Media Releases

Spirits were high as the Confederation College Thunderhawks women’s hockey team returned from last weekend’s Lieutenant Governor’s Invitational Women’s Hockey Tournament in Winnipeg.

Facing stiff competition, including games against the Prairie Blaze, Manitoba’s top junior team, and the Spruce Grove Stars, Alberta North’s second-ranked junior team, the Thunderhawks didn’t have the keys to unlock a win but the trip provided the team with much-needed experience and a chance to benchmark itself against Canadian college and junior teams.

Karlie Laframboise, defenceman, and Hannah Bennett, goalie, were named game MVPs on Friday.  Amber Butler, the Thunderhawks’ captain, was awarded the Mark’s Work Wearhouse Hardest Working Player Award at the tournament banquet on Saturday night. 

While the Thunderhawks coaching staff had certainly hoped for a different result from a win-loss perspective, head coach, Marshall Erickson, said he is nonetheless proud of the first-year team.  “These ladies don’t know the meaning of the word ‘quit,’ working hard and supporting each other, on and off the ice, all weekend long.  They took their hockey seriously but they also had a ton of fun in the process.  Each player demonstrated some form of leadership and contributed something positive to the team.”

The Confederation College Thunderhawks Women’s Hockey program is in its inaugural year. Its student-athletes benefit from Hockey Canada High Performance 1 level qualified coaches; a certified kinesiologist for off-ice group and personal fitness training and nutritional advice; access to the College’s on-site Fitness Centre; academic advising services and the team’s own administrative support staff.

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For further information contact:  Marshall Erickson, Head Coach, Thunderhawks Women’s Hockey by phone at 807-475-6419 (office) or 807-708-7879 (mobile), or by email at marshall.erickson@confederationc.on.ca.