Courtesy of Jim Parker, The Windsor Star
 
Captain and fifth-year defenceman Kayla Dodson wants so much more for the University of Windsor Lancers women's hockey team this season.
 
The Lancers open OUA regular-season play Friday against the Waterloo Warriors at South Windsor Arena. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
 
"I'm as excited as I've ever been for a season, if not more," said Dodson, who is a Riverside high school graduate. "I just think there's an opportunity to do something this year.
 
"We've been really close and the bounces haven't always gone our way, but I think we've got the right people to make something happen."
 
It was a mad scamper to the finish line last season for the Lancers, who started the season with three losses, but closed the season by winning seven of the team's final nine games.
 
"We always seem cursed with a tough start, but we're looking to change that this year," Lancer forward and defending OUA scoring champion Jenny MacKnight said. "I'm excited about the talent we have and the leadership we have. I think of all the years, this year we'll be the most hungry to be up to the top of the league."
 
Head coach Jim Hunter had one of the league's most potent offences last season, but his club also led the league in penalty minutes.
 
The club was bounced in the first round of the playoffs losing a pair of one-goal games to Queen's. The second went to double overtime with Windsor doomed by allowing 13 power plays.
 
"Penalties kind of killed us last year," said Hunter, who is entering his sixth season. "We have eight new players this year and on paper, I like our team better. I know it's there. If the compete level is there, the rest will fall into place"
 
Hunter will try to sprinkle some of his talented first-year crop onto the top lines. MacKnight and fellow fifth-year forward Bree Polci will add talented first-year forward Krystin Lawrence to the top line while Erinn Noseworthy will shift over to another line with fifth-year Candace Kourounis and freshman Shailyn Waites.
 
Hunter is excited about his third line of fifth-year Candice Chevalier, third-year veteran Jillian Rops and freshman Larissa Borowiec.
 
"They'll be the hardest-working line in the league," Hunter said. "It's kind of my energy line."
 
Dodson, who was a second-team, OUA all-star last season, is one of three veterans back on defence along with Natalie Barrette, who will anchor the power play, and Sloan Kudrinko.
 
Hunter believes freshman Rachel Chantler could have and immediate impact and also has high hopes for first-year defencemen Zoe Ellis and Taylor Shepherd.
 
Marissa Kozovski stepped up to secure the No. 1 job in net in the second half of her freshman campaign last season and Hunter hopes she can continue to develop.
 
"In regards to our core, we're as good as last year if not better," MacKnight said. "This is my last year and I'm hoping to go as far as we can. We have that ability to be at (the CIS) tournament."

Tickets for the game are available at the gate one hour prior to puck drop and are $8 for adults, $5 for youth/senior, and season tickets are available for $50.