Lindenwood women's ice hockey head coach Vince O'Mara announced his recruiting class. Six freshmen and two transfers will join the Lady Lions for the 2012-13 season.
The two transfers are Jocelyn Slattery and Chelsea Witwicke.
Slattery, a forward, comes to Lindenwood from the University of Connecticut and she will be a junior next season. Over the last two seasons, she recorded 14 goals and 22 assists in 68 games for the Huskies. She is a native of Hugo, Minn. and was a three-time all-state performer at Centennial High School.
"We are very excited about Jocelyn,” said O'Mara. “She will come in as one of our top forwards and her experience is a big plus. We look for her to be a leader on the ice and in the gym. She is a smart, hardworking player with a scoring touch.”
Witwicke, a defenseman, transfers from Niagara University and she will also be a junior. She played 55 games for the Purple Eagles and recorded five assists. She is originally from Roseville, Minn. and was an all-state and all-conference player at Roseville High School. She helped her squad win the Class AA State Championship her senior season.
"We are also very excited about this signing,” said O'Mara. “Her skill and experience will have an instant impact on our team."
The six freshmen that recently signed for next season are Nicole Hensley, Lyndsay Kirkham, Brooke Peden, Rachel Weich, Kara Wendell, and Chloe Williams.
Hensley is a goaltender from Lakewood, Colo. and she most recently played for the Colorado Selects Under-19 program. Last season, she went 4-7-3 with a 3.62 goals against average and a .902 save percentage.
"Nicole brings an impressive academic and playing resume to Lindenwood," said O'Mara. "She has all the tools needed to be successful at this level. With hard work this off season, we are looking for her to come in and compete for the starting position next season."
Kirkham is a forward from Cranbrook, British Columbia. Last season, she played for the Edge School of the JWHL and collected 18 goals and 22 assists in 51 games. She has also played for Medicine Hat in the AMMFHL and led that team in scoring.
“Lyndsay is another smart player,” said O'Mara. “She had nice numbers over the past couple seasons, and will bring size and strength for us. She is a well-balanced forward that is a team-first student-athlete, and will fit in really well with our team."
Peden is a defenseman from Minburn, Alberta. She played a key role for the AMMFHL and Provincial Champion Edmonton Thunder last season. She recorded two goals and 14 assists on the season, including six assists in 10 playoff games.
“Brooke is a strong skating defenseman and she sees the ice well,” said O'Mara. “She will help in our improvement on the defensive side. As an incoming freshman, we are looking at her to earn a lot of ice time and be a strong addition to our blue line."
Weich is a defenseman from St. Charles, Mo. and she played for the National Sports Academy team. Last season, she appeared in 69 games and had six goals and 35 assists. She recorded three goals and 13 assists in league games in the JWHL.
“We are very happy to have Rachel joining the Lady Lions,” said O'Mara. “Her work ethic in the classroom and on the ice is second to none. With her commitment to an off-season workout program, we are looking for Rachel to come in next fall and add depth to our defense."
Wendell is from Champlin Park, Minn. and has the ability to play both forward and defense. At Champlin Park High School, she had 29 points in 25 games with 14 goals and 15 assists. She was also the captain of that program. She is a two-sport star and will also play lacrosse at Lindenwood.
“Kara has good size and speed,” said O'Mara. "Her versatility to play both forward and defenseman is a huge asset for her going into this season."
Williams is a defenseman from Littleton, Colo. and was a teammate of Hensley on the Colorado Selects Under-19 team. She was captain of that squad and had three goals and eight assists in 26 games.
“Chloe was a natural leader on and off the ice during her AAA years,” said O'Mara. “She is always in the right position and she is strong in her own zone. We are excited to see how she transitions here at the next level and elevates her game."
