UdeM women's hockey squad in action tonight

D7

by dwayne tingley
times & transcript staff

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Université de Moncton Aigles Bleues are coming off a once-in-a-lifetime season in the Atlantic University Sport women's hockey conference.

They won the league title after an undefeated regular season and wound up finishing third at the Canadian championship tournament. It's a lot for this year's nine rookies to life up to, but Aigles Bleues coach Denis Ross has confidence in his roster.

Aigles Bleues, who have begun the regular season with a 2-1 record after going 3-3 in exhibition games, host the Dalhousie Tigers (2-2) tonight. Game time is 7 p.m. at the J-Louis Levesque Arena.

Aigles Bleues also visit the St. Francis Xavier X-Women (3-1) Sunday afternoon in Antigonish, N.S.

Mount Allison Mounties (0-4) visit the Saint Mary's Huskies (3-1) tomorrow night in Halifax.

Meanwhile, Ross said the Aigles have been working on improving their skating and their reaction times.

"This is a big step between high school and university and most of the rookies don't realize it," the third-year coach said.

"As the midget AAA program develops, we will have girls more ready to make the jump and they will obviously improve the game at university level. The calibre of all teams in the league has improved this year.

"So far I can see a team that as a lot more to offer and the desire to improve. They have the desire to represent the university, our fans across the province and in Greater Moncton."

Aigles Bleues have been hit hard by illness and the injury bug so far this season. One the ice, the coach will be looking for more consistency this week and improvements by the power play and penalty-killing units.

He's been impressed with the play of rookies Chantall Jaillet, a defenceman from St-Edouard who played in the NCAA for two years, Natalie Cormier, a defenceman from Memramcook who previously played midget AAA and at Mathieu-Martin High School and forward Elisa Savoie of McKendrick (Restigouche County), who played high school last year. All three have been improving every week, the coach said.