Fenerty leaves lasting impression on X-Women hockey program

When asked for a brief description on the type of player and person the now former X-Women hockey captain, Suzanne Fenerty was during her five years at StFX University, X-Women head coach David Synishin wasted little time in his response. “Game changer,” Synishin stated without hesitation.

“As soon as she arrived here on campus in her first year, she set herself aside from the pack immediately. She was the epitome of how a student-athlete should conduct themselves both on and off the ice and she will be somebody we will really miss.”

Fenerty, a native of Cole Harbour, NS, says her affection for the game of hockey developed on the streets with her brother at a very young age. “I remember just running around with my brother and his friends and having a blast out there, that is my earliest memory of how it all started,” says the CIS All-Canadian defender. “My mom then put me in a power skating course and I began in Timbits minor hockey, and have loved the game ever since.”

In the hockey starved small town of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, a place where one of the best hockey players in the world, Sidney Crosby, calls home, it seemed only fitting that she join her brother and take up hockey. “It was fitting, but I was also hesitant at first,” commented Fenerty.

“When I started out there were not very many girls playing the game, and I ended up playing boys hockey all the way up to Bantam AAA. After that season I made the switch to girl’s hockey in grade nine.”

Fast-forward a few years later and Fenerty was faced with one of the biggest decisions in her life, choosing a university to attend. Suzanne was looking for a university that fit both her academic and athletic needs and StFX seemed to fit the bill. “The tradition of the school, the small town community and the beautiful campus, X was a place that was really hard to turn down. Add to that the amazing reputation the hockey program had and the academic program I wanted to take, it was all just too much to pass up.”

Fenerty’s lasting impression on the X-Women goes much further than just goals and assists, though. After closing out her five AUS regular seasons from 2007 to 2012 with a very respectable 80 points, the three-time StFX captain also received numerous accolades throughout her career.

Suzanne earned the nod as an AUS second team all-star and all-rookie in 2007-08, she was an AUS first team all-star in 2009-2010, then followed up as both an AUS first team all-star and CIS first team all-Canadian in her final two seasons with the blue and white in both 2010-11 and 2011-12. When the X-Women took home a CIS silver medal from the 2011 national championship, Suzanne was named to the CIS tournament all-star team for her efforts on the ice.

In addition to her athletic talents, Fenerty has been recognized for her sportsmanship throughout her five year career. In the 2009-10 season she won the AUS most sportsmanlike Pplayer award, and prior to that she was singled out at the both the 2008 and 2009 CIS national championships as the tournament’s fair play award winner.

Though the offensive and defensive skill sets were prevalent every time she stepped onto the ice, Fenerty’s best intangible may have been her leadership, as she was named the captain of the team in only her third year and provided a helping hand and steadying influence to the young X-Women she mentored.

“That was a huge honor to be named the captain in only my third year,” comments Fenerty.  “So many tremendous athletes have worn the ‘C’ before me, so to be able to follow in their footsteps was a tremendous feeling.”

One of the young X-Women Suzanne has strongly influenced is second year all-Canadian forward Alex Normore, who was the CIS leading scorer in 2011-12. “She was an unbelievable mentor to me,” comments Normore. “She always had a team first attitude and worked so hard in practices and games to set an example for us. Suzanne took any negatives and turned them into positive learning experiences. I couldn’t ask for a better captain,” says the 2011 CIS rookie of the year.

Looking back on her career, Fenerty notes her development as a player and a person improved leaps and bounds year after year at StFX. “The experiences, both bad and good, that you go through as a player and a person were really rewarding.”

“The biggest goal of the coaching staff at X is they want to see development. They want you to improve year after year on little things on and off the ice. As a player, it’s extra special to be a part of a program that cares about your well-being, and strives to make you both a more dependable player and person.”

Fenerty has lived through the X-Women hockey experience, and knows how many great opportunities the women’s hockey team offers. The former rearguard has extremely high praise for the program and would encourage any female midget hockey player to seriously consider the program at StFX.

“This is a program that embraces development and challenges,” says the Nova Scotia native. “The X-Women have such a great history and reputation that it just gravitates you toward the school. The team atmosphere as well as the welcoming coaching staff is something you will notice right away, and ultimately there is nothing more satisfying than being a part of a program that wants to win.”

“The memories I have gained from playing X-Women hockey are great memories I will never forget, and its combination of athletics and academics are second to none.”

To nobody’s surprise, Suzanne envisions her future filled with sporting opportunities. She intends on packing her bags and heading to Toronto with hopes of enrolling in a sport marketing program while also hoping to embark on a coaching career. “Nothing is set in stone yet but if everything works out, that seems to be the plan,” Fenerty notes.

“Coaching is something I have thought about for a while now and I think it would be a real honor to give back all the things I have learned throughout my career to the younger generations.”

And her former coach at StFX believes Suzanne’s transition from playing to coaching will be effortless. “Without a doubt,” Synishin claims emphatically. “Suzanne is such a mature young lady who is very focused. Her combination of leadership and work ethic will serve her great in the coaching circles, and a lot of young people would benefit from her knowledge of the game and experience.”

A mutual respect between player and coach that stretches past the ice surface, Suzanne Fenerty leaves StFX as a pioneer in women’s hockey with a limitless future.