The 2021-22 Tommies women’s hockey team hits the ice in Atlantic University Sport action Friday, October 9th for the first time since 2019-20 AUS playoffs.
The Tommies split their six-game preseason schedule and will head into Friday night’s game with 10 players with no AUS experience. That leaves 13 veterans returning for the Tommies, including captain Alex Woods (Courtice, ON) and alternate captains, Lauren Legault (Elie, MB), Megan Pardy (Courtice, ON), and Brooke Stanford (Whitby, ON), a group that head coach, Peter Murphy, will look to early in the season.
“We will rely on our leadership group as always but we will also rely on our entire group to improve from within,” said Murphy. “It is important that returning players push themselves to take on bigger roles. With that being said, rookies will be a key part of our success this year.”
The Tommies will return five of their top six scorers from their last AUS season, including Woods and Legault, who will be entering their final season with the Tommies.
“Alex Woods and Lauren Legault are in their last years with the team so they will definitely be a highlight,” said Murphy about some players to keep an eye on this year. “Our goaltending will always be strong and something to watch. Besides that, it will be that group that has done the off season work to improve that fans will notice most.”
The Tommies may have some new faces, but how they play the game will remain the same. Fast, hard working, gritty and smart were just a few words used to describe this year’s team by Murphy.
When asked about any particular goals for his team this year, Murphy explained that there are definitely specific goals he has for different parts of the season, but the overall goal remains the same as always, “A trip to Nationals.”