The Windsor Lancer women's hockey team will start their 2024-25 OUA regular season on the road up in Waterloo this weekend when on Friday the blue and gold gals will take on the Laurier Golden Hawks in their season opener before shifting across town on Saturday to take on the black and gold Waterloo Warriors on their home ice.
Head coach
Deanna Iwanicka believes that this season the Lancers are destined for great things and will continue to push towards pursuing their vision of building a championship hockey program within the U SPORTS women's hockey circuit.
"The growth of our program over the past five years has been incredible," coach Iwanicka remarked with the utmost pride regarding a reflection on the progression of the Lancers women's hockey program in recent history.
"With a breakout season in 2022-23 it was one of the programs best to date! We are ready to tackle the next big step from middle to top, as we've already taken the leap from the bottom."
"This growth isn't just on the ice, as the 2022-23 IG Cup recipients, and the 2023-24 Dr. Moriarty academic team award, our growth in both the community and classroom is also evident."
"Our priorities remain: 1) champions and providing an enhanced student-athlete experience, 2) team results, and 3) contribute to community & graduate success." Iwanicka stated who has been leading the program since joining the blue and gold back in 2018.
"We will strive to once again receive the Dr Moriarty Academic team award, and/or the IG Cup."
Those priorities both on and off the ice come with heightened expectations going into the year which was emphasized by the Lancers leader behind the bench.
"This season we expect to continue moving the needle forward, finishing ahead of our past few seasons. Breaking into the U SPORTS Top 10," coach Iwanicka added with enthusiasm.
"Making it to the national championship this season is extra challenging for all OUA women's hockey teams, as Waterloo is set to be one of the two OUA representative teams, as the host."
It seems to be an attainable goal as the team looks poised to dish out a veteran lineup on paper this season full of experienced returning players and exciting newcomers joining the program this season. Coach Iwanicka is confident this team is ready to take the next step of becoming contenders with a deep team of seniors still in the mix for the team.
"We have a very senior roster, with many expected graduates and we hope to see them have their best seasons yet." Iwanicka proudly expressed with exuberating confidence.
"
Devynn Dion,
Elizabeth Coleman,
Maggie Peterson (2022-23 first all-conference forward), Maggi Dewolf-Russ (Lancer Super Sophomore & 2023-24 team MVP),
Darcee Hall,
Emily Eikelboom,
Jaden Cherry, and
Ilena Ricker-Singh are all veteran talents to look out for this year."
"
Makayla Mailhot has had a strong preseason and is trending in a positive direction going into the season and
Keana McKibbin is entering her third season after being the OUA rookie of the year back in 2022-23."
"As for the rookies, our incoming class is full of talent and is eager to gain experience with
Rebecca Noble,
Teagan Pare,
Madison Hollohan,
Bridget Cameron,
Phoebe Gao,
Bryn Rutledge and
Sierra Moreau," Iwanicka continued.
"Pare, the only first year defender, is expected to have an impact this season. Hollohan is a key recruit to our offense this year and Rutledge is helping us to play a grittier and more physical game out on the ice this season."
Also helping Coach Iwanicka manage such a talented group of players this season is current apprentice coach and Lancer women's hockey alum Amy Maitre. Her contributions are expected to play a significant role on the team's development this season bringing in recent experience to the fold from the ice to behind the bench.
"Amy was hired full time for this season and will help us for sure with her experience within the program," Iwanicka said praising the addition of her recent former player now turned coach.
"It was made possible through the Coaches Association of Ontario grant; we look forward to having her contributions shared with the team this season and it's a great opportunity for her to gain experience for her young coaching career going forward."
When Coach Iwanicka was asked about this upcoming opening weekend on the road she shared it will be a "perfect" way to begin their season.
"It's perfect. We are ready and excited," Iwanicka said optimistically.
"It's feels like we've always been at war with Laurier, a race to the top as we have both emerged from the bottom over the past few years!"
"Waterloo has traditionally been a very strong team, 2024 McCaw Cup champions, plus they are the 2025 U SPORTS National Championships host - so this will be a great test for us."
When asked to summarize the team's thoughts and morale going into this weekend. Coach Iwanicka briefed it as such.
"I think like any team, we are going into the weekend full of hope and anticipation, ready to battle our way to some points," Iwanicka said with assertion.
"We hope to establish ourselves in the OUA as a hard team to play against!"
The Lancers will hit the ice in Waterloo on Friday October 11th first at Laurier taking on the Golden Hawks for a 7:00pm puck drop which will be broadcasted live on oua.tv.
The Lancers will then stay in Waterloo overnight to play the Waterloo Warriors on Saturday October 12th slated for a 4:00pm puck drop which is also going to be live aired on oua.tv for Windsor Lancers women's hockey fans to watch and take the first games of the 2024-25 OUA season campaign.
