The Atlantic University Sport women’s hockey game will be played at the Jacques Cartier Arena in Alberton, home of UPEI captain Amber Gaudette. Game time is 3 p.m.
Gaudette, who is in her fifth and final year of Canadian Interuniversity Sport eligibility, was named captain last year. She’s one of four Prince County and area players on the Panthers’ roster this season.
UPEI head coach Bruce Donaldson said he first became aware of Gaudette’s leadership qualities when she captained the 2007 P.E.I. Canada Games women’s hockey team that he coached.
“I saw the start of her leadership skills development back then, and she’s progressed nicely throughout,” Donaldson commented.
The Alberton resident, who aspires to become a teacher, is one of the Panthers’ scoring threats, and has scored a pair of overtime goals this season.
“She brings a sense of calmness to the program so that the players, especially the younger ones, don’t get rattled,” Donaldson noted. “She really tries to focus on the task on hand.”
Showcase product
Moving some of his team’s home games out of the capital, Donaldson said, is a great way to showcase the university hockey product outside of the university setting.
Donaldson’s hope, he said, is that it will “inspire some of the younger players to work and see that there is a future in the female game, and that they can play at the highest level the country has to offer.”
Bringing the game to Gaudette’s hometown, he suggested, “is a little bit of a local sendoff” for the team captain.
Third place
UPEI currently sits in third place in their division, one point ahead of Mount Alison and three ahead of the Tommies. The Panthers and Tommies had eight games remaining heading into weekend action, and Mount Allison had seven.
The Tommies won 4-2 the last time they played the Panthers, despite being outshot considerably. Giving up three first-period power-play goals were the Panthers’ undoing.
Other western players
Besides Gaudette, other western P.E.I. players on the Panthers this season are first-year forwards Samantha Sweet from O’Leary and Olivia Doughart from Summerside, and blue-liner Keirstin Visser from Crapaud, who is in her second year of eligibility.
“As a rookie, her ability to balance the academic and the athletics is extremely impressive,” Donaldson said of Sweet. He said she brings energy and an incredible work ethic to the team.
Donaldson said the Panthers believe there is a lot of upside with Doughart. He is hoping she’s rewarded for her effort, and noted she’s on a new line that combines size and speed.
He described Visser, who comes to the team from an NCAA program in the States, as one of the top defencemen in the league.
Donaldson said the Panthers get lots of local support when they take games east or west. He’s confident fans will enjoy Sunday’s action.
“The product itself has improved,” he said. “Each and every year it gets better and better and better.”
wbureau@journalpioneer.com
