Goaltender Kalia Pharand may have kick-started this current run but the truth is that there is a whole lot of local female hockey talent preparing to take the post-secondary ranks by storm in the coming years.
These past two weeks alone have seen 2009-born blueliners Adrielle Charette and Olivia Carriere commit to the Northeastern University Huskies and the Bemidji State Beavers respectively.
"I had a really good connection with the coaches, especially the defense coach (Nick Carpentino)," said Charette, a smooth-skating defenseman who played the majority of her minor hockey with the Sudbury Lady Wolves before suiting up with the Barrie Sharks last year.
A 16 year old grade 11 student at St Joseph Catholic High-School in Barrie, Charette announced her verbal commitment to Northeastern on Instagram earlier this month and is expected to suit up with the team to begin the 2027-2028 Hockey East season.
"I've always loved the big city and have been to Boston a couple of times," said Charette. "The fact that it's in the centre of Boston, the academics are really good - it has everything I could ever want."
Signing on as an underager with the U18 AA Lady Wolves in 2023-2024, Charette and family made the move to Barrie last year, jumping up to the Ontario Women's Hockey League U22 Elite this past winter.
"My whole game kind of changed, just because it was so much faster," said Charette. "I had to make sure to really play my position, to always be defense first - and then offense. I think schools like to see that, that you can play the position well."
Already quite skilled with the puck on her stick, Charette took the next step that was necessary in her own end of the rink.
"My stick positioning became really good; where I place my stick, angling in the boards and everything," she said. "My puck battles got stronger. They were definitely better. And also just making sure that I don't leave the front of the net too early."
With two years of U22 hockey remaining before she heads away, Charette is fully aware that her game must continue to grow if she is to have an impact in the ranks of NCAA Division I.
"It's about having the confidence to take more control of the game, as I get older and I'm not one of the newcomers on the team," she said.
Our hope is to connect with Olivia Carriere at some point in the next few weeks to chat about her commitment to Bemidji State.
With the likes of Kelsey Dunn (Queen's), Mireille Kingsley (Ottawa) and Madison Laberge (Nipissing) graduating out of the U Sport ranks, the torch remains to be carried by those who are expected to be back with their teams this fall: Alexie Olivier (Guelph), Elizabeth Laberge (Nipissing) and Madison Hollohan (Windsor).
Given that there is no quick and easy way to track local post-secondary talent, I would ask that any omissions kindly be sent to my attention at info@sudburysports.com - thank you!!
