X-Women ready for 07/08 run

By Glenn MacDonald, Sports Reporter, The Chronicle-Herald\r\n\r\nOct 16, 2007 - The St. Francis Xavier X-Women hockey team could learn from the past but the 2006-07 AUS regular season champions would rather forget last year.\r\n\r\nStFX was the class of university women�۪s hockey. The two-time defending AUS champs posted 17 wins in 20 regular-season games, scored a conference-high 106 goals and allowed a league-low 29.\r\n\r\nBut the X-Women were stunned in the AUS playoffs. The No. 4 St. Thomas Tommies, behind goalie Emily Hobbs, knocked off top-ranked StFX 3-2 in semifinal action. St. Thomas finished 15 points behind X in the standings.\r\n\r\nVeteran forward Brayden Ferguson, for one, said she would rather forget about the playoff shocker and not use it as motivation this season. Her motif is to wipe the slate clean.\r\n\r\n"We said right from the beginning of this (school) year that it�۪s a new season and we�۪re not going to think about last year whatsoever," said the fourth-year forward, who scored 17 goals and 31 points last season. "The chemistry is different this year. The style of play has changed. Our team goals are focused on this year. We�۪re not living in the past."\r\n\r\nFerguson, a second-team all-star last season, said the makeup of this season�۪s squad could help erase their woeful playoff memory.\r\n\r\n"Everyone has taken on a leadership role and it just doesn�۪t fall on the player with the ���C�۪ or ���A�۪ on their sweater," said Ferguson, who still holds the conference record of 30 goals in a season (2005-06). "Even the rookies talk a lot and give their opinions. They�۪re not afraid of anything. But our goal is the same: to win a championship. And we�۪re going to be a great contender."\r\n\r\nFerguson has said this season will likely be her last, but won�۪t rule out coming back for a fifth campaign.\r\n\r\nStFX will host the 2009 CIS championship and the lure of playing in the national tournament has Ferguson leaving the door open for a return.\r\n\r\n"I would like to come back for a fifth year if it works out," Ferguson said.\r\n\r\n"The (CIS championship) is a push for me to come back. But I�۪ll be playing like this is my final year."\r\n\r\nThe puck drops on a new season Thursday night when Mount Allison hosts defending conference champion Moncton.\r\n\r\nDalhousie, Saint Mary�۪s and St. Francis Xavier all open at home on Saturday afternoon. Here�۪s a glance at Nova Scotia�۪s three AUS women�۪s hockey teams:\r\n\r\nStFX X-Women (17-2-1, first in the conference) ��� Head coach David Synishin likes what he sees.\r\n\r\n"They took the summer as a time to reflect on the way the season ended last year," Synishin said. "It was a long summer for most of us but they have come back in great condition."\r\n\r\nThree rookies are expected to play a prominent role: Antigonish native Catie Gavin, blue-liner Suzanne Fenerty of Cole Harbour and forward Carolyn Campbell of Ottawa.\r\n\r\nFerguson, Amanda Church and Christina Davis will be expected to cover the loss of talented forwards Candice Ernst and Rebecca Davies.\r\n\r\nSaint Mary�۪s Huskies (16-3-2, third) ��� SMU�۪s strength this season could lie in goal with fourth-year Danielle Brunet and sophomore Jillian MacIsaac.\r\n\r\n"That�۪s probably the deepest position on our team," head coach Lisa Jordan said. "Both goalies are capable of being stars in this league."\r\n\r\nThe Huskies have taken a hit with the losses of Melinda Kaye, Lindsay MacInnis, Joyce Spruyt and Whitney Halloran, putting onus on high-scoring forwards Courtney Schriver, Kori Cheverie and Zoe Launcelott.\r\n\r\nDalhousie Tigers (8-11-2, fifth) ��� Dal will have eight rookies in their lineup.\r\n\r\n"We are still pretty young but we have a lot more skill this year," bench boss Lesley Jordan said.\r\n\r\nJayne Knowles, who red-shirted last year, and veterans Leah Merkley and Kim Carcary will lead the charge. Merkley suffered a concussion playing ultimate Frisbee during the off-season but has been cleared to play this week.\r\n\r\nKristen Ladouceur led Dal to a berth in the 2006 CIS tournament and is solid.