Queens Hockey 2021/2022 Season Preview
2019/2020 Season Review (Absence of competition in 2020/2021 due to COVID-19)
The Red Deer Polytechnic Queens (15W-6L-3OTL) placed second in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women's Hockey standings during the regular season and qualified for the playoffs.
In the best of three semi-final series, the NAIT Ooks edged the Queens two games to one. Game three went to double overtime. The final series was halted due to COVID-19.
2019/2020 ACAC Awards
ACAC Women's Hockey Second All-Conference Team – Camryn Wallan (forward)
ACAC Women's Hockey Rookie of the Year – Avery Lajeunnesse
ACAC Women's Hockey Top Scholastic Player of the Year – Camryn Wallan
2020/2021 Red Deer Polytechnic Athletics Awards (Even though there was no formal competition last season, RDP Athletics celebrated academic achievements, leadership, and community involvement)
Camryn Wallan (21)
Red Deer Bottling Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year - Camryn Wallan
Red Deer Bottling High GPA Scholarship – Alesha Santos (enrolled in a minimum of four courses per term with the highest Fall 2020 Term GPA)
President's List – Student-athletes who achieved a 3.7 GPA or higher with a minimum of 15 credits in Fall 2020 Term - Alex Black, Abby Fonteyne, Hannah Petrie, Alesha Santos
Dean's List – Student-athletes who achieved a 3.5 GPA or higher, with a minimum of 9 credits in Fall 2020 Term - Kyla Hansel, Mary Hirsch, Avery Lajeunnesse, Tessa Ross, Brooke Skripichayko
Red Deer Polytechnic Women's Team Fitness Challenge – Queens Hockey
2021/2022 Season Preview
Head Coach – Kelly Coulter
The Red Deer Polytechnic Queens Hockey team will exude youth with 19 first-year student-athletes as it enters the 2021/2022 ACAC season.
"This is probably the youngest team that I've coached in my time here," said Kelly Coulter, Red Deer Polytechnic Queens Hockey Head Coach. "The girls are very coachable. They have good character and get along well, which is important to us as well."
With the abundance of first-year student-athletes, Coulter has assembled a capable leadership group to help guide this year's team.
Assistant Coaches – Amy Friestadt, Samantha Jones, Laura Solomons, Theodore Zubot, Jason Nevins
Red Deer Polytechnic Queens Hockey 2021/2022
"Camryn Wallan is our captain," said Coulter of the fourth-year forward. "I've coached Cam since her first-year here, so she will also be able to relay my expectations to the team."
In 2019/2020, Wallan, a Bachelor of Education Middle School student, scored five goals and added nine assists for the second place Queens (15-6-3) over 24 regular season games.
The same season, Beaverlodge's Wallan was named ACAC Women's Hockey Top Scholastic Player of the Year and a member of the ACAC Second All-Conference team. Despite no ACAC competition last year due to COVID-19, Wallan was honoured as the Red Deer Bottling Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year for her commitment to her studies, team, Red Deer Polytechnic, and community.
Coulter has included third-year forward Mary Hirsch, second-year forward Avery Lajeunnesse, the 2019/2020 ACAC Women's Hockey Rookie of the Year, and second-year defender Brooke Skrypichayko in the Queens' leadership group.
"We will lean on Mary for leadership. She is very mature and level-headed. Avery has always been a hard worker, but she has taken her off ice fitness to the next level," said Coulter. "They will be able to help explain our coaching philosophies and our expectations to the new players."
In 2019/2020, Calgary's Hirsch had four goals and eight assists in 24 games. Red Deer's Lajeunnesse scored eight goals which tied for the team lead with 2019/2020 ACAC First All-Conference team selection Ashley Sutherland, who now plays for the University of Calgary Dinos.
"Brooke is the only returning defenceman, so we have asked her to work with the new D on our systems," said Coulter.
Glendon's Skrypichayko had one assist in 14 games, but more importantly gained valuable ACAC playing experience. The Bachelor of Education Elementary student will help first-year defenders Alexandra Black, Kyla Hansel, Carli Howe, Jordyn McLaughlin, Kiera Mulder, Alesha Santos, and Julie Wagner adjust to competing at the post-secondary level.
