Yeah yeah, this isn’t YouTube. But I prefer to write than sit in front of a camera and talk to myself, so here we are! You don’t want to see my mug for 7 minutes anyway – be honest with yourselves!
The Tri-Pen Ice were the favourites to win the league in 2021-22, finishing first in the abbreviated regular season but fell to an upstart Eastern Ice Breakers in the Provincial final. While this years edition loses some big-time minutes eaters from previous years, this is still a loaded roster that has revenge on their minds. Lets rumble.
Ice Social Media
Twitter – https://twitter.com/aaa_u18
Goalies
Brooklyn Drover (2006) / Olivia Taylor (2006). No changes between the pipes for the Ice this season. Both of these keepers are good athletes and – after a year of U18 AAA hockey under their belts – will likely take the next step in their development under returning Head Coach Mike Drover this season. Brooklyn Drover is the sibling of former Ice forward Jaemee (2020 graduate) – super nice family! Olivia Taylor is a big netminder who has been known to ‘stand on her head’ in big spots.
Defence
A big loss on the back end this season is Jayme Guy. The former U18 League Players Choice Award winner graduated this past Spring; a proven minutes eater who could play 30-35 minutes of a hockey game when needed. Players like Guy, Jessica Mercer (Mount Academy) and Mackenzie Balsom (graduated) will be missed on this team, no doubt.
Two players who will attempt to fill the void will be under-aged. Marissa Dawson (’08) and Brooklyn Jefford (’08) have been granted exceptional status to play U18 female, which I am a huge fan of. I have always said that you should play where your shoes are – if you’re capable of playing U18 female hockey and there’s an opportunity there to play/develop, why be held back due to age? Kudos to HNL for recognizing that these two players are uber talented and deserve to play for the U18 Ice in 2022-23.
Joining Jefford and Dawson on the blue line will be Georgia Bolt (’06); the Clarenville native was an AP for the 2021 U16 Provincial team and loves to play a throwback, physical style. Lauren Paddle (’05) was sneaky good for the Ice last season, a player that I mentioned to Head Coach Mike Drover last year in the form of ‘who is #94 on your team?’. Jordyn Piercey (’06) might be the best kept secret in Newfoundland female hockey, Chelsea Crane is a great decision-maker and Beth Edmunds (’06) is a big righty who has a bunch of raw talent. Remember the article a few months ago where I discussed the 2024 graduating class as being (arguably) the greatest in provincial female hockey history (member refresher click here)? Well, exhibit A with this D corps.
Forwards
I discussed Ice forward Cassie Drover’s performance at the HNP HPP Provincial Camp right here . Drover is a versatile player (has made the NL Provincial team as a forward in ’22 and a D a few years ago) and has speed for days. Drover has to be monitored by USPORT programs this Thanksgiving weekend and throughout the 2022-23 season.
If Drover is a proverbial Batman, New Harbour’s Beth Pitcher (’06) may be a proverbial Robin in the Ice’s offence this year. Pitcher’s speed has improved over the past couple of months, and her style of play/skating mechanics remind me of a ‘Baby Abby Newhook’ of sorts. Pitcher is strong, has the shot-blocking intangibles and should wear a letter this year for the Ice.
What makes this forward core really dangerous is the mix of talent that it has. Maggie Shute (’05) is a burner down the right wing with a tremendous motor. Allie Akerman (’06) has a scoring touch. There might not be a better set of hands in this league than Aliya Sheppard (’05). Jenna Snow (’05) and Chloe Pitts (’06) are very good multi-sport athletes who seem to show up on my Facebook feed for winning one trophy or another every other week (along with political propaganda and articles about inflation). Ashley Hillier (N/A) rounds out this forward crew; Mike Drover has sung Hillier’s praises at training camp.
In the System
The Ice have a full contingent of affiliates – two names that caught my eye were Alyssa Dober (’06) and Leah Wiseman (’06). Dober is a high-energy forward from the Marystown area who will jump into this line-up seamlessly if and when there are injuries. Wiseman is a D who is a pretty good skater in both directions. Julie Edmunds, Heidi Fitzpatrick, and Rachel Saunders will also hear their names called if and when incumbent players cannot suit up.
This team – if there were Vegas odds on the NL U18 Female season – would likely get some odds to take home the chancelor. But in a league that looks like it will have 4 very competitive teams, it is anyone’s game come Springtime and I have never heard of a season title won on paper in September. Let the games begin.
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Want 2022-23 Male U18 Major previews? Click here . Eastern’s write-up is here too – https://vhghockey.ca/2022-23-u18-aaa-female-team-previews-the-eastern-ice-breakers/