Two Lakers women hockey players earn OUA Rookie honours

There is no doubt that the success of the Nipissing Lakers women’s hockey team was a complete team effort – from their goalies, through their defence and up to their forwards.

A solid combination of veterans to lead by example and rookies to come in and provide instant impact was the recipe for the second year program, that qualified for the playoffs for the first time and gave one of the country’s top teams all they could handle in Round 1.

Two of the Lakers rookies, although it could have been even more, were rewarded for their outstanding seasons, as Kaley Tienhaara and Zosia Davis were both named to the OUA All-Rookie Teams.

It’s the second year in a row the Lakers have had two players – a forward and defenceman – recognized by the league for their impressive freshmen campaigns.

Tienhaara, a native of Thunder Bay, ON, came to the Lakers with teammates Sam Strassburger and Bronwyn Bolduc, who had great years as well.

Tienhaara led the team in assists with 13 and was tied for the team lead in points with Strassburger, as both recorded 20.

Tienhaara tied for 13th in the league in points and tied for fifth in assists.

She had a six game point streak to start her season and career, recoding eight points in that stretch, helping the Lakers get off to a strong start.

She had eight games throughout the season where she recorded at least two points, including a streak of back-to-back games in November and four straight games in January.

She scored her first and second career OUA goals in Nov. 15 against York and finished with seven on the season – tied for second on the team.

Her three power play goals also tied her for first on the team.

The other Lakers player honoured was Davis, a smooth skating offensive blue-liner with a big shot and the ability to control the game.

She finished with three goals and eight assists, good for 11 points – fourth in the Lakers and first among defencemen.

The Cobden, ON native sat eighth in the OUA in scoring from defence.

She recorded her first goal and assist in the same game – the third of the season – as she was in on both Lakers goals in a 5-2 loss to Laurier.

She scored twice on Nov. 8 against Laurentian and chipped in with a number of other assists throughout the season.

After her two goal game, she added an assist in each of the next two games, giving her four points in three games in November.

She also recorded back-to-back point games in early January.

Both players were huge parts of their team’s success and should be a big part of the team’s core moving forward.