Alberta Pandas ice hockey

Alberta Pandas ice hockey
Alberta Pandas athletic logo
UniversityUniversity of Alberta
ConferenceCanada West
Head coachDarren Bilawchuk
1st season, 31–11–0
ArenaClare Drake Arena
Edmonton, Alberta
ColorsGreen, Gold, and White
     
U Sports Tournament championships
2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017
Conference Tournament championships
1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2019, 2020

The Alberta Pandas ice hockey team represents the University of Alberta in the Canada West Universities Athletic Association of U Sports. The team was led by head coach Howie Draper from 1997 (the year the team joined U Sports) until 2023, when Draper left to become head coach of PWHL New York. The current head coach is Darren Bilawchuk. The program has won the most Canada West conference championships with 14 and the most U Sports national championships with eight.[1]

On January 25, 2011, it was announced that the 1999–2000 University of Alberta Pandas hockey team would be inducted into the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame.[2]

Early years

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In the era of the First World War, the University of Alberta formed men's ice hockey and women's ice hockey teams. The women's team played many community based teams. The University of Alberta played the Edmonton Monarchs in the Monarchs first ever game in 1918.[3] The city of Edmonton would organize women's ice hockey into three divisions in 1930: junior, intermediate and senior. The Edmonton Monarchs and the University of Alberta were the only teams that comprised the senior division.[4] In that same year, the University of Alberta would challenge the Edmonton Monarchs for the Alpine Cup. The Monarchs prevailed by a 1–0 score. By 1934, the University of Alberta was demoted to the intermediate division. In 1937, the University of Alberta competed for the Alpine Cup, contested at the Banff Winter Carnival. The club lost to the Calgary Avenue Grills team.[4]

U Sports

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On March 14, 2004, the Pandas won their third consecutive National Championship and their fourth in five years. The Pandas became the first team to win three consecutive championships which remains unmatched as of 2020.[5] The win came courtesy of a 2–0 tally over the Ottawa Gee-Gees. For the season, the Pandas went 20–0–0 in Canada West play, 7–0 in the postseason, and a 35–0–0 overall mark.[6] U Sports Player of the Year Danielle Bourgeois scored both goals in the game[7] as Alberta outshot Ottawa 45–14 overall. The game-winning goal was assisted by Canadian national team member Delaney Collins. With the triumph, the Pandas ran their undefeated streak against U Sports opponents to 81 games. During the streak, their last loss to a U Sports team was on October 13, 2001.[7]

On March 14, 2010, the Pandas won the Canadian Interuniversity Sport women's ice hockey championship which was their seventh title in the 13 years since the tournament's inception. In the gold-medal game, they defeated the McGill Martlets by a score of 2–0.[8] While the program did not have as much of a dominant national run in the next decade, the team managed to claim their eighth national championship in 2017 after once again defeating the Martlets in double overtime by a score of 2–1.[9] It was also the first time that the Pandas had won the National championship while not winning their conference championship in the same year.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada and financial reasons, the University of Alberta announced that the Pandas would not participate in the 2020–21 season, if one were to be held.[10] Former Pandas Hockey defender, Taylor Kezama, a 2017 U Sports National Champion, and a 2019 Canada West champion, was one of 18 former U Sports student-athletes announced among the inaugural participants of the U SPORTS Female Apprenticeship Coach Program.[11]