Second-year forwards Madison Sansom (five points) and Braxtyn Shawara (four points) will be joined up front by ten new student-athletes - Jailyn Bablitz, Monica Bowtell, Natalie Buttle, Haley Kicia, Dylan Norrie, Bryn Pollard, Breanna Reid, Alli Soyko, Arilyn Toews, and Jensyn Wallan.
While the forwards are young, they have some offensive firepower. In 2019/2020, Soyko recorded 15 points in 23 games for the Northern Alberta Xtreme U18. The same season Pollard had 14 points for the Lloydminster PWM Steelers AAA. Norrie, who is from Olds, had 10 points in 28 games for the Calgary Fire U18 AAA.
"This is a very skilled team. We have a lot of girls that can shoot the puck and skate very well," said Coulter. "They work hard and compete. It's also one of our bigger teams."
Along with returning Queens Sansom (five-foot-ten) and Skrypichayko (five-foot-nine), Norrie (five-foot-nine), Kicia (five-foot-nine), Pollard (five-foot-eight) and Black (five-foot-eight) add height to the lineup.
Second-year goaltender Madison Fox will be a returning stabilizing force in the Queens' net. In her first season in 2019/2020, the Bachelor of Science Nursing student posted an impressive 0.922 save percentage and 1.83 goals against average.
"We felt Madison had a really good rookie year," said Coulter. "A lot of credit goes to Amy [Friestadt], who is an alum of our program and a former goaltender, and Theodore [Zubot] for working with our goalies."
Newcomers Izzy Palumbo and Tanya Disotell-Dunsmore round out a talented trio of Queens netminders.
"All three goalies are competitive athletes who don't give up on pucks," said Coulter, an ACAC Women's Hockey Coach of the Year recipient. "They have different styles, so it gives us three different looks in net. We have been happy with what we have seen so far."
In 2019/2020, Revelstoke's Izzy Polumbo had a 0.934 save percentage and 1.75 goals against average with Okanagan HA U18 Prep. Cornwall's Disotell-Dunsmore played 21 games with Ontario Hockey Academy Tardiff two years ago.
"Tanya is probably our most agile and flexible goaltender. She's not as big as the other two," said Coulter of the five-foot-three goalie. "I'm looking forward to seeing what Izzy and Tanya can do at the ACAC level."
The Queens Head Coach has identified a few areas for the team to focus on throughout the season.
"Fitness is one area that we want to work on and stress all year. Executing systematic play and working on our communication will come with time," said Coulter. "We have 19 new Queens who haven't played together, so communication is a key piece to help us execute on the ice."
Non-conference games
Over 10 exhibition games, the RDP Queens won seven and Coulter appreciated the effort.
"We have been really happy with how the student-athletes grind for pucks in the offensive zone and go to the net," said Coulter, who led the Queens to an ACAC Championship in 2016. "The compete level and battle on the walls is something that we have been pleasantly surprised with."
As the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens prepare for the puck to drop on the 15-game 2021/2022 season, they want to get progressively better.
"We have to work hard and improve every day - think the game, pay attention to small details, and show consistency," said Coulter.
The Red Deer Polytechnic Queens will face the NAIT Ooks in the season opener on Friday, November 12 at 7 pm in Edmonton. SAIT and Olds College also remain in the four-team league, as the MacEwan University Griffins are now competing in U Sports.
"If the student-athletes can execute the style of play that we want, I think we can have a lot of success," said Coulter. "I'm looking forward to getting started."
For more information about Red Deer Polytechnic Queens Hockey tickets, please visit the online ticketing webpage.
Not returning from 2019/2020
Tyra Anderson, Shelby Ballan, Kirsten Baumgardt, Sydnee Decorby, Karlee Fetch, Abby Fonteyne, Jenessa Fournier, Neisha Germann, Carissa Hogan, Victoria Johnston, Mariah McKersie, Hannah Petrie, Tessa Ross, Brooklyn Rowley, Sydney Rowley, Jessi-Lynn Sumaling, Ashley Sutherland