The Mount Royal University Cougars women's hockey team is set to begin another season in a competitive Canada West conference. With significant players departing the program, the Cougars welcome a new batch of players eager to leave their mark and collaborate with the existing core, which boasts an abundance of talent and experience. 

Tickets
Watch the Cougars live at Flames Community Arena by purchasing your tickets here. MRU students and employees receive free tickets to all home games.

Women's Hockey on Canada West TV – Powered by BioSteel
Every women's hockey game will be available live and on demand this season exclusively on Canada West TV – the official streaming home of the conference. To purchase your pass, click here.

2025-26 CW Women's Hockey Preseason Coaches Poll 
Team - Points (First-place votes)

1. UBC Thunderbirds - 67 (4)
2. Alberta Pandas - 59 (1)
3. Mount Royal Cougars - 56 (2)
4. Trinity Western Spartans - 49
5. Calgary Dinos - 48 (2)
6. Manitoba Bisons - 39
7. Regina Cougars - 35
8. Saskatchewan Huskies - 27
9. MacEwan Griffins - 16

2024-25 CW Regular Season Record:
18-5-5

2024-25 CW Regular Season Division Placement:
3rd overall

2024-25 Post-Season Performance: 
Won 2-0 vs. Regina in best-of-three CW Quarter-Final series 
Lost 2-1 vs. Alberta in best-of-three CW Semi-Final series

2025-26 Season Opener
October 3, 2025 vs. Saskatchewan Huskies

2025-26 Home Opener
October 3, 2025 vs. Saskatchewan Huskies

Head Coach / # season / Career CW reg. season record:
Scott Rivett: 17th season, 151-154-34

Last U SPORTS Championship / Total U SPORTS Championships: 
2022-23 / 1 total U SPORTS Championship

2024-25 CW regular season ranks: Offence
74 goals, 2nd overall

2024-25 CW regular season ranks: Defence
47 goals against, 3rd overall

2024-25 CW regular season ranks: Special Teams
Powerplay %: 15.2%, 3rd overall
Penalty Kill%: 89.4%, 4th overall

2024-25 CW regular season leaders: Goals (Returning)
8 – Jerzey Watteyne

2024-25 CW regular season leaders: Assists (Returning)
12 – Summer Fomradas

2024-25 CW regular season leaders: Points (Returning)
15 – Summer Fomradas

2024-25 CW regular season leaders: Wins (Goalies)
3 – Scout Anderson

2024-25 CW regular season leaders: Shutouts (Goalies)
2 – Scout Anderson

Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team)
Isa MacPhee / Defence / 1st year / Kingsboro, PEI / Stanstead College Varsity
Keyana Bert / Forward / 1st year /  Desert Blume, AB / SAHA U18 Prep
Elyse Denbow / Goaltender / 1st year / Plumas, MB / Central Plains Capitals
Jenn Shaw / Forward / 4th year / Calgary, AB / York University Lions
Jaselyn Hojnocki / Defence / 1st year / Okotoks, AB / Calgary Edge School U18 Prep
Kirby Gray / Forward / 1st year / Elkhorn, MB / Yellowhead Chiefs AAA

Key Departures (Name / position / hometown / years with program)
Aliya Jomha / Forward / Edmonton, AB / 4 years
Kaitlyn Ross / Goaltender / Redcliff, AB / 5 years
Athena Hauck / Forward / Grande Prairie, AB / 5 years
Alex Spence / Defence / Lloydminster, AB / 4 years
Lyndsey Janes / Forward / Fort McMurray, AB / 5 years

Key Performer: Summer Fomradas
After taking a big step in 2024-25, Summer Fomradas will be a focal point of the Cougars' blueline. Fomradas excelled in a more offensive role in her second season at MRU and will be tasked with leading the defence core as she enters her third year.

Fomradas led all Canada West defenders in assists with 12 and ranked third overall on the Cougars in points with 15. Along with her progression offensively, the Lethbridge, Alta. blueliner remains one of the best shutdown defencemen in the league. 

Season Preview
It's hard to imagine the MRU women's hockey team without Kaitlyn Ross between the pipes. But for the first time in half a decade, that is the reality for the team. Ross, along with fellow standout graduates Aliya Jomha, Athena Hauck and Alex Spence, have departed the Cougars. It is officially a new era at Mount Royal.

Despite the roster losses, the Cougars are still one of the best teams in the Canada West and are keen on returning to the conference championship and the national tournament after falling to Alberta in the semifinals last year. 

Leading the charge offensive is a mix of veterans and rookies. Fourth-year Kiana McNinch is set to assume the role of number one centre on the Cougars and can be expected to thrive. Sharpshooting winger Jerzey Watteyne continues to light the league on fire as one of the most dangerous scorers in the Canada West. Going into her first year of university hockey, Keyana Bert looks poised to make an immediate impact after a point per game season with SAHA U18 Prep last season.

Along with Fomradas, the Cougars have a diverse set of skilled defenders holding it down on the blueline. Jori Hansen-Young is known to have one of the most dangerous shots from the backend and has been a force on the powerplay. After a stellar rookie season, Breanne Comte is expected to take another step in a deep defensive core.

After backing up Kaitlyn Ross for the past three seasons, Scout Anderson will be seeing the crease a lot more this season. Anderson has been phenomenal in her games the past years, recording six shutouts in 17 career games. Kate Holan will share the crease with Anderson and is poised to excel in an expanded role. Last season, Holan went 3-0 with a 1.26 GAA and a .946 SV%. The duo has proven to be reliable and can be expected to be that and more in the 2025-26 season.

With the Alberta Pandas and UBC Thunderbirds expected to be top teams, along with MRU again, the Cougars have their work cut out, but there is no reason they can't compete for a title. Now in the East Division, MRU will see more of the prairie teams, starting with the Saskatchewan Huskies at Flames Community Arenas on October 3.