VANCOUVER – Building on a strong start to the 2012-13 season, the UBC Thunderbirds women's hockey team has signed two recruits for next year.
Stephanie Payne and Kathleen Cahoon will be suiting up for the T-Birds in 2013-14.
“We are very impressed with both of these student athletes on and off the ice,” said UBC head coach
Graham Thomas. “They are great students with hardworking, positive personalities who share similar competitive levels ensuring they are always striving to be their best. The Thunderbird family welcomes them both with open arms and look forward to having them as part of the program.”
Here's a look at the latest UBC commitments.
KATHLEEN CAHOON (6'1” forward, Calgary, AB)
Kathleen Cahoon has been selected to represent Team Alberta at the National Women's Under-18 Championship, which will begin later this week in Dawson Creek, B.C. She is currently playing for the Notre Dame Hounds of Wilcox, Sask. of the Junior Women's Hockey League. Cahoon has three goals and four assists in eight games so far this season.
“Kathleen Cahoon will be a great addition for us up front,” said Thomas. “Her size, speed, and physical play will have a positive impact on our team next year. Cahoon is defensively responsible and will be able to play in any situation for us. She also has the ability to contribute offensively, she uses her size to create space and offensive opportunities, she protects the puck well and has great finish around the net.”
In 2010, Cahoon was the Captain of the Alberta Winter Games Zone 8 team, which won silver at the event.
Last season, she played for the Calgary Midget AAA Bruins, scoring 28 points in the regular season and seven more in the playoffs. Cahoon was named to the Alberta Major Midget All-Star team.
STEPHANIE PAYNE (5'5” defenceman, Surrey, BC)
Stephanie Payne currently suits up for the Pacific Steelers in the Junior Women's Hockey League and, so far, has two goals and three assists in eight games played.
She has been selected to play for BC at the National Women's Under-18 Championship, beginning later this week in Dawson Creek.
“We are very excited with the addition of Stephanie Payne to our hockey program for next season,” said Thomas. “Payne is a mobile two way defenceman, who has the ability to move the puck and jump into the play to create offence. Her vision and play making abilities have the potential to be very valuable on the power play.”
Payne started playing boys hockey for Cloverdale Minor Hockey when she was six years old. She played Rep from Atom through Bantam and in 2010, moved over to join the Vancouver Fusion in the BC Female Midget AAA League. Payne was selected for the Major Midget All-Star team and won the Fastest Skater award in the All-Star Game.
From 2009 through 2012, she played for Team Pacific during the spring season, where she was assistant captain. The team travelled to Winnipeg, Montreal, and Toronto, bringing home first and second-place finishes.
In the 2009 U16 BC Cup in 100 Mile House, her team brought home a second-place finish and in the 2010 U16 BC Winter Games, Payne's squad brought home the top prize. She also played gold soccer for the Surrey Breakers until 2011, when she decided hang up her cleats and put more focus on her hockey development.
The UBC women's hockey team currently sits in third place in the Canada West standings with a record of 5-2-3. The Thunderbirds have a bye this weekend. In two weeks, they will fly to Winnipeg for two games against Manitoba.
The team will announce information on three additional recruits in the coming weeks.
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