Roster shake-up at UPEI
Women Panthers looking to improve before hosting nationals next season
Changes are coming for the roster of the UPEI Panthers women’s hockey team.
Head coach Bruce Donaldson said he had a “very transparent” meeting with his squad on Wednesday as the team prepares for an important off-season before it hosts the U Sports nationals in 2019 and 2020.
“I stood in front of all you at one point and said, ‘I want you to come and play’, but we’re a sixth-place team that in 12 months is going to be hosting the nationals, so I have to change things,” Donaldson said he told the team. “The dressing room will look different.”
He acknowledged it was a tough conversation but one that was needed. He said he thinks the world of each and every one of his players, but the team needs to be better next season.
“We have to figure it out quickly,” he said. “At the end of the day it’s about trying to become as competitive as possible at the national level in a very short period of time.”
UPEI, which loses four players from this year’s squad, has already announced four players are joining the team in September, and Donaldson said he’s still in discussions with others.
The bench boss said he will have individual meetings with returning players next week and provide them with things they need to work on during the off-season in order to put themselves in the best position to make the club in the fall.
The Panthers went 7-10-7 to finish sixth in the seven-team Atlantic University Sport (AUS) conference in 2017-18. They got swept in the best-of-three opening round of the playoffs by the St. Thomas Tommies.
The Panthers are looking to improve its offence after losing seven games in overtime. Score another goal in regulation in a handful of those games and the team finishes above .500.
“We’re a goal away from moving from sixth to third,” he said.
Donaldson recently attended the nationals in London, Ont., in order to get a sense of the set up but also to see the level of play. One thing he noticed was the top-four defence corps for each of the teams in the medal games was great. It reminded him of the Panthers only AUS title in 2012 when it received good goaltending and in Donaldson’s opinion had the best top-four defence unit in the conference.
The UPEI Panthers have added size and scoring ability with the recent addition of forward Delaney Boehm.
The five-foot-eight East St. Paul, Man., native scored 19 goals and set up five more for 24 points in 26 games while playing for the Balmoral Hall School in Winnipeg.
The Blazers play in the Junior Women’s Hockey League, which includes the Boston Shamrocks and the Chicago Young Americans.
“I watched Delaney at a tourney in Stoney Creek in early September and felt strongly she would be a great addition to our team,” said Panthers head coach Bruce Donaldson. “We are looking to add size and offensive talent to our roster and Delaney offers both.”
The Manitoba native visited a number of universities with UPEI being the final stop on her tour. She said UPEI is a great fit as she pursues a science degree majoring in biology while competing in the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) women’s hockey conference.
“I chose P.E.I. because it had the big-town campus feeling provided in the small-town atmosphere. It felt like home,” said Boehm. “The hockey program and academic programs both are fantastic. Having come from a small high school, the class sizes are nice and not too overwhelming.”
Boehm joins the incoming class that includes Island forwards Kelly Clements and Taylor Gillis and Island goalie Parker McCabe. Donaldson said he is in talks with more players and further announcements are expected.
UPEI loses captain Emma Martin, who completed her five years of eligibility this season, while seniors Madison Clarke, Megan Sullivan and Lindsay Johnston will not be back for their final year.
The Panthers will host the U Sports nationals the next two seasons and is looking to improve. Donaldson said Boehm will help, but acknowledged there will be an adjustment period.
“It’s a very strong league which enables players that are having success to transition to the U Sports level,” said Donaldson.
“I often say this is the biggest jump in female hockey – going from minor to varsity,” he added. “She’s had success and she has the size and definitely has the skill to finish, but it will take a little bit of an adjustment.”