Pandas aren't alone anymore

How's this for a portrait of dominance in women's hockey:

Since 2000-01

G

W

L

Ol/T

Pt%

Alberta

154

140

7

7

93.2%

Regina

150

89

48

13

63.7%

Manitoba

146

67

66

11

50.3%

Saskatchewan

152

51

87

12

38.0%

Lethbridge

148

43

84

21

36.1%

UBC

146

34

102

10

26.7%

Calgary

28

2

23

2

11.1%


Let's just say Canada West has needed a little bit more competitiveness at the top end for a while, something they're finally getting with Manitoba's rise to 15-2-1 this season under coach Jon Rempel.

This is only Year 11 for women's hockey in CIS, and before 2000-01, there wasn't much of a real schedule to speak of. Canada West teams played only a handful of games before going to nationals, and the majority of coaches were of the part-time variety.

And the Alberta Pandas feasted on everybody, even at nationals.

"Howie runs a great program there – he designed a system where his young players play and they take an added role in the second, third, fourth and fifth years, and that's the way he sort of gravitates players to the program," Rempel said on Friday.

He also talked about the difference between having a part-time or full-time coach running a program. Rempel, now in his fourth year, is the first full-time women's hockey coach the University of Manitoba's ever had.

"It makes a huge difference, it really does. It just gives more legitimacy to your program, you recruit better, and it allows you to do more of the things that a coach should be doing in a university program. As a part-time coach, it's very difficult to make it all come together. That's been a big part of it."

In Canada West, Saskatchewan and Lethbridge still play with a part-time coach. The Calgary Dinos are coming back into CIS play next season after several years away and will have a full-timer at the helm.

Nationals this year begin March 7 in Ottawa, meaning our man Neate will be reporting live from every game.*

(*- I have no idea if that's true or not.)
Next PostNewer Post Previous PostOlder Post Home

0 comments:

Post a Comment