Chatham-Kent’s Top Women’s Hockey Prospects: Offseason

In this edition of CKSN’s Top Women’s Hockey Prospects, we count down the Top 15 Chatham-Kent prospects. With the variables that come with the offseason, this list is bound to change drastically over the next few months.

At the bottom, you’ll also find a watch list, which includes prospects who didn’t make our list. While this list is not exhaustive, it’s a starting point for our summer, and early season reports.

The major changes for this list mostly came from players making, or not making, PWHL and ‘AA’ level teams. As well, we’d like to congratulate Sydney Authier who has graduated from our list after committing to Ryerson Univeristy.

We’ll complete a summer update, and another early in the Fall. For now, here is your end of season prospects list.

15. Lauren Edwards – Chatham Midget ‘AA’ – 2000 – Ridgetown – To our own fault, Edwards was omitted from our lists last season, but that won’t happen this year. She had a strong developmental year with the Kent Fillies Bantam BB, helping them to a provincial bronze medal, while also playing with the Ridgetown Royals high school squad. One of the few minor players to grab a spot on the Chatham Outlaws Midget ‘AA’ team, she’ll have the chance for another big developmental year in 2015-2016. The rest of her Fillies squad from last year, including goalie Mirandee Hunter, and others such as Kelsea Ellis and Hailey Johnson, could be finding their way onto this list soon.

14. Payton Sabourin – Chatham Bantam ‘AA’ – 2001 – Chatham – Much like Kirsten Horney ahead of her, Sabourin represents a strong group Bantam ‘AA’ players all fighting for this spot on the list. Youngsters such as Emma Doom and Cassie Whiteye will push her for this spot. Sabourin is a tenacious forward, who is dedicated to her off ice fitness. Watch for a big season out of the younger Sabourin on this list.

13. Mikayla Demaiter – Sarnia Midget ‘AA’ – 2000 – Chatham – In the goaltending log jam that is Chatham, Demaiter stepped outside the box to grab a coveted Midget ‘AA’ roster spot as a first year player in Sarnia. She backstopped the CKSS girls team last season. Demaiter is reflexively quick, and always working on her game. Already mentioned once on this list, but goaltender Mirandee Hunter is one year younger, and waiting to emerge, and secure her spot on this list too; proving Chatham-Kent is developing young female netminders with considerable success.

12. Kirsten Horney – Chatham Bantam ‘AA’ – 2001 – Chatham – Horney highlights an extremely strong crop of 2001 blueliners who will suit up for the Bantam ‘AA’ Outlaws this season. Alison Stephens, Hunter Gagner, and Sydney Hachey will make pitches for this list when the season opens. For now, it’s Horney, who is a strong puckhandler, and the best skater out of the bunch, who emerges.

11. Megan Morehouse – Chatham Midget ‘AA’ – 1999 – Dresden – Down our list a few notches, not because of poor play, but because of youth emerging. Morehouse remains one of the top 1999 born players in the area. She’ll see more playing time this year with the Chatham Midget ‘AA’ and with a diversified offensive attack, to build on a toe drag that embarrasses unsuspecting defenders, Morehouse will be an offensive force.

10. Madison Lalonde – Chatham Midget ‘AA’ – 1998 – Blenheim – Lalonde’s play at the high school and midget level last season warranted a move up our list, but her decision to stay in Midget, and with her future path expected to take her to an Ontario college, she slid down several spots. Should Lalonde choose a Canadian University instead of college, she would be a pleasant surprise to any OUA coach.

9. Taylor Lockwood – Southwest Wildcats (PWHL) – 1999 – Chatham – One of the fastest, and smoothest skating players around, Lockwood will be a dangerous scorer. Aggressive, the undersized forward needs to harness that energy in adverse situations. She already has University interest, as her skating is elite. Lockwood chose to sign with the Southwest Wildcats in the PWHL. While the team may struggle this season, the league is the most heavily scouted, and recruited loop in Ontario.

8. Jesse McPherson – Chatham Bantam ‘AA’ – 2002 – Chatham – She’ll backstop the Bantam ‘AA’ Outlaws this season as a Minor Bantam. McPherson has spent her entire life playing against boys, and now, in her first solo season of girls hockey, the competition will (unfortunately for them) face a rested netminder. One of the best in not just Chatham-Kent, but Ontario, age is the only obstacle for McPherson at this point.

7. Audra Vanroboys – Ridley College, CISAA – 2000 – Thamesville – A relative unknown to us last season, Vanroboys makes the jump onto our list after much conversation with coaches in the CISAA. One of few 2000 players to skate with Ridley College last year, Vanroboys not only played, but contributed offensively scoring 30 points in 51 games, being described as having gifted hands and vision. She will climb this list, and is potential scholarship material, drawing attention from schools already following her grade 9 year.

6. Sydney Sabourin – Chatham Midget ‘AA’ – 1999 – Chatham – This is Sabourin’s season to shine. She had a strong second half last year, and can break open games when she wants to. Doing that consistently will propel her into a bigger role, in a better league, next season.

5. Lauren Nicholson – Chatham Midget ‘AA’ – 1998 – Dresden – Nicholson should be in the PWHL, but chose to stay with Chatham’s Midget ‘AA’ team again this year. That choice will limit her University options. A strong student and bullish player, Nicholson will still have several OUA options by seasons end.

4. Emma Gorski – Chatham Midget ‘AA’ – 2001 – Wallaceburg – Spending another summer backstopping the West Coast Selects in Europe, Gorski uses her size, positioning, and poise, to frustrate shooters. Her opportunity to play Midget ‘AA’ as a Bantam indicates the next stop, next season, should be the PWHL.

3. Kaitlyn Isaac – Sarnia Midget ‘AA’ – 2001 – Walpole Island – Made the jump into Midget ‘AA’ despite being Bantam aged. Also headed to Europe for another summer with the West Coast Selects, and was a member of Team Ontario at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships. While you could guess that’s why she rocketed up our list, it’s actually her skating and puck skills that have her moving up. Next stop, PWHL.

2. Sydnee Baker – London Devilettes (PWHL) – 1998 – Chatham – Baker got better as last season progressed. She’ll be counted on to produce in London this year. Expect a University commitment from the big bodied forward early in the New Year, if not sooner.

1. Katreena Whiteye – London Devilettes (PWHL) – 1999 – Moraviantown – By seasons end, Whiteye could be one of the PWHL’s top scorers, and committed to a post secondary program. Yes, she’s only entering grade 11, but yes, she’s that good.

List Alumni – Meredith Goldhawk (Windsor Lancers, OUA), Zoe Ellis (Windsor Lancers, OUA), Rachael Tricker (Fanshawe Falcons, OCCCR), Sydney Authier (Ryerson Rams, OUA)

Watch List – Cassie Whiteye, Shayna Daly, Mikayla Demaiter, Hailey Johnson, Carly Mungar, Alex Mungar, Madison Findlater, Halle Crane, Jillian Crane, Alison Stephens, Mirandee Hunter, Renae Nevills, Emma Doom, Hunter Gagner, Sydney Hachey, Elizabeth Vanderveeken, Corinna Vandenboorn, Amber Lumley, Kerri Carneiro, Brooke Anderson, Kelsea Ellis, Rachel Benn.