The UPEI Panthers have reeled in two forwards from the Ontario Provincial Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) who will add size and scoring punch to next year’s lineup.
Stoney Creek Sabres forward Jessica Brown and Etobicoke Junior Dolphins forward Rachel Colle were announced as new recruits on Monday.
Coach Bruce Donaldson said both girls committed within about 48 hours of visiting the university.
“Clearly when they came, they felt the school was a great fit for them and the players they met did a great job of telling them about the program and the benefits of coming to UPEI and playing for us,” he said.
Brown, originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, attends Tapply Binet College in Ancaster, Ont. Her family immigrated to Canada when Brown was six years old and she began playing hockey two years later.
“I am honoured to become a Panther and look forward to making UPEI my second home,” she said.
The five-foot-nine, 155-pound Brown has two goals and five assists in 20 games this season with both goals being game-winning markers.
Colle, an honours student with the Richview Collegiate Institute in Etobicoke, started with the Dolphins organization when she was five years old.
The five-foot-seven, 140-pound Colle currently has three goals and six assists in 20 games. In 2013-14, Colle played with the Dolphins Midget AA team recording 24 goals and 11 assists for a total of 35 points.
“Rachel brings speed, size, and a team-first attitude to our Panther program,” said Donaldson.
Brown is enrolled in the arts program, while Colle will study business administration.
The PWHL is comparable to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on the men’s side and is considered one of the top-three leagues in the country.
UPEI’s Lindsay Johnston played in the PWHL last season and has made an immediate impact on the Panthers lineup this season. Donaldson expects the new recruits can also contribute in their freshmen year.
The additions are key as the Panthers have seven potential graduates, including captain Ferran Brown, Jessie Howard, Keirstin Visser and Margaret Lockyer.
“There are some pretty key people there that we have to find a replacement for,” Donaldson said.
The team had two more players in for a visit last week, another coming in on Monday and two of the coaches are going to New Hampshire this weekend to scout a player.
“Everybody is looking for the same type of players,” Donaldson said. “It’s a cost to the program, but it’s one you have to make the investment in or you just won’t attract them.”
UPEI has also talked to a couple of local girls as well as it prepares for next year.
AUS
Panthers forward Sam Sweet was named the Atlantic University Sport female athlete of the week on Tuesday.
The fourth-year bachelor of science student from O’Leary had a hat trick in UPEI’s 4-2 victory Saturday over Saint Mary’s after a strong effort in Friday’s 1-0 overtime loss to St. F.X., the No. 9-ranked team in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport.
The UPEI Panthers have reeled in two forwards from the Ontario Provincial Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) who will add size and scoring punch to next year’s lineup.
Stoney Creek Sabres forward Jessica Brown and Etobicoke Junior Dolphins forward Rachel Colle were announced as new recruits on Monday.
Coach Bruce Donaldson said both girls committed within about 48 hours of visiting the university.
“Clearly when they came, they felt the school was a great fit for them and the players they met did a great job of telling them about the program and the benefits of coming to UPEI and playing for us,” he said.
Brown, originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, attends Tapply Binet College in Ancaster, Ont. Her family immigrated to Canada when Brown was six years old and she began playing hockey two years later.
“I am honoured to become a Panther and look forward to making UPEI my second home,” she said.
The five-foot-nine, 155-pound Brown has two goals and five assists in 20 games this season with both goals being game-winning markers.
Colle, an honours student with the Richview Collegiate Institute in Etobicoke, started with the Dolphins organization when she was five years old.
The five-foot-seven, 140-pound Colle currently has three goals and six assists in 20 games. In 2013-14, Colle played with the Dolphins Midget AA team recording 24 goals and 11 assists for a total of 35 points.
“Rachel brings speed, size, and a team-first attitude to our Panther program,” said Donaldson.
Brown is enrolled in the arts program, while Colle will study business administration.
The PWHL is comparable to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on the men’s side and is considered one of the top-three leagues in the country.
UPEI’s Lindsay Johnston played in the PWHL last season and has made an immediate impact on the Panthers lineup this season. Donaldson expects the new recruits can also contribute in their freshmen year.
The additions are key as the Panthers have seven potential graduates, including captain Ferran Brown, Jessie Howard, Keirstin Visser and Margaret Lockyer.
“There are some pretty key people there that we have to find a replacement for,” Donaldson said.
The team had two more players in for a visit last week, another coming in on Monday and two of the coaches are going to New Hampshire this weekend to scout a player.
“Everybody is looking for the same type of players,” Donaldson said. “It’s a cost to the program, but it’s one you have to make the investment in or you just won’t attract them.”
UPEI has also talked to a couple of local girls as well as it prepares for next year.
AUS
Panthers forward Sam Sweet was named the Atlantic University Sport female athlete of the week on Tuesday.
The fourth-year bachelor of science student from O’Leary had a hat trick in UPEI’s 4-2 victory Saturday over Saint Mary’s after a strong effort in Friday’s 1-0 overtime loss to St. F.X., the No. 9-ranked team in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport.
