UPEI Women's Hockey recruits three new players
The UPEI Women's Hockey team is excited to announce the addition of three players for the 2011-12 season, Jessie Howard from Kingston, Ontario; Ashley Fitzpatrick from Twin Butte, Alberta; and Margaret Lockyer from Burlington, Ontario.
Howard, a 5'8' forward, has played the last three years with Brewster Academy in New Hampshire. This past season, her team was 19-8-1 with Howard earning 15 goals and 18 assists. Before going to Brewster, she played Intermediate AA with the Cornwall Typhoons.
'Jessie is a skilled offensive player who will bring great passion to the program along with strong experience, having played in the US prep school loop. She will bring added offensive capabilities as she was in the top three for scoring at her school,' said Bruce Donaldson, head coach for the UPEI women Panthers.
Howard said, 'I visited UPEI because I wanted to go to a university with a smaller student population. Coming from a small school like Brewster Academy, I knew I'd feel comfortable at a smaller school as I can get to know my professors and fellow students more easily in this type of environment. I had the opportunity to meet some of the players on the team and all of them made me feel welcome, and as Coach Donaldson said, ‘the team is young but very close-knit.' All of these factors helped me make my decision and choose UPEI. I am looking forward to becoming a Panther, and hopefully contributing to the team's success.'
Ashley Fitzpatrick has played for the AAA Medicine Hat Hounds for the last two seasons and will graduate this spring from Vauxhall High School. In 24 games, she scored 12 goals and 12 assists, finishing third in scoring for the Hounds who finished 16-11-5 in regular season play.
Donaldson was impressed with Fitzpatrick, 'Ashley is among the league's best in offensive forwards in addition to being a strong skater with an amazing work ethic and good finishing skills. She has been a team leader with the Medicine Hat program and was selected to participate in the recent Alberta Midget AAA all star game.'
Fitzpatrick commented, 'I felt that UPEI was a good fit for me, and I look forward to attending the school and playing hockey in the fall.'
A defensive star with the Burlington Junior Barracudas, Lockyer is heading to UPEI this fall to pursue an Arts degree, majoring in English. She is a 90 per cent - grade average student and will graduate from The Hill Academy located in Vaughan, where Vicky Sunohara, a former Team Canada member and Olympic gold medallist, is director of women's hockey.
'Margaret is a skilled defenseman who has shown versatility playing also in the forward position. She moves the puck well, and coming from playing in the very competitive Provincial Women's Hockey League loop in Ontario, she will have an instant impact with the Panthers,' added Donaldson.
