A championship caliber team just got stronger as two high level players from NCAA Divison 1 women's hockey will be lacing up their skates for the UBC Thunderbirds next season.

Tuesday afternoon head coach Graham Thomas announced Ohio State Buckeye captain Alexa Ranahan will be joining the UBC defence corps and Cornell University goaltender Amelia Boughn will strap on the pads for the TBirds starting next season.

The Salmon Arm, BC native Ranahan was member of the U18 Canadian national team that won the 2013 gold medal in Finland. She also spent three season with Team BC Nationals.

"Alexa's calm, composed, and very tough to play against. She brings a great personality and a great character to our team," says Thomas. "She's been a captain pretty much everywhere she's been and will add to our already deep back line. She has experience playing against the best teams and the best programs in the world."

Boughn is a Toronto native who comes to UBC after sporting a miniscule 1.71 GAA in her last season with Cornell. She was named to the ECAC All-Academic team in 2015. Boughn has participated in training camp with the the U18 Canadian national team and won a gold medal in 2013 at the U18 Nationals with Team Ontario Red.

"They had a four goalie situation at Cornell and she really loved it there, but she was just looking for a place where she could potentially play more at a really good academic school," says Thomas. "Academically it fits for her and she has worked with our goalie coach Pasco Valana before, so she is excited to work with him full time."

The UBC women's hockey team was a tight knit group that rode a remarkable wave of momentum all the way to a CIS championship game in March of 2016. Thomas believes these two players will only add to their chemistry in the dressing room, as well as on the ice.

"Both checked out as really good people and really good characters. They have good attitudes, work ethic, and they'll fit in great with our team and what we're trying to build here."