Canada West women's rugby preview: Pronghorns seek 7th Heaven
EDMONTON – The 2012 Canada West season begins with two games on Friday, followed by another on Sunday.
Source: Canada West Communications
EDMONTON – The 2012 Canada West season
begins with two games on Friday, followed by another on Sunday.
With the season about to start, here is a look at the five
conference teams…
ALBERTA PANDAS
2011 conference record: 3-1 (2nd)
2011 playoffs: 1-1 (CW silver)
Last CW title: 2005
Last CIS title: 2003
CIS ranking: #8
CW Ranking: #2
Key additions: Sabrina Kelly, Jen Cousineau, Amee
Svatos
Key returnees: Carmen Hobbs, Louise Chavarie,
Chelsea Guthrie, Ali Fairbairn, Alanna Fittes, Miranda Monty
Key departures: Karlee Carbert, Jenn Davies, Fran
Gabinsky, Marlene Nedved
EDMONTON – The University of Alberta Pandas have been
knocking on the door of Canada West success for the past six
seasons, but have not been able to return to the winning ways the
program enjoyed during its formative years.
With a solid returning core of players, as well as some nice
additions, Matt Parish’s Alberta rugby team should be in
contention for their first Canada West trophy since their run of
seven straight ended in 2005.
Carmen Hobbs (Hooker), Louise Chavarie (Lock), Ali Fairbairn (Fly
Half), Chelsea Guthrie (Scrum Half), Alanna Fittes (Wing) and
Miranda Monty (Forward) are among the key returning players for the
Pandas. Hobbs, Chavarie, Guthrie and Fittes were named to the
Canada West All-Star team last season, while both Guthrie and
Fittes, who are also team captains, played for Canada at the 2012
World University Rugby Sevens championship.
Newcomers Sabrina Kelly, who has competed with Alberta’s CIS
and Canada West championship wrestling teams in the past, as well
as former field hockey player Jen Cousineau are two players who
bring provincial team experience with them, while Amee Svatos is a
transfer from Oregon State University who has also played for the
USA U-20 team.
The Pandas are in the position to get back on top of the Canada
West pile at home, as they host the conference championship
tournament this year from October 19-21 at the Ellerslie Rugby
Park.
http://www.pandas.ualberta.ca/
UBC THUNDERBIRDS
2011 conference record: 0-4
2011 playoffs: N/A
Last CW title: N/A
Last CIS title: N/A
CIS ranking: N/A
CW Ranking: #5
Key addition: Ciara Malone
Key returnees: Megan Hamm, Gabrielle Hindley, Paniz
Pahlavanlu, Catherine Ohler
Key departure: Brittany Holness
VANCOUVER – Playing in arguably the toughest conference in
the country is no easy task, but the UBC women’s rugby team
is up for the challenge as they kick off the 2012 Canada West
campaign this weekend with a pair of games.
With just four games in the regular season the Thunderbirds need to
hit the ground running if they hope to earn themselves a spot in
the Canada West playoffs. UBC is coming off a disappointing 0-4
year in 2011, but head coach Lesley McKenzie is optimistic for the
new season with everybody a year older.
UBC will be led by 2010 Canada West Rookie of the Year and 2011
Canada West All-Star Megan Hamm. The 3rd year student is making the
move from scrum half to fly half this season in order to run the
attack better and to give her more time and space. She along with
teammate Gabrielle Hindley and McKenzie, who was the head coach,
represented Canada at the 2012 World University Games in
women’s 7’s this past summer in France.
Rookie Ciara Malone is another player to keep your eye on. The
5’3 wing recently played for the U18 provincial team and is
quick enough to step right in and contribute right away.
http://www.gothunderbirds.ca/
CALGARY DINOS
2011 conference record: 2-2 (3rd)
2011 playoffs: 1-1 (CW bronze)
Last CW title: N/A
Last CIS title: N/A
CIS ranking: #10
CW Ranking: #3
Key additions: Leah Conforti, Janai Haupapa,
Natasha Loucks
Key returnees: Brynna Walker, Samantha Crandell,
Ellen McGregor
Key departure: Jovita Byzitter
CALGARY – After taking major strides in 2011, the Calgary
Dinos look to continue on the upswing.
The Dinos made history with their first-ever win in program history
last year at UBC, and they qualified for the playoffs – which
they hosted, also for the first time – with a 2-2 record in
the regular season. At the conference tournament, after giving the
Alberta Pandas a solid run in a 10-0 loss, the Dinos scored a
last-minute try to defeat Victoria and earn the Canada West bronze
medal at McMahon Stadium.
A year later, reigning conference coach of the year Simon Chi has
most of his team returning, led by All-Canadian prop Samantha
Crandell along with all-star centre Brynna Walker. In addition, Chi
has added some depth, including rookie Natasha Loucks. Loucks
scored one of Calgary’s tries in a 33-26 loss to No. 5-ranked
Queen’s in non-conference action on Aug. 29.
