Shelley Coolidge understands that women in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) personify the term student-athlete.
“Balance,” the Carleton Ravens women’s hockey team head coach chuckled, is the biggest challenge her athletes face.
It’s a balancing act between completing a good education and competing on a national scale. And for women, professional opportunities post-graduation aren’t as abundant as they are for male athletes.
Melanie McKnight, who led the CIS in shootout goals and shootout game-winning goals this season, is now turning her full attention to teachers’ college to pursue her goal to become a high school teacher.
“I was not only given the privilege of playing the game I love every day, but have formed some of my most enduring friendships while here,” she said.
Along with McKnight, Sara Seiler, Kristen MacDonald, Kaila Lassaline, and Claudia Bergeron make up the largest graduating class the Ravens have seen in the past few years. McKnight and Coolidge agreed that a big gap has to be filled through effective recruiting.
The Ravens are losing a tremendously skilled player in Bergeron, who McKnight described as “offensively potent.” Bergeron has twice been named Ravens offensive player of the year. She was also the team’s rookie of the year in 2008-2009.
Graduating forwards Lassaline and MacDonald also leave a sizeable gap up front.
Graduating team captain Seiler has been a “role model” for the rest of the team throughout her entire stint as a Raven, Coolidge said. Born in Meibach, Germany, Seiler came to the program in 2007, fresh off an appearance at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.
Carleton offered her an opportunity to compete and train in the Canadian system as well as stay in school and study. Her stint with the German national team added a unique level of experience to the women’s hockey team. Coolidge said many athletes had a chance to “grow and learn” from Seiler during her five years as a Raven.
“How focused she needs to be is something that every student athlete can learn from,” she said.
“She’s got an offensive gift,” Coolidge added.
Although she admits it’s tough to say goodbye to the team, Seiler has a few more goals to accomplish with Team Germany. With the world championships being held in Ottawa next year and Olympic qualification tournaments upcoming — two goals she’s adamant about — Seiler’s far from calling it quits.
MacDonald, who will graduate from Carleton’s forensic sciences program, understands Coolidge’s concept of balance. This year, she was nominated for the Marion Hilliard Award, which recognizes academic, athletic, and community development.
“She’s left a legacy in the community based on what she’s done on behalf of Carleton,” Coolidge reflected.
As for the rest of her graduating class, “all five of those players, you can’t replace them,” she added.
But McKnight and Coolidge said they’re confident in what McKnight called the team’s “leadership core.”
Third-year forward Victoria Gouge, as well as defenders Blaire MacDonald, Stephanie Pourde and Erin Beaver will be expected to take on bigger roles next season.
“With the departure of Seil, KMac, Lass and Burg, this leaves big shoes to fill upfront, but also a great opportunity for returning players,” McKnight said. “The returning players have a fantastic leadership core and the Ravens will be a force to be reckoned with next year.”
