2010 Canada West field hockey preview

ALBERTA PANDAS
2009 Conference Record: 3-7-2, 3rd
2009 CIS Tournament: 2-3-0, 2nd
Last CW Title: 1998
Last CIS Title: 2005

Key Additions: Emma Watt, Evelyn Wise
Key Departures: Bunny Hughes, Jennifer Foster
Key Returnees: Jackie Trautman, Jennifer Peacock

EDMONTON - With 14 returning players from last season’s CIS silver medal finish, the University of Alberta Pandas’ field hockey team will look to return to the national championship stage, where they have won three medals in the last five seasons.

Stefanie Sloboda, a former Panda field hockey player and assistant coach, took over this past summer for AJ Facendi who guided the team to the national final in 2009, after 21-year head coach Carla Somerville took that season off. Sloboda, a Winnipeg native, played for the Pandas from 2000-2004, winning a bronze medal in 2001, and team MVP honours in 2004, her final season. She was an assistant coach with the program since 2007, helping the team to two straight CIS silver medals.

Of the 14 returning players, Sloboda can count on Jackie Trautman to lead the way, as the third year player was the Canada West Player of the Year last season. She scored seven times in 12 games last season, one year after being named the Canada West Rookie of the Year.

Visit… bears.ualberta.ca

UBC THUNDERBIRDS
2009 Conference Record: 10-2, 1st
2009 CIS Tournament: 4-0-1, 1st
Last CW Title: 2009
Last CIS Title: 2009

Key Additions: Bea Francisco, Natalie Sourisseau, Victoria Pearson
Key Departures: Robyn Pendleton, Abigail Raye, Elise Milosevich, Kristyn Harrington
Key Returnees: Kirsten Bertsch, Sarah MacAulay

VANCOUVER - After winning their 12th McCrae Cup at the 2009 CIS Championship and pocketing their seventh straight Canada West title last season, the UBC Thunderbirds women's field hockey team is about to enter uncharted waters - a rebuilding year.

A number of circumstances, namely graduation, the 2010 Commonwealth Games, injury, and a transfer to a foreign country, see nine of the T-Birds top 11 players gone from their 2009 squad.

Leading the group of returning players are two fourth-year seniors in defender Kirsten Bertsch and midfielder Sarah MacAulay. Veterans Miranda Mann, UBC’s top returning goal scorer after pocketing three in 2009, Caitlin Evans, Katie Jameson, and Kira Graham, the team's lone fifth year, are also going to be counted on for big minutes. Victoria Pearson is back missing 2009 due to injury. In 2008 she led Canada West with nine goals.

Among the newcomers, National team hopefuls Bea Francisco, a netminder, and Natalie Sourisseau, a midfielder, are both expected to shine in their first CIS seasons.

See more... gothunderbirds.ca

CALGARY DINOS
2009 Conference Record: 3-8-1, 4th
Last CW Title: 1974
Last CIS Title: N/A

Key Additions: Janell Lautermilch, Claire Beaton
Key Departures: Kaelyn Barrie
Key Returnees: Carolina Romeo, Courtney Campbell, Kaitlin Longworth

CALGARY - The University of Calgary Dinos enter the 2010 season eager to earn one of two Canada West berths to the CIS field hockey championship. After a season of positive growth that saw the program fall just short of reaching the post-season with a 3-8-1 record, fourth-year head coach Jenn Swagar knows that result is attainable.

While most of the 2009 roster remains intact for 2010, the departure of fifth-year captain Kaelyn Barrie means that leadership responsibilities will fall on seniors Courtney Campbell and Kaitlin Longworth as well as returning All-Canadian Carolina Romeo. Newly elected captain Emma Guppy has transitioned from defense to forward to provide an experienced presence up front.

In addition, Serena Lockhart will be called upon to provide balanced play at midfield, forward Michelle Roydhouse will strive to add scoring punch, and goaltender Stephanie Petrowitsch will continue to be the last line of defence.

Full story at GoDinos.com

VICTORIA VIKES
2009 Conference Record: 5-4-3, 2nd
2009 CIS Tournament: 2-1-2, 3rd
Last CW Title: 2002
Last CIS title: 2008

Key Additions: Courtney Ellis, Kayleen Van der Ree, Carly Krestanovich, Alexis Veljacic, Stephanie Hatch.
Key Departures: Natalie Wise, Katie Collison
Key Returnees: Kyla Kirby, Kaitlyn Williams, Danielle Hennig

VICTORIA - A preseason sweep of east coast NCAA competition, in which the Vikes never allowed a single goal, has set high expectations for the 2010 club. But when playing for a program that has won 11 CIS banners, the gold standard is always the ultimate goal.

Victoria's own Courtney Ellis has committed to UVic after playing alongside several Vikes on the B.C. Island squad that won the Senior National tournament this summer. Four other Team BC members also join the ranks, including Kayleen Van der Ree, Carly Krestanovich, Alexis Veljacic and Stephanie Hatch. Hatch is no stranger to big-game heroics, as the Kelowna Secondary grad scored the winning goal in last fall's AAA Provincial championship victory.

The strength of the Vikes will once again be on defence. The Vikes, which surrendered a league-best nine goals last season, return Tournament XI Kyla Kirby and two-time All-Canadians Perri Espeseth and goalie Kaitlyn Williams. Danielle Hennig, who made her National team debut this summer, will help pace the offensive attack alongside veterans Courtney Low, Angela Buttress and Whitney Siegmann.

Go to… Vikes Athletics

Source:

Canada West