(FREDERICTON, NB) Kendra Woodland and Jenna MacLean, of the REDS women’s hockey team, have been named to the Canadian team that will compete at the 2023 FISU Winter World University Games, in Lake Placid, New York.
The pair will join 20 other student-athletes, selected from all four U SPORTS conferences, for the event which takes place January 12 through 22.
“It means so much to be a part of this team,” said Woodland. “Every time I get to pull on a maple leaf to represent my country is an honour.”
Woodland is no stranger to representing Canada.
In 2018, she was part of Canada’s bronze medal winning team at the U-18 women’s world championship, in Russia.
Earlier this year, she participated in the national women’s team selection camp.
“My previous international experience will be an asset,” said Woodland. “I think leading by example is a strong suit of mine, so to be able to have that experience to share will make this tournament a lot of fun to compete in.”
The Atlantic University Sport women’s hockey Rookie of the Year in 2018-19, Woodland is a two-time 1st Team conference all-star and was an AUS 2nd Team all-star in another year.
Now in her fourth competitive season with the REDS, Woodland has appeared in 68 regular season games, earning a 37-29 record with a 1.67 career goals against average and a .942 career save percentage.
MacLean, named the Top Defensive Player in the AUS last season, is a three-time conference all-star too.
“It means a lot to me to be selected for this team,” said MacLean. “Being able to wear the maple leaf is a Canadian hockey player's dream and being able to represent UNB while doing so is an honour.”
Like Woodland, MacLean is also in her fourth competitive season with the REDS, recording 10 goals and 41 assists in 91 regular season games.
“I think that starting the year strong in the preseason tournament in Montreal was my first step in being recognized by coaches making this FISU roster,” said MacLean. “I think, for me, the biggest thing was to not think about making it or not, and just stick to playing my game and doing what I could to help my team get off to the start we did.”
“We are thrilled with the level of talent that makes up our roster,” said Greg Bowles, head coach of Team Canada and head coach of the women’s hockey team at the University of Ottawa. “There were very few ‘easy’ decisions as the level of talent across U SPORTS has never been better, and it certainly has never been deeper.”
REDS’ head coach Sarah Hilworth and associate coach Kyle MacDonald will join Bowles’ coaching staff for the Games.
“Having four representatives at the FISU Games shows the amazing work that is going into our program,” said MacLean. “We’ve set goals this season and are working every day to meet those. In the five years since returning, our program has developed a strong winning identity. For the future of the program, having coaches and players recognized on this level will only continue to put UNB women's hockey on the map, and as a senior player, I want to do whatever I can to set the program up for success in the future.”
The Canadian women open their Winter Games schedule on January 11th when they face Slovakia. Team Canada will also play round-robin games against Czechia, Japan, Great Britain, and the host Americans.
The women’s hockey semi-finals will be played on January 20th and the final on January 21st.