Believe it or not, I'm still here. 2020 was quite the year. I'll leave it at that and let's talk a little hockey. The Lakers introduced the current freshmen class back in the fall of 2019. For my sake, because I've been away and frankly detached from sports in general, let's run who through we got. There are seven freshmen and a transfer.
Grace Nelles - Grace is a forward and has Canada U18 experience, and is the most pedigreed of the freshmen. Her sister Sarah is a junior on the team already. Nelles hails from St. Ann's Ontario, Stoney Creek Sabres (PWHL).
Sarah Boucher - Boucher is a forward from Burlington Ontario, and played for the Oakville Hornets (PWHL).
Jersey Phillips - almost a local player, Phillips is from Cheektowaga, NY. Getting more and more Western New York players over the years, although the original Western New Yorker on the team, would be Coach Sisti himself, also from Cheektowaga. Phillips played for the Buffalo Regals (Tier 1).
Mary Kromer - another forward, another wester New Yorker, being from Angola NY. Interestingly, she played her hockey in the PWHL for the Stoney Creek Sabres.
Paige Whaley - Whaley is from Carlisle, Ontario (basically Hamilton) and played for the Etobicoke Junior Dolphins (PWHL).
Chantal Ste-Croix - Ste-Croix is the sixth and final forward of the group, from Brampton, ON and also played for the Junior Lakers...I mean the Stoney Creek Junior Sabres of the PWHL. For years, I have thought the Lakers had Stoney Creek pipeline, and have never felt it more than this year with three of seven freshmen being alums of that program. Other Lakers with Stoney Creek experience: Sarah Nelles, Alexa Vasko, Rachel Marmen, and Meagan Korzack.
Calista Rowbottom - Rowbottom is a D from Missouri, who played her high school hockey in Dallas. Have to think she is the first Missourian (is that right) on the team. I would not have guessed that Missouri kids would play their high school hockey in Texas, which might say something about my geography knowledge. Always gets me when I hear AZ kids played in Colorado too. Colorado, not as north as one might think.
The last newcomer is Ena Nystrom, a sophomore transfer from RPI, and who lives in Norway. Nystrom plays for the Norwegian National Team. She's a goalie and after playing for the mightily struggling RPI who went winless last year, Mercyhurst will be a whole different world for her.
So there you have it, 6 forwards, 1 defender and 1 goalie. 4 Canadians, 3 Americans and 1 Norwegian, and as always a PWHL heavy class (5 out of 8). The Lakers sit at 2-0 on this pandemic season, and have their next game scheduled for January 2nd, vs Adrian.
