SCHENECTADY, NY -- The Union women's ice hockey team will have six new faces for the 2009-10 season as third year head coach
Claudia Asano announced her incoming class Wednesday. The group consists of four forwards, one defenseman and one goaltender.
Nicole Bartlett,
Katie Faucher,
Rhianna Kurio,
Alana Marcinko,
Emma Rambo and
Jeannie Sabourin will all garner the Garnet and White next season.
“This is a solid class,” Asano said. “It's going to fill some holes and add some depth to our team. They are going to have to learn pretty quickly what Division I hockey is all about, but I have faith that they will adjust nicely. “
Bartlett, a native of Methuen, MA, comes to Union after playing four years and 104 games for Lawrence Academy. In three of her four seasons, she helped the Spartans two 20 or more wins, including 22 during her freshmen and senior year. Last season, she was named team captain.
“Nicole is a little forward with great hand,” Asano said. “She is very quick and speedy and will be an offensive threat.”
A resident of Jefferson, MA, Faucher captained Tabor Academy during the 2008-09 season. A four-year member of the Seawolves, Faucher also participated in field hockey and was a captain her senior year.
“Katie is a defenseman with the ability to be in the line up,” Asano said. “She is very quick skater, who steps up into the play and has a great shot.”
Kurio, a Calgary, Alberta native, attended Central Memorial High School while compete for the Bow River Bruins of the Alberta Major Midget Female Hockey League. She finished second on her team and ninth in the league with 32 points behind 15 goals and 16 assists. An assistant captain in 2008-09, she was named an AMMFHL All-Star and was awarded the AMMFHL Most Sportsmanlike Player.
“Rhianna is a quick forward with solid skill,” Asano said. “She is a great skater with good hands, so I look for her to be able to put the puck in the net.”
Marcinko, a goaltender from Altoona, PA, comes to Union after attending Gilmour Academy near Cleveland, OH. She served as an assistant captain in 2008-09 and also participated in varsity soccer and lacrosse.
“Alana is a goalie, so there will be two goaltenders vying for the starting position,” Asano said. “Technically she is very sound. It's going to come down to how fast she gets acclimated with this level.”
Rambo, a native of Joliet, IL, helped lead the Chicago Mission to the U-19 National Championship in 2008 and a second-place finish in the same event in 2009. Rambo recently graduated from Joliet Catholic Academy. She's played on her high school boy's hockey team -- the only female in school history to earn a boys varsity letter and did so as a freshman. She is the first ever hockey player from her school to go on to play Division I, men or women.
“Emma will be great for us,” Asano said. “I anticipate she will have a great season for us and will play pretty consistently.”
A resident of Clyde, Alberta, Sabourin played three seasons for Athol Murray College of Notre Dame. In 2007-08 she helped lead the Hounds to a first-place finish with a 25-3-0 record. Sabourin scored eight goals and added 17 helpers that season. Her team also claimed the league title in 2006-07, while he potted nine goals and had 17 assists.
“Jeannie is a good little player,” Asano said. “She is very quick and has a great shot and could have an impact.”
The Dutchwomen open the 2009-10 campaign on Saturday, Oct. 3 at Northeastern at 2 p.m.
