Southwest Wildcats Want Chatham-Kent Talent
The Southwest Wildcats of the PWHL are hoping to not just attract Windsor-Essex talent, but to become a true Southwest team including Chatham-Kent talent – Photo by Devan Mighton Photography
Hitchcock, who has served as an assistant for the Wildcats in the past, is looking to truly create a Southwest team that will climb out of the PWHL’s basement, and compete with the league’s top teams. To do that, she realizes that attracting and developing Chatham-Kent talent will be crucial, and it’s a goal she hopes to begin working toward this offseason.
Just as a background on me, I played most of my minor hockey in LaSalle before moving to female hockey in Sun Parlour. I actually played for the Chatham Outlaws before the creation of the Jr. female hockey league. I have no hard feeling towards people who try to play for the team that they think is the best option for their daughter and family. For me it does not matter where the player is from or where they have played if they are one of the 17 best players I want them on our team.
“I see the Southwest Wildcats as a program that offers the opportunity for females from Southwestern Ontario to play at the highest level of hockey available for young women under the age of 21,” says Hitchcock, who was an All-American with the University of New Hampshire, leading the nation in scoring in 2005-2006.
“We do play out of Windsor but we are a team representing the entire area. We have had players in the past from Chatham, Ridgetown, Sarnia, Petrolia, and Leamington to name a few. The PWHL is a great stepping stone for young women to get to the next level.”
After her NCAA career, Hitchock continued her career in Switzerland before coaching at the NCAA level with Castleton State College and Neumann University before heading back to Windsor to join the Southwest Wildcats and the Extra Mile Hockey Academy.
While the team will remain tied to Windsor, Hitchock wants Chatham-Kent’s many women’s hockey prospects to know the opportunity is equal for all players, and that she welcomes an infusion of Chatham-Kent talent to her roster.
“The opportunity is the same for players from Chatham-Kent as it is for any player who tries out for the team.”
Once players crack the lineup, it’s Hitchcock’s goal to provide a quality program for girls hockey players in Southwestern Ontario, which will help them reach the next level.
“It is my goal to offer a program where young women can play hockey at the highest level,” says Hitchcock. “Obviously my goal is to produce a winning team out on the ice while helping to develop our players skills and training methods. Our program is ran like any other Junior hockey program, we hit the road by bus, have our own dressing room and hold the players to high expectations.”
“Competing at the highest level of competition only makes you a better player. We are a very visible program in terms of NCAA and CIS scouts. In the past we have also played exhibition games against these teams to help showcase our players at the highest level.”
“Not only are our players visible but I am committed to skill development and teaching the game. I believe players at all levels can learn and grow and in the practices and training we lay out there is a clear focus on developing the complete player.”
For Hitchcock and the Southwest Wildcats, who have extended invitations to several of Chatham-Kent’s top young players, it all begins in April as the team holds their training camp April 14, 16, and 18.
Player interested in trying out for the Wildcats are invited to contact Hitchock at jen.hitch@gmail.com, or visit the Southwest Wildcats website for more information.