moved on from the Cougars. Whatever the case may be, the Cougars look ready for this season!

Saskatchewan Huskies

Name	Current	Prv.	Pos	G/GAA	A/SV%
Jessica Patterson	North York Storm	ON	F	n/a	n/a
Emma Backman	Battleford Sharks	SK	G	2.50	.923
Jade Cadieux	Lakeland College	AB	F	12	20
Kalli Hiebert	UNB	NB	D	0	0
Taylor Wilkinson	Lakeland College	AB	F	15	24
Shelby Williamson	Okanagan	BC	D	3	11

Steve Kook had very few holes to fill, but there's still a roster spot open with the unexpected departure of Abby Shirley. That being said, Patterson will be a solid hustle player with the ability to score, and Backman had a great season with Battleford as she comes into to relieve the "what if" situation if a Huskies netminder suffers an injury. Overall, though, Saskatchewan still has all the tools necessary to make the Canada West Final again if things work out as well as they did this past season.

Trinity Western Spartans

Name	Current	Prv.	Pos	G/GAA	A/SV%
Michela Naccarato	St. Albert	AB	F	5	13
Ella Boon	Northern Capitals	BC	D	9	9
Kara Yackel	Balmoral Hall	MB	F	14	8
Brooklyn Hutchings	Northern Capitals	BC	F	23	22
Karsyn Niven	Northern Capitals	BC	G	1.79	n/a
Amy Potomak	Minnesota	MN	F	17	18
Kate Klassen	Connecticut	CT	F	1	2
Katherine Chadwick	UNB Reds	NB	F	1	2

Trinity Western, for the second-straight year, has recruited more players than they had open spots on their roster, so I'm very curious as to why so many players are leaving the Spartans program after a handful of Canada West games. Whatever is happening in Langley, though, it seems that head coach Jean Laforest is loading up for Year Two with some solid scoring talent in Brooklyn Hutchings and University of Minnesota transfer Amy Potomak. Kara Yackel can score and check, so she'll give the Spartans lots of options while Michela Naccarato's playmaking can always be used. Katherine Chadwick brings some AUS experience with her to TWU while former UConn defender Kate Klassen brings NCAA experience, and Ella Boon will get a chance to show her skills off as she learns the game. Karsyn Niven is a solid netminder, and she should help both Kate Fawcett and Mabel Maltais when called upon for her time in the blue paint. These recruits won't solve all of TWU's issues from last season, but they're trending in the right direction!

UBC Thunderbirds

Name	Current	Prv.	Pos	G/GAA	A/SV%
Jacquelyn Fleming	Edmonton	AB	F	11	22
Cassidy Rhodes	Edmonton	AB	F	14	21
Kate Stuart	Boston University	MA	G	1.63	.942
Madisyn Wiebe	Ohio State	OH	F	2	0

The defending Canada West champions didn't have a lot of holes to fill, but head coach Graham Thomas has made them just as dangerous as last year. Jacquelyn Fleming's speed and skill will make her dangerous while Cassidy Rhodes isn't afraid of scoring, going into traffic, or setting up a play. Adding netminder Kate Stuart who comes home from Boston University won't hurt either as she'll be a solid tandem partner with Elise Hugens. It looks like UBC is loaded up to defend their Canada West title!

Of course, being that this is the offseason and people's priorities can change, nothing here is written in stone. I've read through the U SPORTS Letter of Intent list, the various websites with recruitment information, and the teams' social media accounts more than I'd like to admit, but this should be the complete list of Canada West recruits for all nine teams up to and including July 1. If I missed someone, please get in touch with me ASAP so I can make those adjustments to the lists, but I think this is a fairly complete document at this point. If I did miss someone, I apologize profusely in advance!

We'll see how everything shakes out as we barrel towards late September and the start of the Canada West season, but one thing is certain on this day in the middle of summer: all nine teams have some talented women joining their teams!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!