Year by year

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National Tournament champions Conference Champions
Season Coach Conf. Record Overall Postseason
1997–98 Howie Draper None 3–1–0 Fifth, CIAU tournament
1998–99 Howie Draper 4–1–1 20–8–3 Second, CIAU tournament
1999-00 Howie Draper 15–1–1 26–3–1 CIAU tournament champions
2000–01 Howie Draper 13–1–2 20–6–2 Did not qualify
2001–02 Howie Draper 16–0–0 33–1–0 CIS tournament champions
2002–03 Howie Draper 19–0–1 34–0–1 CIS tournament champions
2003–04 Howie Draper 20–0–0 35–0–0 CIS tournament champions
2004–05 Howie Draper 20–0–0 28–1–0 Second, CIS tournament
2005–06 Howie Draper 16–1–3 27–3–3 CIS tournament champions
2006–07 Howie Draper 21–3 33–4–1 CIS tournament champions
2007–08 Howie Draper 21–2–1 29–5–1 Fourth, CIS tournament
2008–09 Howie Draper 22–2 26–5 Did not qualify
2009–10 Howie Draper 23–1–0 33–1 CIS tournament champions
2010–11 Howie Draper 17–7 25–14 Fifth, CIS tournament
2011–12 Howie Draper 14–10 23–16 Fifth, CIS tournament
2012–13 Howie Draper 16–12 25–16 Did not qualify
2013–14 Howie Draper 20–8 23–11 Did not qualify
2014–15 Howie Draper 20–8 28–14 Eighth, CIS tournament
2015–16 Howie Draper 16–12 21–14 Did not qualify
2016–17 Howie Draper 21–7 36–9 U Sports tournament champions
2017–18 Howie Draper 19–9 27–12 Did not qualify
2018–19 Howie Draper 23–5 33–7 Fourth, U Sports tournament
2019–20 Howie Draper 20–8 28–10 Tournament cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.[12]
2020–21 Cancelled due financial reasons caused by the COVID-19 pandemic[10]
2021–22 Howie Draper 13–7 22–11 Did not qualify
2022–23 Howie Draper 21–7 28–12 Did not qualify
2023–24 Darren Bilawchuk (interim) 21–7 30–10 Did not qualify

Awards and honours

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U Sports honours

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  • Brodrick Trophy (U Sports Most Valuable Player): Lori Shupak (2002), Danielle Bourgeois (2004, 2005), Lindsay McAlpine (2007), Tarin Podloski (2009), Alex Poznikoff (2019)
  • U Sports Rookie of the Year: Danielle Bourgeois (2000), Madison Willan (2020)
  • Marion Hillard Award (Student-Athlete Community Service): Taryn Barry (2007), Janelle Froehler (2016)
  • Fox 40 U Sports Coach of the Year award: Howie Draper (2002, 2004, 2009, 2019)
  • Kirsten Chamberlin, U Sports Athlete of the Month, February 2020[13]

U Sports Tournament honours

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  • U Sports Championship Most Valuable Player: Danielle Bourgeois (2002, 2004), Tarin Podloski (2006), Lindsay McAlpine (2007), Stephanie Ramsay (2010), Lindsey Post (2017)

All-Canadian selections

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  • Danielle Bourgeois, 2003 CIS First Team All-Canadian
  • Judy Diduck, 2003 CIS Second Team All-Canadian
  • Lori Shupak, 2003 CIS Second Team All-Canadian
  • Danielle Bourgeois, 2004 CIS First Team All-Canadian
  • Delaney Collins, 2004 CIS First Team All-Canadian
  • Judy Diduck, 2004 CIS First Team All-Canadian
  • Kristen Hagg, 2006 CIS First Team All-Canadian
  • Tarin Podloski, 2006 CIS Second-Team All-Canadian
  • Lindsay McAlpine, 2007 CIS First Team All-Canadian[14]
  • Tarin Podloski, 2007 CIS Second Team All-Canadian
  • Rayanee Reeve, 2007 CIS Second Team All-Canadian
  • Nicole Pratt, 2010 All-CIS Second Team selection
  • Tarin Podloski, 2010 All-CIS Second Team selection[15]

All-Rookie Team selections

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  • Jessica Kampjes: 2012–13 USports All-Rookie Team[16]

Canada West honors

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Canada West All-Stars

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  • Autumn MacDougall, Forward, 2017–18 Canada West First-Team
  • Alex Poznikoff, Forward, 2017–18 Canada West First-Team[17]
  • Cayle Dillon, Defense, 2017–18 Canada West Second-Team
  • Taylor Kezama, Defense, 2017–18 Canada West Second-Team
  • Madison Willan, Forward, 2022–23 Canada West Second-Team

Canada West All-Rookie

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  • Abby Krzyzaniak, Defense, 2017–18 Canada West All-Rookie

