UOIT WOMEN'S HOCKEY

UOIT Ridgebacks Media Release
Monday, April 28, 2008

Pair of Toronto Aeros Alumni Set to Join Ridgebacks for 2008-08

Oshawa (OUA) – Head coach of the UOIT women’s hockey program Gary Pitcher is pleased to announce that forwards Nicole Pigeon and Breanne Hadley have committed to join the Ridgebacks for the 2008-09 season. Both players were members of the Toronto Aeros Intermediate AA hockey program, one of the top women’s minor hockey organizations in the country.

“Many of the top players in University hockey have played with the Toronto Aeros,” noted Pitcher. “We are delighted to have Nicole and Breanne in our lineup next season. They will defiantly be great additions to our program.”

Pigeon is coming off an excellent postseason with the Aeros where she averaged almost a point per game recording six points in seven contests. During the regular season, Pigeon scored ten goals and added nine assists in 32 games. Prior to joining the Aeros, the Scarborough native had a successful minor hockey career with the Willowdale Red Wings.



Pigeon was actively involved with high school athletics at Birchmount Park playing on the hockey and Rugby teams. “Nicole is an overall great athlete,” commented Pitcher. “She won the overall athlete of the year at her high school in three consecutive years while winning several team MVP awards. We expect that she will make an immediate impact in the OUA.”

Hadley, a native of Belleville, joined the Aeros last season after playing with the Perth Jr. Red Wings. With the Wings, Hadley demonstrated her offensive ability as she won the scoring title in 2006-07. Last year, she played in all 39 games for the Aeros, scoring seven goals and adding eleven assists. She is also no stranger to winning at the provincial level as her team managed to finish third at the 2003-04 Ontario Winter Games. At high school in grade nine, she was named her school’s athlete of the year in 2002-03.

When asked about the impact that the two players would make next season, Pitcher commented; “The addition of Nicole and Breanne provides us with an instant one-two scoring punch. They are both extremely gifted athletes which will not only complement out current roster, but more importantly solidify two more cornerstone players as we build our program.”

Ridgebacks assistant captain Jennifer Campitelli is just one of the many Toronto Aeros alumni playing university hockey across Canada and the United States. Several Aeros alumni have also gone on to participate with Hockey Canada’s women’s national program.

Both Pigeon and Hadley have accepted their offers into the popular Criminology program at UOIT for fall 2008. Fans of the Ridgebacks can expect to see more goals during the team’s second season in the OUA with the addition of the two offensive minded players.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott Dennis
Sports Information and Marketing Coordinator
Durham College and UOIT Athletics
905.721.2000 Ext. 2784
scott.dennis@dc-uoit.ca