“We are finalizing our leadership group and we have seven girls – Camryn Wallan, Kirsten Baumgardt, Neisha Germann, Victoria Johnston, Sydnee Decorby, Ashley Sutherland and Carissa Hogan, a rookie on our team this year,” says Coulter. “That’s the group that we’re going to be working with, but we are open to adding more as we feel we have a lot of character in our room this year.”
The RDC Queens competed in six exhibition games, picking up three victories and some valuable playing time. The Queens defeated the SAIT Trojans 4-0, the Central Alberta Amazons 2-1 and the Olds College Broncos 3-1.
“Our girls have come in very good shape. The games that we’ve had in the exhibition season, we’ve been very happy with the compete level,” says Coulter. “They are an intelligent young group and are very willing to learn. We are trying to figure out some chemistry and how people play together.”
The Queens dropped a 3-1 decision to the Broncos, 5-2 game to the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns of U Sports, and a very close 1-0 contest to the defending champion MacEwan University Griffins, but they gained important preseason experience.
“The game that we played against MacEwan was a very good game. It had a lot of pace to it back and forth and I was happy that our girls were able to compete at that level,” says Coulter. “I think it helped our girls, especially the rookies, to see the pace and compete levels. MacEwan has been the champions for three years, so they’ve set the bar.”
The RDC Queens will open the season on Thursday, October 10 at 7:00 p.m. against the Broncos in Olds. Then 24 hours later, the Queens will host the Broncos at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.
“That should be a good series right off the bat,” says Camryn Wallan, a third-year forward from Beaverlodge. “We’re going to have to make sure that we use our speed, get pucks to the net and make sure we capitalize on our opportunities.”
After many practices, hours of training and six exhibition games, the RDC Queens are ready to begin the season.
“I’m excited to get started. We had our team builder on August 25 and 26, and we’ve been together for a while,” says Coulter. “All the girls are ready to compete.”
For more information on RDC Queens Hockey, the student-athletes, scores, and game recaps of conference games, please visit: rdcathletics.ca