Team MVP

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Season MVP
1997–98 Krysty Lorenz
1998–99 Lori Shupak
1999-00
2000–01		 Stacey McCullough
2001–02
2002–03
2003–04
2004–05		 Danielle Bourgeois
2005–06 Kristen Hagg
2006–07 Lindsay McAlpine
2007–08 Jennifer Newton
2008–09 Tarin Podloski
2009–10 Dana Vinge

University honours

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  • Kristen Haag: 2021 inductee – University of Alberta Sports Wall of Fame[18]

International

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Winter Universiade

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Olympians

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Player Event Result
Judy Diduck [23] Ice hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics Silver

Pandas in pro hockey

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= CWHL All-Star = NWHL All-Star = Clarkson Cup Champion = Isobel Cup Champion
Player Position Team(s) League(s) Years Titles
Megan Eady Melbourne Ice
SDE 		AWIHL
SDHL
Michala Jefferies Goaltender Sydney Sirens AWIHL 1
Autumn MacDougall Forward Buffalo Beauts NWHL
Lindsey Post Goaltender Calgary Inferno
SDE HF		 CWHL
SDHL		 4

Pandas selected in the CWHL Draft

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The following were selected in the 2010 CWHL Draft.[24]

Player Position Team Selection
Delaney Collins Defense Brampton Thunder #5

References

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  1. ^ "Pandas Hockey, Team History". Alberta Golden Bears and Pandas. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  2. ^ "99-00 hockey Pandas inducted into Hall of Fame". University of Alberta. January 25, 2011.
  3. ^ Women on Ice: The Early Years of Women's Hockey in Western Canada, Wayne Norton, p.136, Ronsdale Press, 2009, ISBN 978-1-55380-073-6
  4. ^ a b Women on Ice: The Early Years of Women's Hockey in Western Canada, Wayne Norton, p.140, Ronsdale Press, 2009, ISBN 978-1-55380-073-6
  5. ^ "History, Golden Path Trophy". U Sports. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  6. ^ http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/expressnews_template/article.cfm?id=5647[permanent dead link‍]
  7. ^ a b "Canadian University Sports". Archived from the original on March 29, 2012. Retrieved June 23, 2011.
  8. ^ "FINAL: CIS championship: Pandas put an end to Martlets 86-game winning streak with a 2–0 win". Canadian Interuniversity Sport. March 14, 2010. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  9. ^ "Kezama double OT winner gives Alberta 8th Golden Path National Championship". U Sports. March 19, 2017.
  10. ^ a b "Golden Bears and Pandas 2020–21 Season Update". University of Alberta. June 17, 2020.
  11. ^ "Taylor Kezama selected for U SPORTS Female Apprentice Coach Program". usports.ca/. March 8, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  12. ^ "U Sports hockey championships cancelled due to COVID-19 outbreak". Sportsnet. March 12, 2020.
  13. ^ "February 2020 — Kirsten Chamberlin". usports.ca/. March 20, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  14. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 29, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. ^ "CIS:CIS women's hockey: Laurier goalie Knox named player of the year". Archived from the original on October 28, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  16. ^ "McGill's Daoust named player of the year". presto-en.usports.ca. March 6, 2013. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  17. ^ Evan Daum, Canada West Communications (February 21, 2018). "WHKY: Top three dominate all-star and all-rookie voting". canadawest.org. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  18. ^ Slav Kornik (June 7, 2021). "University of Alberta Pandas hockey alum earns spot on Sports Wall of Fame". globalnews.ca. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  19. ^ "Canada West Universities Athletic Association – Canada West women's hockey trio making strides at Winter Universiade". Archived from the original on February 7, 2011. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  20. ^ "CAN Announces Women's Ice Hockey Team for Harbin". fisu.net. January 9, 2009. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  21. ^ "2015 Winter Universiade: CIS announces Canadian women's hockey roster". universitysport.prestosports.com. October 24, 2014. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  22. ^ "2017 Winter Universiade: Canadian women's hockey team announced". canadawest.org. October 7, 2016. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  23. ^ "Judy Diduck Player Profile". Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2010.
  24. ^ "Draft – CWHL – Canadian Women's Hockey League". Archived from the original on December 28, 2010. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
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