WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University women's ice hockey team enters their fifth season of competition with a new outlook and expectations to work towards. They are led by these new standards and goals behind first year head coach Dave LaBaff, who was brought into the team in June of this year. 

"I can see the success that the men's team is having," LaBaff said. "Coach Hynes has done an amazing job with them over the years. So to see that and see the facilities, speak with Addy and meet the other coaches, I just felt so welcomed." 

He believes the ceiling and expectations for the team have a lot of room to meet them, that the growth for the women is what makes him excited for this upcoming season. 

"I tell the team all the time, I'm the new guy and I give them a lot of credit, they welcomed me with open arms. Skates have been upbeat, a lot of energy. We got a big jolt when we played our exhibition game and had success there, so I'm hoping we carry it to Buffalo State." 

The Colonels enter this season after going 3-19-0 last season, with all three victories coming in United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) action.  

Wilkes returns to the ice with six seniors leading the charge for the Navy and Gold. Julie Patterson (Trenton, NJ/), Abigail Davis (Mountain Top, PA), Quinn Rodefeld (Blaine, MN/), and Gianna Manzi (Aston, PA) take the forward spot, with Abby Miller (Webster, NY/) and Abigail Barcless (Hamilton, NJ) rounding out the defender position. Patterson returns after leading the team in goals (6) and tying for third in assists (5). Davis had one goal and assist from last year, while Rodefeld had an assist of her own and Manzi had 19 blocks on the season. Miller returns with 32 blocks, accumulating a goal and four assists while Barcless had 23 blocks and two assists. 

Five more returners come back for Wilkes to play their junior season in the Navy and Gold. Goaltender Addy Olson (Naples, FL/) returns to the net, where Kiera Lacombe (Buckeye, AZ/) holds the defense line, with Elizabeth Spoon (Arlington, TX), Rachel Morey (Buffalo, WY/), and Sarah Uhall (Greensburg, PA) taking the forward spot. Olson returns after recording 460 saves last year, including a career-high 65 saves against Chatham which ranks the fourth most saves in a single game for Wilkes. Lacombe had a goal and assist while recording 17 blocks. Spoon had two goals in the Colonels win over King's last season, with Morey adding one of her four goals during that game, adding five assists on the year as well. Uhall had one goal and an assist on the year. 

Emma Guzdek (Amherst, NY/) is the returning sophomore for Wilkes. She scored three goals last year while blocking 15 shots and recording an assist as well.

"I wanted them to keep growing the culture that they've cultivated," LaBaff said. "That's one of the things I have been happy with that our culture has been very strong. Having them keep moving it in that direction, for me, is important." 

LaBaff enjoys that the returners are leading into the new system and helping the younger players buy into what is being taught.

LaBaff brings in two transfer players, junior forward Bella Kaczorowski (Anchorage, AK) from Suffolk University and sophomore defender Amber DeJonge (Grands Rapids, MI/Forest Hills Eastern) from Stevenson University. Wilkes also welcomes three first years to the squad, as they bring Anneke Bouma (Newcastle, ON) in the defensive side of the ice. Emma Bresett (Davidson, NC) looks to make contributions in the forward position. Sydney Babin (Philadelphia, PA) comes in to make an impact in goal for the Colonels. 

"They're challenging everybody for playing time, challenging each other every single day on the ice to go harder and to grow," LaBaff remarked. 

Wilkes begins their season on the road, as they go to Buffalo State on Friday, October 28 at 3:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 29 at 2:00 p.m. while they begin UCHC action at Neumann University on Friday, November 4 at 4:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 5 at 2:00 p.m. The Navy and Gold will then have their first home game on Friday, November 11 at 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 12 at 3:30 p.m. against Nazareth College at the Toyota SportsPlex.  

LaBaff looks forward to Buffalo State, where he will meet his former assistant Rachel Grampp, then getting into UCHC competition. 

"UCHC is a challenging schedule," LaBaff said. "For us every day is show up and compete, show up and grow. If we execute to our game plan, success is waiting on the other side of that."