VANCOUVER – Ahead of their 2015-16 Canada West season opener against the Lethbridge Pronghorns this weekend, the UBC Thunderbirds women's hockey team is proud to announce that the addition of forwards Laura Trachsel and Hannah Clayton-Carroll, goalie Laura Taylor, and defenceman Kirsten Toth.
 
Trachsel, Clayton-Carroll, and Taylor will be eligible to play immediately, while Toth, as a CIS transfer from the Alberta Pandas, will act as a redshirt until she becomes available to be put on the active roster for the 2016-17 campaign.
 
The Switzerland-born Trachsel represents the latest international recruit for Thunderbirds head coach Graham Thomas, who finalized the acquisition of Norwegian forward Mathea Fischer back in April.  Trachsel has spent the better part of the past three years playing for the Swiss Women's Hockey League A side SC Weinfelden. The 5-foot-3 forward made had her best season for Weinfelden in 2014-15, notching five goals and two assists in 17 games. Trachsel also made her debut for the Swiss women's senior national team, playing nine games and scoring three goals and two assists.
 
"With time in the top Swiss League and with the Swiss National Team under her belt, Laura will bring us plenty of international experience, along with a great deal of speed and tenacity," said Thomas of his newest international recruit.
 
Clayton-Carroll, a graduate of the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton, B.C., is joining the Thunderbirds as an 18-year old rookie. Playing in the Junior Women's Hockey League, the talented in-province recruit led the OHA in scoring this past season, posting 10 goals and five assists in just 28 games. She also led her team in scoring the previous year, notching 12 goals and seven assists in 30 games for the West Coast Avalanche in the Female Midget AAA league.
 
"Hannah is a smart and crafty young player with good speed and the nose for the back of the net," said Thomas. "She comes from a good program at OHA and is transitioning to the university level quite quickly. We are very happy to welcome Hannah to the Thunderbird family and are excited to see how she develops and helps our team succeed."
 
Taylor, who is studying to be a doctor at the UBC Faculty of Medicine, last played CIS hockey for the Saskatchewan Huskies in 2000-01 and 2001-02. Expected to become the team's third string keeper behind incumbents Samantha Langford and Danielle Dube, Taylor, a Kelowna native, will be a luxury for Thomas' squad between the pipes.
 
"We are excited for her to join our locker room," remarked Thomas. "She provides a mentorship role and depth to our goaltending team. We really like Laura's strong work ethic in both academics and athletics. Laura is very determined to work on her game and is constantly learning, which will only add to our experienced group of goaltenders." 
 
Toth, an Aldergrove native, is transferring to UBC after three seasons with the Pandas. The 5-11 defenceman represents an impressive get for Thomas, as the rearguard ranked 18th in overall scoring among Canada West defencemen last season. Toth's offensive prowess was key en route to Alberta claiming last season's Canada West Championship.
 
Toth's winning pedigree goes back to her high school days, as she was part of a Notre Dame Hounds squad that captured the gold medal at the 2011 Essex Cup. Toth also played for Team B.C. from 2010-2012, including a showing at the 2011 Canadian National Women's Under-18 Championships.
 
As excited as Thomas is to add another offensive weapon to his backend, he's also looking forward to the intangibles that Toth will bring.
 
"Kirsten is a good skating defenceman with a lot of offensive up side," said Thomas. "Her hockey knowledge and background, especially with Team BC and the U of A Panda's will help add experience and stability to the line up."
 
Trachsel, Clayton-Carroll, Taylor, and Toth (as an inactive redshirt), will join Fischer, forward Shiyali Toni, and defender Mikayla Ogrodniczuk as part of the T-Birds' 2015-16 recruiting class. 
 
UBC will open their season this weekend, hosting a set of back-to-back games against Lethbridge, with the first puck drop of the season scheduled for Friday, October 2, at 7 p.m. (PT). Round two between the Canada West opponents is set for Saturday, October 3, at 3 p.m. (PT). Both contests will go down at Father Bauer Arena at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Complex.