Prospective Professional Women's Hockey goaltender Kendra Woodland/via Kamloops Blazers
Her goal: Play professional women’s hockey.
25 year-old Kamloops product Kendra Woodland is anticipating the PWHL Draft set for June 24th.
The growing league has expanded into Vancouver and Seattle for the fall.
That may provide her and others an opportunity to break into the league with the addition of two teams now to eight in total.
“It’s that community piece. You see Logan Stankoven play a game in Vancouver and the amount of people travelling to see him,” noted Woodland in conversation with Radio NL. “Having local players in the PWHL now play out west makes it easier for that community to watch. For me, I’ll go anywhere there’s an opportunity.”
Woodland was passed over in last year’s PWHL draft.
She spent part of this past season practicing with the Kamloops Storm of the KIJHL.
She says she’s been actively selling herself through video and packages to prospective PWHL teams.
“It was disappointing. Your goals and dreams are something you want to accomplish so quickly but sometimes it doesn’t work out,” lamented Woodland. “It really fired a drive in me to keep going and realize that fire isn’t out,” Woodland continued.
The 2023 USPORTS Women’s Hockey Player of the Year wrapped up a five year University career at the University of New Brunswick at the end of the 2023-24 season.
“Everyday is a tryout. You have to pitch yourself. Hopefully (a team) will grasp at something and give you a chance.”
