Queens Hockey 2019-20 season preview
2018-19 Review
Regular season
The RDC Queens (10W–9L–5OTL) placed third in Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women's Hockey.
Playoffs
In the semi-finals, the Red Deer College Queens dropped a close series to the MacEwan University Griffins two games to one (2-4, 2-1 and 1-3), and eventually earned ACAC bronze.
2018-19 Awards
ACAC Women's Hockey Second Team All-Conference – Catherine Longchamps (defence)
ACAC Women's Hockey Academic All-Canadian – Catherine Longchamps
ACAC Women's Hockey Top Scholastic Achiever – Catherine Longchamps
RDC Athletics Awards Night
Coach's Award - Shelby Ballan
Most Improved Player - Sydnee DeCorby
Most Valuable Player - Catherine Longchamps
Rookie of the Year - Mary Hirsch
2019-20
Assistant coaches – Suze Vanderlinde, Amy Friestadt (Goalie Coach), Jason Nevins
Queens Hockey Head Coach Kelly Coulter is thrilled about the 12 returning student-athletes and 11 new additions he has assembled for the 2019-20 ACAC Women's Hockey season.
Kelly Coulter
"The vibe in the dressing room is fantastic. The girls seem to really get along and care about each other," he says. "They seem to be really connected so I think that bodes well on the ice for us as well."
Goaltender Karlee Fetch is back to play her fifth-year after an outstanding bronze medal performance in last year's playoffs. Bachelor of Science Nursing student Madison Fox will share the duties in net, after joining the Queens from the Pacific Steelers of the Junior Women's Hockey League (JWHL).
"Karlee is really mature in her game and as a person, so I think she will be a very good role model for Madison in terms of prepping for games and being a student-athlete," says Coulter. "Madison is a very good young goaltender who likes to compete, so it's a very good tandem."
Karlee Fetch
Returning Queens
Goalie – Karlee Fetch
Despite the absence of 2018-19 All-Conference defenceman Catherine Longchamps, the Queens have a solid returning group on the blue line.
Defence – Victoria Johnston, Kirsten Baumgardt, Sydnee Decorby, Ashley Sutherland, Mariah McKersie
Shelby Ballan is recovering from a lengthy injury, but will help the team this season.
Forwards – Jenessa Fournier, Camryn Wallan, Neisha Germann, Jessi-Lynn Sumaling, Mary Hirsch, Hannah Petrie
New Queens
Goalie – Madison Fox
Defence – Abby Fonteyne, Tessa Ross, Brooke Skrypichayko
Forwards – Sydney Rowley, Brooklyn Rowley, Madison Sansom, Carissa Hogan, Avery Lajeunesse, Tyra Anderson, Braxton Shawara
"Some of the student-athletes have been more dominant goal scorers on their teams, so we're hoping that will parlay into this season," says Coulter. "Character and compete level are common traits that we see with all of our players, which makes us extremely happy."
Madison Sansom is one of those added offensive weapons. The first-year Open Studies student from Saskatoon recorded 12 goals and 20 assists in 25 games with the Battlefords Sharks of the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League (SFMAAAHL) a season ago. Another talented first-year forward, Carissa Hogan had 12 goals and 13 assists in 28 games with the Swift Current Wildcats, and Coulter views Hogan's impact extending beyond the ice.
"We are finalizing our leadership group and we have seven girls – Camryn Wallan, Kirsten Baumgardt, Neisha Germann, Victoria Johnston, Sydnee Decorby, Ashley Sutherland and Carissa Hogan, a rookie on our team this year," says Coulter. "That's the group that we're going to be working with, but we are open to adding more as we feel we have a lot of character in our room this year."
The RDC Queens competed in six exhibition games, picking up three victories and some valuable playing time. The Queens defeated the SAIT Trojans 4-0, the Central Alberta Amazons 2-1 and the Olds College Broncos 3-1.
"Our girls have come in very good shape. The games that we've had in the exhibition season, we've been very happy with the compete level," says Coulter. "They are an intelligent young group and are very willing to learn. We are trying to figure out some chemistry and how people play together."
The Queens dropped a 3-1 decision to the Broncos, 5-2 game to the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns, of U Sports, and a very close 1-0 contest to the defending champion MacEwan University Griffins, but they gained important preseason experience.
"The game that we played against MacEwan was a very good game. It had a lot of pace to it back and forth and I was happy that our girls were able to compete at that level," says Coulter. "I think it helped our girls, especially the rookies, to see the pace and compete levels. MacEwan has been the champions for three years, so they've set the bar."
The RDC Queens will open the season on Thursday, October 10 at 7:00 p.m. against the Broncos in Olds. Then 24 hours later, the Queens will host the Broncos at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.
"That should be a good series right off the bat," says Camryn Wallan, a third-year forward from Beaverlodge. "We're going to have to make sure that we use our speed, get pucks to the net and make sure we capitalize on our opportunities."
Camryn Wallan
After many practices, hours of training and six exhibition games, the RDC Queens are ready to begin the season.
"I'm excited to get started. We had our team builder on August 25 and 26, and we've been together for a while," says Coulter. "All the girls are ready to compete."
Not Returning
Kaely McMurtry, Keinyn Nordell, Mairead Bast, Catherine Longchamps, Miranda Cook, Nisa Bartlett, Tyra Coutts, Jordyn Burgar, Kaitlan Linnell, Karissa Cullum, Kierra Scollo, Carly Umbach, Veronika Bucifalova