StFX X-Women hockey is preparing for another season of competitive hockey in Atlantic University Sport (AUS). The X-Women enter the 2013-14 season hoping to build on their AUS championship and CIS bronze medal showing from last year.
Their 28-2 record in AUS and CIS play in 2012-13 came as a result of leadership, work ethic and commitment. These values will be counted on once again this year, with a solid mix of veteran players and upstart newcomers. With a higher level of competition each year in the AUS, the X-Women will need team chemistry and steady performances from all players in the lineup if they are to be successful.
Head coach David Synishin enters his 12th season at the controls, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team. After being named 2012-13 AUS coach-of-the-year (his fourth time winning the award), Coach Synishin has put a lot of time into preparing the team to become a national contender. The team hasn't yet reached its ultimate goal, which is to win a national championship, but with a core of fourth and fifth year players that have two national medals to their credit holding the team accountable, that goal is within reach.
Leading the way for the X-Women will be AUS all-stars Alex Normore, Jenna Pitts and Jenna Downey. All three veteran players have two AUS championships and two CIS medals under their belts, but are determined to make their final year with the X-Women one they will not soon forget.
Normore (Bedford, N.S.), reigning two-time AUS MVP and scoring champion, is expected to once again pace the team offensively, with help from New Glasgow, N.S. native Kara Power and local scorer Erin Brophy. Pitts, also from Antigonish, N.S. was AUS playoff MVP last season and will anchor a defense that allowed 23 goals in 21 league games last season. Downey was named team captain for her second consecutive season and will be counted on to play a physical shut-down role that she has been successful with in past seasons.
Forward sophomores Taylor Dale and Schyler Campbell hope to build on strong freshman campaigns, in which they led the conference in rookie scoring. Having excelled their first year as hard-workers and skilled players, each will have enhanced leadership roles within the team. Veteran forwards Daniela Falconio and Molly MacDonald will be expected to provide energy and guidance for a team with sixteen first and second-year players.
Megan Innes and Kira Dube will bring valuable national-level experience to the defence unit, while Allana Grossutti, Catherine Civitarese and Paige Belair will hope to build on solid rookie campaigns from last season. Hometown player Kelsey Farrell will bring energy and determination to the team once again, showing younger players by example how to compete.
The X-Women have lost key pieces from their team due to graduation. Aby Laking, Britney Perkins, Jessica McCullough, Alyssa Hennigar, Katie Greenway and Kristy Garrow have all moved on, leaving some substantial voids to be filled. Greenway has continued her hockey career by signing on to play professional women's hockey in Zurich, Switzerland. Aside from physical abilities, these players were leaders and great role models for younger players on the team, and closed out their StFX careers in style, winning a national CIS bronze medal.
Also missing from the team this year is forward Sara Kaljuvee, who has taken a year leave from StFX to train year round with the Canadian national rugby team. The X-Women coaching staff feel they recruited well to fill these spots and expect to have a competitive, exciting team this season.
Daley Oddy (Cranbrook, B.C.) comes to the team as a scoring winger and is hoping to thrive offensively by playing with some of the X-Women's skilled forwards. She is the first X-Women recruit to come to the team from British Columbia, and will hopefully open the doors for more West Coast prospects in the future. Oddy, a graduate of Athol Murray College of Notre Dame, is a point-per-game player from a strong JWHL league based in Western Canada and the U.S.
Nicole Corcoran (Piusville, P.E.I.) and Connor Garagan (Fredericton, N.B.) are former Team Atlantic players that will provide skill and show a lot of potential to become impact players this season and beyond.
Jaelei Meyer (Carlyle, Sask.) is a two-sport athlete at StFX, also playing for the national-champion X-Women rugby team. A smooth-skating defenceman, Meyer played with the Notre Dame Hounds (JWHL) and Team Saskatchewan last season.
Other forward recruits include Heather Tillsley and Lisa Downey. Tillsley (Aurora, Ont.) played the past two seasons with the Aurora Panthers (JWHL) and brings a mixture of hockey sense and grit to the table each time she hits the ice. Downey (Stratford, Ont.), the younger sister of team captain Jenna, joins the team after playing three seasons of junior hockey in Ontario (PWHL) with the Bluewater Hawks and the London Devilettes. Strong on the boards and an aggressive forechecker, Downey will add size and strength to the X-Women forward group.
Having lost both goalies from last season, the X-Women have brought in Pascale Daigle (Irishtown, N.B.) and Sojung Shin (Soeul, Korea) to keep pucks out of the X net. Daigle is the third member of the Notre Dame Hounds (JWHL) to join the X-Women this season, along with Oddy and Meyer. She is the 10th Maritimer to suit up with StFX this season. Pascale is composed, quick and is showing steady improvement since training camp.
Easily the longest-distance recruit in X-Women Hockey history, Sojung comes to the team with a wealth of international experience, having played the past nine years with Korea's national team. Wanting to come to Canada to seek a higher level of competition, she was too good to pass up and is a welcomed addition to the team. Ariana Orasanin (Ancaster, Ont.) had a strong camp and will carry third goaltender duties.
The X-Women wrapped up a five-game pre-season exhibition campaign with a 2-3 record. They dropped three games at the competitive Queen's Invitational in Kingston, Ont. against Montreal, Queen's and Wilfrid Laurier, then posted two consecutive wins over UPEI. AUS regular season play begins October 18th, with the X-Women opening at home against the Dalhousie Tigers at 7p.m.