The 17-woman roster will be competing in a number of local and northern exhibition games, and out-of-town tournaments, travelling to Blaine,

Minnesota and Winnipeg, Manitoba in its first year of operation, with the intent of expanding the competitive schedule in coming years.

Naomi Abotossaway, SUCCI President, made the official announcement. “It is with great pleasure and excitement to announce the addition of women’s hockey to our sports lineup,” said Abotossaway. “The students and college community are very excited and look forward to supporting the team throughout their first season.”

Following the announcement, OntarioNewsNorth.com interviewed Thunderhawks Coach Marshall Erickson and Captain Amber Butler about what fans could expect in the first year, the level of players on the roster and more. [View team roster w/individual player photos; CLICK HERE.]Thunderhawks Head Coach Marshall Erickson has been working with management, SUCCI and volunteers since late fall-selecting the team, conducting practices and developing the competitive schedule for the coming season.“We will be travelling to the All American Women’s Tournament in Blaine, Minnesota, our first tournament of the season,” said Erickson. “I am very impressed with the depth of skill and experience these young women are bringing to the team and am very happy that we can provide young women, in our community and region, a venue in which to play competitive hockey while pursuing a post-secondary education.”

The Thunderhawks will play a number of in and out-of-town games and tournaments with the team’s culminating event being the Lieutenant-Governor’s Tournament at the MTS arena complex in Winnipeg, Manitoba in February.  The team is registered with the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA) and abides by all OWHA and Hockey Canada rules.

Women’s hockey adds to an existing sports lineup at Confederation College that includes men’s and women’s soccer and curling, cross-country running and golf.