Eight USports Players To Watch

USports hockey continues to produce talented women's hockey players across Canada. Here is a look at eight USports hockey players to watch this season.

Mount Royal University captured a national championship last season in USports. They ousted a number of top programs en route to the title. While USports is often looked at in a different light than the NCAA, the Canadian-wide University league is packed with talent.

Last year’s USports player of the year was University of New Brunswick netminder Kendra Woodland. Two other USports First Team All-Canadians were NCAA transfers in St. Francis Xavier players Lauren Dabrowski and Maggy Burbidge. Dabrowski ended up signing professionally with the Metropolitan Riveters, while other USports standouts including Audrey-Anne Veillette and Tatum Amy also signed in the PHF. Amy and Dabrowski headed to Europe, while Veillette remained in North America to test the PWHL waters.

With a new season on the horizon, here are six USports players to watch for 2023-2024.

Emma Bergesen, D, 23, Mount Royal Cougars - Winning a USports championship may not have happened if not for Bergesen’s play. Next year, she’ll have the chance to not only shine at the University level, but also on the World stage as Bergesen helped Norway earn promotion to the top division at the World Championships scoring five points in four games from the blueline, where she was named the tournament’s best defender. Named a First Team All-Canadian this year, Bergesen has a championship resume, which she’ll look to add to again next season.

Sydney Mercier, F, 19, Calgary Dinos - You could see Mercier’s confidence grow as the season progressed. As a rookie, she contributed 9 goals and 13 assists for 22 points in her first season, earning USports Rookie of the Year honors. Mercier plays a two-way game and was touted by her coaching staff for her dedication and work ethic in games and practices. That’s a recipe for an even bigger year two.

Leah Herrfort, F, 22, Waterloo Warriors - After spending a season and the cancelled pandemic year with Union College in the NCAA, Herrfort transferred home having played her minor hockey in nearby Cambridge. She immediately found success in Waterloo, including a breakout campaign scoring 15 goals and 35 points in 23 games this season. Herrfort emerged as one of the top Ontario scoring threats and was a USports First Team All-Canadian.

Émilie Lussier, F, 20, Concordia Stingers - Lussier is technically a first year player in USports, but has played three seasons of college hockey in Quebec with John Abbott College. She scored 28 goals and 52 points in 28 games for the John Abbott College Islanders, and added 24 points in 10 playoff games. Lussier also represented Canada at the U-18 World Championships prior to joining John Abbott. 

Elise Hugens, G, 21, UBC Thunderbirds - Hugens didn’t get a lot of love this season in Canada West, but her stats are eye popping. With multiple seasons of eligibility remaining, Hugens is an early favorite for USports Goalie of the Year honors. Last year, Hugens posted an incredible 1.05 GAA and .949 save percentage. She improved those numbers to 0.67 and .961 in the playoffs. Those numbers also included nine shutouts. Hugens is hard to beat and gives UBC a chance to win every night.

Emmy Fecteau, F, 24, Concordia Stingers - Emmy Fecteau could be playing professional hockey right now. When she graduates this year, the Second Team All-Canadian will certainly be a draft candidate for the PWHL, and seeing where players she's competed with have landed. Last season Fecteau was an assistant captain for Concordia scoring 32 points in 24 games. She also captained Canada to gold at the Universaide, and scored a point per game for Concordia in 2021-2022 helping them to a USports national title. As a mature player, Fecteau

Rylind MacKinnon, D, 23, UBC Thunderbirds - The only USports athlete invited to Hockey Canada's 46 player Fall national team selection camp, MacKinnon has been among Canada's invitees for multiple seasons now. MacKinnon used her 5-foot-10 frame to effectively contain opposing players and makes a good first pass. MacKinnon finds ways to contribute offensively, but does not do so at the expense of her defence.

Kendra Woodland, G, 23, New Brunswick Reds - The reigning USports Player of the Year is back for one more kick. Woodland has remained on Hockey Canada's radar representing Canada at the U-18 Worlds in 2018. Few netminders have consistently put up numbers like Woodland in USports hockey. Last year she had a 1.10 GAA and .962 save percentage in 17 games.