What do you do for an encore? After the most improbable season and greatest turnaround in CIS history which saw UBC win a Canada West Championship and finish 5th at the CIS Championships, the Thunderbirds women's hockey team is out to prove last year was no fluke. However, unlike last season, they will be the ones with the target on their backs.
"We are in situation which this program has never dealt with," said Graham Thomas, the reigning CIS Coach of the Year. "We have never been the team to chase, we have never been the defending champs, we have never had any expectations. We can't be afraid by it. We need to embrace it and defend it."
The Thunderbirds open the Canada West regular season this weekend with a pair of games in Lethbridge against the Pronghorns Friday and Saturday night. You can watch both games live on canadawest.tv.
The strength of the team doesn't change with all three goaltenders back from last year. Leading the way is Second Team All-Canadian Danielle Dube who finished the regular season and playoffs with a record of 17-7, a goals against average of 1.91 and a save percentage of .935. Samantha Langford, who basically split the number one duties with Dube in the second half of the season, has shown she can handle the pressure of the national stage playing all three games at the CIS Championships for UBC after Dube fell ill. She was 7-5 on the season, with a 2.09 goals against average and a save percentage of .924. Danielle Lemon is back for her second year as well giving Coach Thomas a gluttony of talent between the pipes.
Anchoring the defence will be this year's captain, fifth year Kelowna, BC product Christi Capozzi. Arguably one of the best skaters in the country, Capozzi was a Second Team Canada West All-Star last year and will be expected to log major minutes along with assistant captain Sarah Casorso. She finished third among all defencemen in scoring during the 2012-13 campaign, picking up three goals and 12 assists. Cailey Hay is back for her third year and like Casorso will wear an 'A' on her jersey. Also returning is Alanna McMullen, a proven competitor who played in 22 games last season. Newcomers include Devon Morrison from Ancaster, ON and Surrey, BC's Stephanie Payne. Morrison is a steady, stay at home defenceman who will look to use her size and physical skill against the opposition, while Morrison is a more offensive minded player with the ability to join in the rush. Charissa Church is also back for the 'Birds after sitting out last year. She provides additional depth to a very talented group.
Up front, UBC returns the bulk of its scoring from a year ago. Second Team Canada West All-Star Tatiana Rafter (13g, 10a) and Rebecca Unrau (11g, 11a) were one-two in team scoring in 2012-13 and will be relied upon again this year to provide offensive punch. Look for second year players Nicole Saxvik and Stephanie Schaupmeyer to pitch in substantially. Last year both players turned into point a game players in the playoffs. Saxvik picked up 15 points in 11 playoff games, while Schaupmeyer chipped in with 10 points in 10 playoff games. Another year older, last year's rookie line of Genevieve Carpenter-Boesch, Haneet Parhar, and Emily O'Neill, who according to head coach Graham Thomas 'have bizarre chemistry', will be back together in 2013-14 and look to provide energy and contribute offensively. Nikola Brown-John who played the majority of last season on defence will take her versatility to the forward group, moving up front to play on a line with Unrau. Rookies to keep your eye on include twin towers Kathleen Cahoon (6'1) and Hannah Heisler (6'0), speedster Krista Wilson, and strong two-way player Melissa Goodwin. Like the defence there is much more depth up front with all four lines capable of being the offensive catalyst on any given night.
"Our identity is simple," said Thomas. "We play with energy, are relentless and keep coming at teams. The opposition will struggle to match lines. Shut one down, the other three will take care of the scoring. We have unfinished business this season. We want to get back to the nationals and have another crack at bringing home a championship."
