University of Regina women’s hockey head coach
Sarah Howald announced Wednesday that four players have committed to the Cougars, including forwards Crystal Duhaime (pictured) and Chantel Hildebrand and defencemen Laura Olsen and Triston Riemer.
Duhaime, who hails from Geraldton, Ont., played for the Notre Dame Hounds for the past two years. She battled illness for a large portion of the 2009-10 season, collecting six points in 15 regular season games for the Hounds and adding four assists in eight playoff games. Duhaime capped off the season with Notre Dame at the 2010 Esso Cup, helping the Hounds to a second-place finish at the tournament.
“Crystal is a great leader,” Howald said. “She’s got great speed and is a very smart player. She settled into more of a defensive role with Notre Dame, but I think she’ll be able to generate some offence for us.”
Hildebrand comes to the U of R after playing for three seasons with the Swift Current Diamond Energy Wildcats. She missed 16 of the Wildcats’ 28 regular season games last season with concussion symptoms, but Howald expects the Gouldtown, Sask. product to be a versatile player with the Cougars next season.
“Chantel is a prototypical Saskatchewan player,” Howald said. “She has a fantastic work ethic, is a good skater, and brings some grit. She’s a defensively responsible forward, but can definitely contribute on both ends of the ice.”
Olsen, Howald’s lone recruit from an out-of-province team, had five goals and 11 assists for 16 points in 32 regular season games last year with the Calgary Chaos of the Alberta Major Midget Female Hockey League. The 5’3” defenceman stepped it up in the playoffs, leading the Chaos with eight points in 11 postseason games. Olsen was named an AMMFHL all-star in both 2009 and 2010.
“Laura was a leader with the Chaos and we expect her to be able to provide offence from the point,” Howald said. “She’s got a great first pass and sees the ice exceptionally well.”
Riemer, who moved from White Fox, Sask. to Prince Albert back in 2007 to play for the A&W Bears, had 12 points in 25 regular season games last season. She was a key part of Prince Albert’s run to the 2009 SFMAAAHL championship, leading the Bears’ defencemen in scoring with seven points in 12 playoff games.
“Triston is a very poised defenceman who I believe will be able to step in and play a big role for us immediately,” Howald said. “She’s very good defensively, has great puck poise, and has a good release from the point.”
Duhaime, Hildebrand, Olsen, and Riemer are the first four members of Howald’s 2010 recruiting class.
2010 University of Regina Women’s Hockey Recruiting Class
F Crystal Duhaime (5-2, 1st) – Notre Dame Hounds (SFMAAAHL)
F Chantel Hildebrand (5-5, 1st) – Swift Current Diamond Energy Wildcats (SFMAAAHL)
D Laura Olsen (5-3, 1st) – Calgary Chaos (AMMFHL)
D Triston Riemer (5-5, 1st) – Prince Albert A&W Bears (SFMAAAHL)