Woodland takes on Hockey Canada role while awaiting shot in PWHL

“I’ve had some really good experiences. I’ve had some not-so-great experiences. To bring all those experiences in to make sure athletes are heard and making sure the future generation of female athletes are heard and get the best opportunities possible is most important to me.”

The committee will advocate for Hockey Canada high-performance athletes across men’s, women’s and para hockey, meeting quarterly with mandate to make recommendations on issues that impact national team athletes.

Woodland said she will represent under-18 female athletes, noting programming, treatment in the off-season and preparation ahead of invitational camps are among issues of interest.

“Hearing from our athletes directly is critical to ensure that we are delivering the best possible experiences for our national teams and we cannot wait to learn from the eight representatives on this new committee throughout their terms,” Jonathan Goldbloom, chair of the Hockey Canada board of directors, said in a press release.

Woodland – a star during her tenure with the University of New Brunswick (UNB) Reds in the U Sports ranks – was passed over in the PWHL Draft last year and remains unsigned.

Only a handful of U Sports graduates have landed in the league, a circuit heavily populated by NCAA alumni.

“There are only six teams at this point,” Woodland said. “Being a goaltender is always hard. There are just less spots. I’m still training, still fighting, still not done. I’d love to be in the PWHL, especially next year if they decide to expand by two teams.

“I think a lot of people in B.C. have heard rumblings about Abbotsford [expansion], in particular. They’ve talked about Quebec City, some teams in the states, like Seattle. I’m not totally sure. Being a B.C. girl, I’d love to be in B.C. I’m just going to see where the wind blows.”

Woodland has been practising with the Junior A Kamloops Storm to stay sharp while waiting for her shot in the PWHL.

“I know a lot of those girls [in the PWHL],” she said. “I’ve competed alongside them for a few years now, especially going through university and the Team Canada national program. I definitely see myself there. Getting the opportunity is really important. It’s a goal of mine and I’ve yet to reach it.”

Woodland helped the Reds win three consecutive Atlantic University Sport titles and was named the U Sports women’s hockey player of the year for 2022-2023, with exploits during that campaign that earned her AUS MVP honours and runner-up for the U Sports Female Athlete of the Year Award.

She was named the Kamloops Sports Council female athlete of the year for 2023.

The standout netminder graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in recreation sports studies and a minor in media, arts and culture.

Woodland has donned the Maple Leaf on multiple occasions and backstopped Canada to gold at the 2023 Winter World University Games in Lake Placid, New York.

“I’m in love with the game of hockey,” Woodland said. “I think wherever it will take me, I’ll go in that direction. I’m going to wait and see what comes about with the PWHL, but the options aren’t scarce in Europe, so we’ll see how that pans out.”

by Marty Hastings

Woodland takes on Hockey Canada role while awaiting shot in PWHL

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