WILKES-BARRE – After a 2023-24 campaign that shattered numerous program records, the Wilkes University women's ice hockey team returns to the ice in 2024-25 looking to prove that the best of this group is yet to come. Head coach Dave LaBaff returns behind the bench for his third season as the Colonels make their return to the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC).

"It's very exciting," LaBaff said of the anticipation around the team for the start of the season. "We have competition in everything we do so every practice there is a ton of energy. I think we played a pretty tough exhibition schedule which is what we wanted, and I think everybody is excited to get on the ice and take on Elmira this coming weekend."

The Colonels had the best season in their young history in 2023-24 going 18-7-2 overall with a 12-6-2 record in the United College Hockey Conference (UCHC), falling in the UCHC Semifinals against top-seeded Nazareth University.

The blue and gold attack returns key leaders on and off the ice in graduate student Rachel Morey (Clearmont, WY) and senior Bella Kaczorowski (Anchorage, AK/NAHA White), while returning hotshot sophomores Haylee Bouchard (Sioux Lookout, ON), Jordan Ferry (Bohemia, NY/), Amanda Spreadbury (Suwanee, GA/), Lily Zingaro (Collingwood, ON/), Milica Velcek (Novi Sad, Serbia/), and Rissa Brazeau (Timmins, ON/).

The sophomore group shined in their first season of collegiate hockey, responsible for 57 of the Colonels' 92 total goals. Bouchard returns as the reigning UCHC Rookie of the Year and CCM Hockey/AHCA All-American having notched team-highs in goals (18) and assists (19) in her first year. Morey was the team's face-off specialist, winning over 50 percent of her attempts last season.

In defense, the Colonels return graduate student Savanna Maxon (Anchorage, AK/Alaska All-Stars), senior Ainsley Wescott (Saco, ME/), junior Anneke Bouma (Newcastle, ON/), and sophomores Tilly Weirdsma, Breanna Herdine (Haslet, TX/), and Chayce Hyndman (Mountain, ON/).

Weirdsma was named All-UCHC honorable mention in 2023-24 as well as a member of the All-Rookie team and contributed on both ends of the ice with five goals and nine assists while blocking a team-high 26 shots. Bouma was an anchor for the Colonel defense, playing in all 27 games, while Hyndman and Herdine played in 24 and 21 respectively combining for five goals and ten assists.

Between the pipes, the Colonels trio remains unchanged as sophomore Audrey Milne (London, ON/), senior Emma Swansburg (Shelburne, NS/Shelburne Regional), and graduate student Addy Olson (Naples, FL) all return.

Milne dazzled in her first season, posting a 14-5-2 record with 525 saves and a .946 save percentage and a 1.45 goals-against average, the third and fourth-best figures in the UCHC respectively. The London, Ontario native became the first Colonel goaltender to win an All-UCHC award as she was selected to the All-Rookie team. Swansburg and Olson are no strangers in goal either, playing in a combined 58 games for Wilkes. LaBaff believes that bringing back that core sets the team up with a strong foundation for the future.

"They want to build off of what we did last year," he said. "I think the goal remains the same, our focuses, our habits, our details, we want to make sure that every day is very consistent in our effort on the ice. We're looking to see them improve and build, their ceiling is still quite high, so we'll be excited to see how they do this year."

LaBaff also welcomes 12 first-year student athletes to bolster the roster, with two transfer students rounding out the squad with 14 total newcomers representing six different countries.

Forwards Bethany Pitcher (New Harbour, NL), Renee Ng (Hong Kong, China/Mount Academy), Devon Trapp (Barrie, ON), Angelina Bustos (Keswick, ON), Megan Bell (Waterloo, ON), and Gianna Pacilio (Franklinville, NJ), and Nina Hudáková join the Colonel attack, while Amelia Murphy (Anchorage, AL), Mina Killingstad (Hønefoss, Norway/Lillehammer), Avery Brigden (Barrie, ON), and Hannah Franz (North Bay, ON) add to the defense. Schay Camphaug (Caronport, SK) joins the group of goaltenders but will not play this season due to injury. LaBaff applauds the newcomers for quickly learning to "play our way".

"Learning to play at the pace we want to play at and the expectations that we have every day," LaBaff said. "I give our returners a ton of credit, they've really helped them get to that point already."

Joining the first-year athletes are graduate student Iida Laitenen and sophomore Danielle Longuemare (Pembroke, MA/Portsmouth Abbey School), two forwards who come from SUNY Canton and SUNY Plattsburgh respectively.

Laitenen, who LaBaff coached during his time with the Roos, has played in 74 career games, and has lit the lamp 22 times with 28 assists. Longuemare comes to Wilkes with one career goal in five games as a Cardinal.

"We've seen some really big impacts from both transfers and from our new players so we're really excited for them, they should have a great year," LaBaff said.

Wilkes also makes their return to the MAC, now with a chance at an automatic playoff bid. However, a lot of familiar faces will remain on the schedule including King's, Lebanon Valley, Arcadia, Neumann, Alvernia, and Stevenson.

"I think there's a lot of intense rivalries when it comes down to the MAC with King's in our conference, and I think we've built a pretty good rivalry with Arcadia as well," LaBaff stated. "I think it's going to grow into a really strong conference, and we're excited to be a part of getting in on the ground floor of that."

The Colonels open the season at the Utica University Kickoff Tournament, taking on No. 5 ranked Elmira College on Friday, November 1. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m.