This weekend, the StFX X-Women will commence regular season play for the 2014-15 season. After a disappointing second-round playoff exit last season, the X-Women are looking forward to turning the page and regaining a stronghold atop the AUS women's hockey conference. This year's team brings energy, intensity and commitment to the ice, along with an upbeat attitude. Each year the gap among teams in the AUS gets smaller, and this year's team knows in order to be successful, nothing less than a 60 minute effort every game will get results.
Major off-season news was the announcement of the temporary leave of head coach David Synishin, as he and his family moved to British Columbia where he took over as Hockey Director of the Pursuit of Excellence Academy in Kelowna. Long-time assistant coach Ben Berthiaume has done a fine job thus far of picking up where Coach Synishin left off; he has put his own stamp on the team and the X-Women appear to have come together nicely, establishing an identity as a working team that has a high compete level. There is a nice mix of youth and experience, and the X-Women coaches are excited about the potential of this year's team.
The captain of the X-Women for the 2014-15 season is Taylor Dale, a third year center from Oromocto, N.B. Taylor has proven herself to be a hard-working and honest player that leads by example while on the ice. In other leadership roles, Dale is joined by assistant captains Schyler Campbell and Kara Power. Two-year captain Jenna Downey is back for her fifth and final season with the X-Women, having regaining her final year of eligibility after an injury-shortened 2013-14 season.
Second year defenceman Nicole Corcoran has also exhibited leadership skills after a solid freshman campaign where she was rewarded with an AUS all-rookie honor. Cate Civitarese, Kira Dube, Jaelei Meyer and Alanna Grossutti have shown that they dedicated themselves to becoming fitter and stronger this off-season and the results have been paying off thus far. The coaching staff is impressed with the abundance of young players that have stepped up to become leaders, such as Heather Tillsley, Lisa Downey and Connor Garagan.
Between the pipes, goaltenders Sojung Shin, Pascale Daigle and Ariana Orasinin all return for the X-Women. Last season, the X-Women allowed just 39 goals in 24 games, and a lot of credit can be given to the solid goaltending performances shown by Shin and Daigle. Both have put in a significant amount of work this summer to becoming quicker, and the X-Women will become a better team because of the commitment of the players.
This season sees the departure of familiar veteran players Jenna Pitts, Erin Brophy, Daniela Falconio, Megan Innes and Molly MacDonald. Kelsey Farrell was also lost to the team for the year with an off-season injury this summer and Paige Belair has transferred to Carleton University. These valuable members of the team have made many contributions over the past number of years and will be missed this season. Another anticipated loss was that of Alex Normore, after graduating this past spring. However, Normore has returned to StFX for her fifth and final year with the blue and white and will be counted on to boost an already exciting young team. Sophomore Daley Oddy, an AUS 2013-14 all-rookie will also be expected to factor in offensively for the X-Women.
New recruits for the 2014-15 season are forwards Jenna MacDonald, Sarah Bujold, Alessia Pasquariello and Sarah Johnson, as well as Nicole Halladay and Emma Winters on defense. Bujold, from Riverview, N.B. comes with an impressive resume, including being named MVP of the Midget AAA Atlantic Championships this past year as a member of the Moncton Rockets. She is a fast and powerful player will add elements of speed and scoring to the lineup.
Jenna MacDonald is from Ottawa, and played last season with Nepean of the PWHL. MacDonald is a competitor and makes life difficult for the opposition every shift. Her speed and offensive abilities will also be of benefit to the X-Women. Johnson is the fifth Moncton Rocket to join the X-Women and prides herself on being a solid two-way player that can be trusted in any situation on the ice. Alessia Pasquariello, from Mississauga, Ont. brings quickness and grit to the lineup. She has a strong skill set and plays each shift at full speed. Chloe Allen, from Dartmouth, N.S. had a strong training camp and walked onto the team with her skill set and smarts.
Nicole Halladay is an intelligent and athletic defenceman that joins the team from Smith's Falls, Ont. She is another member of the Nepean Wildcats who has joined the X-Women. Halladay reads plays well, plays a solid defensive game and likes to help out with timely offence as well. Emma Winters (Lower Sackville), is the third Nova Scotian to suit up with the X-Women this year, having joined the team after an impressive career with the Metro Boston Pizza Midget AAA program. Winters is strong on her feet, passes and shoots the puck well and has shown herself to be a very good defender in the pre-season.
StFX wrapped up a 3-2 pre-season exhibition schedule. They had a pair of victories over Dalhousie, along with a win over fellow AUS opponent UPEI, then dropped two one-goal games at the Moncton Invitational tournament to Quebec U18 and Moncton.
The X-Women begin their 2014-15 AUS regular season this weekend on the road, playing UPEI on Friday at evening and Moncton Saturday afternoon. The first home games of the year come next weekend, October 24th and 25th as the blue and white host Dalhousie on Friday, October 24 at 7:00 p.m. and Mount Allison on Saturday at 2:00.
Preview courtesy Willie Joe Sofan, X-Women Hockey