All smiles.
Kendra Woodland is back in Kamloops after her first season in the PWHL with the Ottawa Charge.
She signed as a free-agent back in November last year after accepting a try-out with the team.
The 26 year-old was – for the most part – a 3rd string goaltender for the Charge behind veteran Gwyneth Phillips and Finnish draft selection Sanni Ahola. Still, it didn’t deter her from enjoying the professional game.
“I didn’t know playing hockey could be this much fun,” beamed Woodland as she awaited her flight back home this week.
“Obviously I didn’t play as much as I’m used to, but wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Woodland made one appearance in relief, playing in a game in Minnesota in March where she stopped 14 of 16 shots.
“To be able to get my foot in the door, sit on the bench for some games, a chance to play a little bit… I think I can say it was a pretty successful year for me.”
Woodland represented Kamloops and the Blazers on several of her walk-ins
The Charge advanced all the way to the Walter Cup Final before losing to the Montreal Victoire is the best-of-five championship series. The Charge went 17-12-1 in the 30 game regular season.
The former USports star at the University of New Brunswick will now be home for the summer where she will face some uncertainty. She is again a free agent after making a reported $40,000 USD in Ottawa. The league is also expanding into four new markets for next season in Las Vegas, San Jose, Hamilton and Detroit. She has the potential to be signed through the expansion process but will wait to see how it plays out.
“Every team is allowed to protect three players (for the expansion process). That leaves a lot of us in the same boat as being potential free-agents and navigating the process.
As for what she’ll remember most from her first year in the PWHL?
“Just the team we had. We had such a great group of people. Now, obviously with expansion knowing that the group will never be the same again.”
