A Carleton University women’s hockey player was nominated to a rookie team Feb. 25 after a long season of improvement.
First-year criminology student and Ravens women’s hockey player Robyn Belland was named to the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) rookie team. The team is composed of first-year players who show exceptional improvement and promise.
Belland said she had a great year filled with firsts.
“I played all 20 games, I never had an injury, and so it was really good. I got my first goal playing against Ottawa U, and it was a game-winner goal,” she said. “To play hockey this year for Carleton was amazing.”
Two players are chosen for the honorary team from the categories of forward, defence, and goalie. The players are nominated by their coaches, but are voted on by other coaches in the league.
Ravens head coach Pierre Alain said Belland exemplifies what it means to be a Raven.
“She brought a lot of leadership. We think she’s a very mature player and a very mature young woman, and we are very happy to have her for the next few years,” Alain said.
Going forward, Belland said she wants to improve her skills and become a force to be reckoned with.
“Some goals for next year would be definitely to get stronger . . . get faster and do everything a little quicker, and be someone . . . a forward is nervous to take me on one-on-one,” she said.
Alain said Belland is the team’s most improved player, and really deserves this honour for her hard work.
“She is our most improved player, she came along pretty well this year,” Alain said. “She started as our sixth D, and ended up in our top two, we’re very pleased with her effort and her improvement this year.”