Janai Haupapa is another of those newcomers who Chi expects to step
into a key role and contribute depth to team's developing core of
talent. Another key addition will be the return of Leah Conforti,
who missed the last two seasons due to injury.
The Dinos open the season on the road with visits to UBC and
Victoria Sept. 21 and 23, respectively. Calgary plays its two home
games on Saturday, Sept. 29 against Lethbridge and on Friday, Oct.
12 against Alberta.
http://www.godinos.com/
LETHBRIDGE PRONGHORNS
2011 conference record: 4-0-0 (1st)
2011 playoffs: 3-2 (CW 1st, CIS 4th)
Last CW title: 2011
Last CIS title: 2009
CIS ranking: #3
CW Ranking: #1
Key additions: Becca Gannon (centre), Katherine
Karthaus (prop), Coreen Riley (hook), Julia Seymour (centre)
Key returnees: Brandi Van Euewen (prop), Alex
Hendricks (scrum half), Laura Murphy-Burke(fly half), Kendra Reeves
(centre), Sarah Gordon
Key departures: Kelsey Willoughby, Kayla Moleschi,
Juhee Thompson,
LETHBRIDGE – Despite claiming their sixth consecutive Canada
West title, the 2011 season did not end the way the Lethbridge
Pronghorns envisioned. For the second consecutive year, the
‘Horns season finished in disappointment, losing their final
game of the season and finishing off the podium at the CIS
Championships.
Even though the ‘Horns return a veteran-laden squad that is
in search of tying the Alberta Pandas for the all-time conference
title mark of seven championships, there are some unexpected holes
to fill. Two-time Canada West Player of the year Kelsey Willoughby
and the reigning Canada West rookie of the year Kayla Moleschi did
not return and are with the Canadian Sevens program. Forward, and
Canada West all-star Juhee Thompson also decided to not to return
for her third season.
The ‘Horns return 22 players and will be led by five
fifth-year seniors, including four-time Canada West all-star prop
Brandi Van Euewen and captain Kendra Reeves. A pair of sophomores
are expected to build off exceptional rookie seasons and continue
their explosive runs for the ‘Horns this year. Sarah Gordon
and Cassandra Orr finished one-two in conference scoring, with Orr
leading all players in tries with 6.
The ‘Horns will begin defence of their Canada West title
September 21st at Victoria and UBC
http://www.uleth.ca/horns/
VICTORIA VIKES
2011 conference record: 1-3 (4th)
2011 playoffs: 0-2
Last CW title: N/A
Last CIS title: N/A
CIS ranking: N/A
CW Ranking: #4
Key additions: Kara Galbraith, Lizzie Adams,
Morgan King, Shannon Fitzpatrick, Dacey Livingstone, Laura
Crowe-Hutchon
Key returnees: Abby Goodwin, Melissa Robinson,
Courtney Goulet, Chelsey Minter
Key departures: Sarah Logan, Jessica Moretto,
Roxanne Neville, Andrina Nixon, Jesse Olynyk, Randi Hunter
VICTORIA – As UVic Vikes head coach, Marek Hall brings 35
years of coaching experience and will be a veritable asset to the
program. He has experience at club, provincial, and national levels
and will be using this knowledge to guide the UVic women through
both the Canada West and the Vancouver Island Rugby Union
season.
Among key returnees is fourth-year lock Abby Goodwin. As the lone
Vike with Canada West All-Star honours last season, Goodwin also
gained Under-20 National team experience. Fourth- and fifth-year
captains Courtney Goulet and Melissa Robinson will be counted on to
provide some solid leadership, while prop Chelsey Minter has also
returned to play her fifth year.
Several freshmen to watch include Kara Galbraith, Lizzie Adams,
Morgan King and Shannon Fitzpatrick. The four first-year Vikes were
key members of their provincial teams this past summer as they
competed in the national U-18 tournament. Additionally, rookie
Dacey Livingstone will provide some excitement on the wing with her
speed and deception, while first-year forward Laura Crowe-Hutchon
will be a handful for opposing outside halves.
The Vikes will open their Canada West season at home on Wallace
Field on Sept. 21 vs. the Lethbridge Pronghorns and Sept. 23,
against the Calgary Dinos.
http://www.govikesgo.com/
About Canada West Universities Athletic
Association
Canada West is consistently the most decorated of the four
conferences in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), winning at
least 10 CIS national titles every year, 1997 to 2010. Comprised of
16 schools from the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta
and British Columbia, Canada West produces numerous major award
winners and Academic All-Canadian student-athletes each year, with
many going on to athletic success around the globe in pro leagues
or events such as the Olympics, Paralympics or Universiade Games.
"cwuaa" on Twitter.
A proud member of Canadian Interuniversity Sport
(CIS).
