Camryn Drever will look to lead between the pipes this season for the Huskies. (Huskie Athletics)

By Wray Morrison

Women's Hockey

Drever to take over goalie duties this season

Sep 6, 2021 | 9:59 PM

“It’s exciting.”

That is head coach Steve Kook’s reaction to the return to training camp for the 2021-22 University of Saskatchewan Huskies Women’s Hockey Team.

Following the cancellation of the 2020-21 season due to COVID-19, Kook said the energy when camp started on Aug. 31 was contagious.

With the pandemic lingering, Canada West teams will play in 20 conference games this season as opposed to 28.

“We originally thought we might start camp a little bit later and ease into things” Kook said. “They didn’t want to wait.”

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There will be a noticeable change with the team this season. With fifth year goaltender Jessica Vance of Prince Albert moving on to the University of Toronto to continue her studies, Kook will turn the duties over to Camryn Drever for the 2021-22 season. While this may be of some concern to fans, Kook is at ease with the transition.

“We are going to feel comfortable having Cam in net. We don’t step back too far at all”.

Drever, a product of Edmonton, has no shortage of big game experience. In the spring of 2017, she was named the top goaltender of the Esso Cup National Midget Championship while playing for the St. Albert Slash. Kook said Drever’s only challenge has been having to play behind Vance for the last three seasons.

Kook is putting emphasis on offense for the upcoming campaign, because of young defensive players. The Huskies only have two returning players on the back end.

“We will succeed if we can get more than two goals per game. We’ve always been number one in goals against. We’ve always been comfortable winning games 2-1,..maybe we win games 3-1, 4-2 from now on,” said Kook.

Bailee Bourassa, a fifth year forward and Abby Shirley, a fourth year forward, will be cornerstones offensively. The emergence of third year forwards such as Nicole Fry out of Calgary and Sophie Lalor out of Penticton will be important for the Huskies to generate pressure up front. Kook has seen players come in to their own in year three.

“For the first couple of years they want to get the puck off their stick and not make mistakes. Now they are in a position to let some of their natural abilities come through.”

Third year players will also have to take on an added leadership role with one of the best goaltenders in Canada West women’s hockey history moving on. Vance not only holds the conference record for best save percentage in a career, but is second in Canada West history in career shut outs.

Jessica Vance is moving on from the U of S to the University of Toronto this season. (Huskie Athletics)

Kook is happy to see Vance move on with her education even though he loses a veteran goaltender.

Vance will study physiotherapy in Toronto.

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