The Lancer women's hockey team continues to build for the future with the addition of two more standout recruits. Head coach Deanna Iwanicka has added defensemen Taylor Leitch and Maggie Mitani for the 2022-23 season.
 
A native of Martensville, Saskatchewan, Leitch joins the Lancers from the Prince Albert Nothern Bears of the Saskatchewan Female U18 AAA Hockey League. She has played the past three seasons with the Bears where she started as an underage player and has grown into a leader on the team.
 
She began playing hockey at the age of five and made the switch to female hockey when she started Bantam. She was named to the U16 Team Saskatchewan squad, and also captured a gold medal at the 2018 Saskatchewan Winter Games with the Team Prairie Central.
 
"Taylor is a natural player. She's smooth, she's calm, she's composed," commented Iwanicka. "Taylor will be a great addition to the team, as she is not only a stand out athlete, but student as well."
 
With the goal of being an optometrist, Leitch will study in the faculty of science when she comes to Windsor in the fall of 2022. "I felt Windsor was the best fit for my future interests, including education and hockey. Looking into what the university has to offer, as well as the team atmosphere, I think Windsor was the best option," Leitch said. "I believe I am going to bring a good work ethic and positive attitude on and off the ice. I plan to be a positive leader no matter the situation."
 
With the addition of Leitch, the Lancers add an athlete from Saskatchewan back onto the roster. "We want to have players from across Canada," Iwanicka stated. "I feel this diversity adds to the student- athlete experience, and graduate success. It creates a network for each person that spans the country, playing with new people and creating opportunities throughout Canada."
 
Maggie Mitani is a gritty and skilled defenseman that will join the blue and gold from the Winnipeg Avros U18 AAA hockey team.
 
She has played two seasons with the squad so far, and helped the Avros win the 2019-20 MFHL AAA regular season championship. In 2019 was also named to the Team Manitoba POE U16 provincial team.
 
"Maggie is an athlete. Playing multiple sports at a high level, she understand what it means to compete, to use space, to anticipate; she is able to apply herself in a way that others cannot," said Iwanicka.
 
Growing up, her father played hockey in Japan and Maggie and her brother naturally followed in his footsteps. Upon his retirement in 2010, the Mitani family moved to Winnipeg where Maggie started skating and eventually playing hockey with the Fort Gary Flyers. From there she spent four year with the Winnipeg Twins AA program and was named the team's defenseman of the year in her last season with the team.
 
Still undecided on her future career path, Mitani feels Windsor is the right choice for her, no matter which direction she decides to go in. "I love that the school is in Canada and it is a smaller school. I believe having a low professor to student ratio is extremely important. Windsor is an awesome city and university that can provide me with the educational tools that I am looking for to help me succeed."
 
As for her contribution on the ice, Mitani loved the commitment and inclusivity she felt from the team. I chose Windsor because I can see the potential in the program. I can see that everyone is willing to put 120% into their improvement," she said. "I love the conversations I have had with Coach Iwanicka, and the players were very supportive and inclusive towards me during my selection process. I am very excited to become a Lancer and can't wait to get the next chapter of my life rolling!"
 
Stay tuned to goLancers.ca for more information on the Windsor Lancer women's hockey program, and be sure to follow them on social media @WndsorWHKY.