Women’s Hockey

By Ryan Laverty

Last year’s worst team on campus is back for another kick at the can. And there is almost no chance of not improving.

After suffering a horrible 1-14-1 record a year ago, the Dinos women’s hockey team will take to the ice Oct. 26 in Saskatoon. Head Coach Kathy Berg will lead a crew of 12 sophomore players sprinkled with a few key veterans from last season.

Despite suffering embarrassing results a year ago, it was never for a lack of effort. A team marred by last year’s Canadian Interuniversity Sport rule stating no player who had previously played or are currently playing for a triple-A hockey team, would be permitted to play in the CIS, the Dinos lost many key players prior to the 2000/01 season. Effort did eventually pay off, earning a victory over St. Francis Xavier University at the CIS championships, played at Calgary’s Olympic Oval in March 2001.

This year brings new hope and a clean slate for the young squad. With at least one season of Canada West Conference competition under their belts, the team is geared to challenge their adversaries each and every night. Both the University of Alberta and the University of Regina can be expected to sit atop the conference for another season. But, with players like sisters Stacey and Jodie Sorenson returning to the front lines to fill the net, and Charmaine Hempler and Jacealyn Carriere to anchor the defence, this team could cause complications for teams like the universities of British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Lethbridge.

Also returning to the team are goaltenders Tanya Velesiuk and Tonya Young. The T-T connection saw more rubber than a skunk on the Trans Canada Highway in 2000/01, but with all that practice they should be just as good if not better than last year.

You can catch the Dinos women’s hockey team in their first homestand Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Olympic Oval when they take on the University of Lethbridge.

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