X-Women goalie Katie Greenway to play pro hockey in Switzerland

ANTIGONISH, NS – X-Women hockey goaltender Katie Greenway recently wrapped up a four year career with the StFX X-Women, graduating with a Human Kinetics degree, but her hockey experience will continue as she recently signed a one year professional contract with the ZSC Zurich Lions in the Swiss A women's league.

The 5'11" netminder, who was a product of the Kitchener Jr Rangers, is looking forward to the experience commenting, "I researched multiple teams in Europe but when I spoke with Zurich, it seemed to be the best fit with what their program had to offer. The success of their team and also the location factored into my decision, I always have wanted to visit Switzerland."

The ZSC (Zurich Skating Club) was established 1930 with their female team forming in 1983. The group boasts the largest youth organization in the country with over 1000 players, and also the largest female hockey organization with three female teams (A, B, and recreation). The Zurich Lions have won the Swiss A title the past three years, and finished the last two seasons amidst the top four teams in Europe, placing fourth in 2013 and claiming silver in 2012.

A native of Guelph, Ont., Greenway is one of four international imports on the 2013-14 squad, joining players from the United States, Great Britain and Austria. The team will play mostly in Switzerland but will also travel for tournaments and exhibition games in neighboring European countries.

Greenway comments, "I think it is important for everyone to explore and experience different settings, and I am very excited to be able to do that while playing the sport I love at the same time. I am going in with no expectations except to embrace every opportunity and try new things while I am there."

While in Zurich, Greenway will have coaching and development roles in addition to her playing duties. She will be an assistant coach with the Lions B farm team, along with assisting in the development of the other 1-2 goaltenders on the A team. She will coach practices within the ZSC youth hockey system for both boys and girls, an area she is already well-experienced in as she was an assistant coach with the Antigonish midget girls and also coached novice girls skills sessions while at StFX.

This past season, Greenway helped lead the X-Women to an AUS title, posting a 2-0 record at the conference championship. She was in nets for two key wins at the CIS championship including a 3-2 overtime victory over Queen's which secured the X-Women the bronze medal. Her regular season record was 8-1-0 for the first place X-Women as she platooned the season with Kristy Garrow. Greenway's goals against average was 1.40, second overall in the AUS and she only allowed 14 goals against in 10 games played. Her .889 win percentage was second amongst AUS goalies and she posted a .926 save percentage.

In addition to her on-ice achievements, Greenway was a co-recipient of the 2013 StFX Female Community X-Cellence award, presented at the year-end athletics awards gala. The award recognizes outstanding community initiative and involvement, volunteer experience and extra-curricular contributions outside of the varsity and academic experiences.

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