by Lee Menard
the Carillon

Expectations are running high in the U of R Cougars women hockey dressing room this year.

Coach Sarah Howland says the team's only goal is to win the Canada West conference.

The players agree adding "The improvement [will be] amazing [over last year]," and "We have a chance. . . honest."

The team will be aided with the help of 10 new faces, including three new goalies.

"All three goaltenders are capable of playing," says Coach Howland.

Other new faces that are looking to impact the team are defencemen Erin Belfour, Joelle Fiddler, and forward Julie Foster who brings over 25 years experience to the team.

When asked what teams the players are looking forward to playing, two names consistently came up.

The U of S, and the U of Alberta.

The University of Alberta won the Canada West championship last year, and lost the CIAU final to Concordia.

The team wants to "test their strength " against the U of A says Stacy Nokaneshnee, one of the leaders of last year's team.

When asked what she expects to do for the team this this year, she said she would continue to "be a leader, and do [the] job offensively. It'll be close, it'll be fun, fans should come out, it'll be a great time."