Kamloops goalie set to make PWHL debut

A hockey player from Kamloops will be playing in the Professional Women’s Hockey League for the Ottawa Charge this season.

It is a big step in Kendra Woodland’s career as a goalie and makes her the first Kamloopsian and the first female hockey player attending the University of New Brunswick to make the league.

The Ottawa Charge of the PWHL announced its official roster on Nov. 20 ahead of the start of the 2024-25 season. Following training camp, the Charge signed the 25-year-old Kamloops goalie to a one-year Standard Player Agreement. She is one of 11 new players on the team, and one of three goalies playing this year.

Woodland is in Ottawa preparing for the team’s first game of the season Saturday, Nov. 22.

“I’ve dreamt of playing at this level for my whole life so it’s such a dream come true to have been able to compete for a spot with the Charge,” Woodland said in a message to iNFOnews.ca. “Playing with and against the best female hockey players in the world is absolutely amazing.

“Obviously, the rise of women’s sports is among us and I’m so grateful to be part of it in any capacity. Looking back at how far I’ve come is amazing, and I’m really looking forward to representing the growth of the game.”

Woodland was the goalie for the Reds women’s ice hockey program at the University of New Brunswick where she played from 2018-24. According to the UNB Reds, she’s the first UNB women’s hockey player to join the professional women’s league and “became the winningest goalie in program history, posting a 72-43 record.”

Woodland led the Reds to three straight Atlantic University Sport championships, was a First Team All-Canadian and the 2022-23 U SPORTS Player of the Year.

It’s the third season for the professional women’s hockey league that currently has eight teams from Canada and USA competing. The Ottawa Charge is starting the season with three home games, first against the New York Sirens on Saturday followed by a game against the Vancouver Goldeneyes on Nov. 26 and the Minnesota Frost on Dec. 2.

Woodland said the game Saturday is going to be electric.

“I’m so excited to experience it for the first time,” Woodland said.