As the puck dropped on a new season of Carleton Ravens women’s hockey, so starts the battle for the starting spot in net.
For the past five years, Katelyn Steele had been the starter on the team and a conference all-star. Now, returning goalies Alexandra Lehmann and Nieve Seeley – along with rookie Marie-Eve Cote – take over the crease.
Sporting their new uniforms against John Abbott College, the Ravens won their first preseason game 4-3 on Sept. 1 as Lehmann and Seeley split the playing time.
Carleton was outshot throughout the game (33-15) but Lehmann kept a shutout as her team jumped to a 3-0 lead with goals by rookie Hannah Unis-Thibault and returning players Megan Wilson and Jenna Mitchell.
As Seeley came in, John Abbott increased their strong play and soon tied the game at3-3. Fifth-year Carleton winger Hannah Dinovitzer scored the game winner late in the second period as Seeley made a number of crucial saves in the third to preserve the lead.
“She was way more busy than [Lehmann] was,” Ravens head coach Pierre Alain said. “But at the end of the day, both had good performances.”
Lehmann and Seeley both recognize the opportunity to see more minutes than they ever have at Carleton before. They’ve gotten to know each last year when Lehmann was a rookie and Seeley was in her second year.
Both players noted how they support each other and push each other at practices to compete. Seeley in particular noted there is a constant competitiveness.
“In goalie practice, if a goalie makes a save or a lot more saves, you’re going to want to make more saves,” Seeley said.
Despite having a challenge every practice, Lehmann explained that the players remain friends.
“It’s going to be a battle on ice, but off ice there’s no issues at all,” Lehmann added. “We all get along fine … we know it’s all a challenge for us.”
As a result, both players are working towards developing their skills in net to challenge the other this up coming season
Lehmann says she has been working on staying composed, being patient and switching to a more forward agile stance compared to being on her heels.
“It’s easier said than done,” Lehmann explained. “It’s finding the little skills and stuff that attribute to patience.”
“For example, staying forward on my toes makes me more patient because I feel I’m in a stance where I can get somewhere faster, which means I can wait before making a move,” she continued.
Seeley on the other hand has developed her own goaltending style while learning from former teammates. She’s learned mental toughness and competitiveness from Steele. She’s also worked with goalie coach Tom Dempsey, as well as the men’s team’s goalie coach Matt Jenkins over the summer. Their feedback differs, she said but works well together.
“You have an open conversation with goalie coaches about what works for you, what doesn’t work for you, and that kind of molds into how you play in a game and how your game is,” Seeley said.
Both goalies also come into the new season with hunger to play more games. Seeley played three regular season games last year while Lehmann played one so the competition is fueling up.
“Spending a lot of time in the gym this summer, really sick of lifting weights,” Lehmann said. “I just want to be back on the ice playing. Really looking forward to the season.”
“If [Lehmann] gets a game or [Cote] gets a game, they’ll get a game and I’ll support them, definitely,” Seeley added. “But I definitely want to play majority of the games.”
Feature image by Mike Gould
