Women’s Hockey makes strides under new leadership
While their record may not indicate it, and although they missed the playoffs for a second consecutive season, the Lethbridge Pronghorn women’s hockey team made strides under the new leadership of first year head coach Chandy Kaip. Kaip was named the Horns first full time Head Coach of the women’s hockey program on July 8, 2008.
Offensively, the Horns remained challenged this season, struggling to score goals for much of the year, being shutout seven times in 24 outings and scoring a conference low 40 goals in 24 games.
Despite being eliminated from the post season early in the New Year,
the Horns played some of their best hockey down the stretch. Over their final
three weekends of action the women went 2-4, including an exceptional weekend against Canada West power Alberta Pandas. In their two losses to the Pandas the Horns held the high powered Pandas to five goals in two games, while through the season the Pandas had averaged well over five goals a game.
In their final weekend of the season, the Horns had their best offensive outburst scoring 11 goals, including 7 in their season concluding victory over the UBC Thunderbirds.
While many of their young players made big strides this season, second year forward Shelby Ballendine had an exceptional second half of the season, scoring 9 of her team leading 12 goals after the semester break.
With only two players graduating, the Horns will have a good core group returning next season. Coach Kaip is already on the recruiting path, hoping to have some high end players committed for next season in the coming weeks.
Leave a Reply