FH: 2018 season preview
EDMONTON – The 2018 Canada West women's field hockey season is set to begin this weekend, as the UBC Thunderbirds host the Victoria Vikes Saturday and Sunday in a clash of West Coast rivals.
To get you set for the season, here's a look at the three teams who will be vying for the conference crown, including the back-to-back CW champion T-Birds.
UBC THUNDERBIRDS
2017 CW regular season record: 7-0-1, CW and U SPORTS champions
Head coach: Poonam Sandhu (1st season) / 0-0-0
Last CW championship / total CW championships: 2017 / 25
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: 2017 / 19
2017 CW regular season ranks:
- Offence: 22 goals, 1st in CW
- Defence: 5 goals against, 1st in CW
2017 CW regular season leaders:
- Goals: 5 – Margaret Pham, Forward and Meghan Hayden, Forward
- Wins: 4 – Rowan Harris, Goaltender
Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team):
- Izzy Fraser / M / 1st / Vancouver, BC / Canada Senior National Team
- Alix Vanry / M / 1st / West Vancouver Secondary
- Jillian Wallace / F / 1st / Duncan, BC / Cowichan Secondary School
Key losses (name / position / hometown / years with program):
- Sarah Keglowitsch / M / Shawnigan Lake, BC / 5
- Sophie Jones / D / West Vancouver, BC / 5
- Meghan Hayden / F / North Vancouver, BC / 5
Key performer:
Rowan Harris
Goalkeeper
5th
Ottawa, Ont.
Goalkeeper Rowan Harris - entering her fifth and final year of university field hockey - continues to be the difference-maker for the UBC Thunderbirds.
She is the reigning Canada West and U SPORTS Player of the Year, and led the Thunderbirds to their seventh straight national title in 2017.
Harris had three shutouts in five games played, helping UBC to an undefeated season.
A member of Canada's senior national women's team, she allowed just two goals all last year, which included a pair of 2-0 shutouts of the York Lions in the U SPORTS championship series.
CALGARY DINOS
2017 CW regular season record: 0-8, 3rd in CW
Head coach: Peter Taylor (fourth season) / 0-24 (career CW reg. season record)
Last CW championship / total CW championships: 1974 / 2
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: none
2017 CW regular season ranks:
- Offence: 3 goals, 3rd in CW
- Defence: 26 goals against, 3rd in CW
2017 CW regular season leaders:
- Goals: 2 – Jenna Bowers, Forward
Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team):
- Janelle Rice / F / 5 / Calgary, AB / Team Alberta
- Melanie Scholtz / D / 1 / Calgary, AB / Team Alberta
- Brooke Van Oosten / M / 1 / Calgary, AB / William Aberhart HS
Key losses (name / position / hometown / years with program):
- Danica Heath / F / Water Valley, AB / 3
- Emily Tollafield / M / Henfordshire, UK / 1
Key performer:
Michelle Patterson
Midfielder
5th-year
Calgary, Alta.
Michelle Patterson enters her fifth and final year with her hometown Dinos in 2018. The talented midfielder serves as an assistant captain for the team and brings invaluable leadership to the team. Her strong defensive play earned her All-Canadian honours for the first time in her career last season.
VICTORIA VIKES
2017 CW regular season record: 4-3-1, 2nd in CW
Head coach: Lynne Beecroft (35th season) / 250-59-66 (career CW reg. season record)
Last CW championship / total CW championships: 2015 / 19
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: 2008 / 11
2017 CW regular season ranks:
- Offence: 14 goals for, 2nd in CW
- Defence: 8 goals against, 2nd in CW
2017 CW regular season leaders:
- Goals: 4 – Anna Mollenhauer, D
- Wins: 4 – Larissa Piva, GK
Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team):
- Cara Butler / M / 1 / Victoria / Team BC U18 Stags
- Judy Cristante / D / 1 / Victoria / Team BC U18 Stags
- Erin Dawson / F / 1 / North Vancouver / BC U18 Rams
- Anne-Sophie Hannes / M / 1 / Cologne, Germany / Düsseldorfer Hockey Club
- Sam McCrory / F / 1 / Kitchener, Ont. / Canadian Junior National Team
- Stefanie Sajko / M / 1 / Victoria / Team BC U18 Stags
Key losses (name / position / hometown / years with program):
- Hannah Craig / D / Duncan, B.C. / 1
- Emma Dame / M / Duncan B.C. / 1
- Larissa Piva / GK / Kelowna, B.C. / 5
Key performer:
Lindsay Cole
Midfielder
5th-year
Victoria, BC
Fifth-year midfielder and Victoria native Lindsay Cole will be a key player for the young Vikes who boast 14 players in either their first or second year. Cole is a four-time Vikes Honour Roll recipient and U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian as well as the 2017 U SPORTS Gail Wilson Award winner for outstanding contributions. Cole was a nominee for the UVic President's Cup Award and also named to the 2018 Google Cloud Academic All-America® College Division At-Large Team for her academic and on-field achievements. Outside the classroom, Cole is a pivotal part of the team's midfield line. Her speed, work ethic and skill set combined with her ability to finish on net make her a dangerous part of the Vikes offence. Cole is also plays an important role on both attacking and defensive penalty corners and was a 2017 Canada West All-Star. After graduating last season Cole returns to UVic to pursue a minor in Math and to play out her fifth year of eligibility, while she works to expand her volunteer experience in her pursuit to go to medical school.