Titans join women’s high school hockey league

TCI team looking to compete with Hire Division’s best

By: Sheldon Birnie Posted: 2:21 PM CDT Friday, Nov. 1, 2019

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This article was published 01/11/2019 (2513 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There’s a new kid on the Winnipeg Women’s High School Hockey League block this season.

The Transcona Collegiate Titans are the latest team from northeast Winnipeg to join the growing high school league’s Hire Marketing Division.

Last season, the Murdoch MacKay Clansmen joined the Collège Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau Canadiennes and Kildonan-East Reivers — who joined the league in 2017-18 and 2016-17, respectively — in the division. With the addition of TCI, all six high schools in northeast Winnipeg with hockey programs (which includes River East Collegiate and Miles Macdonell Collegiate) now ice both men’s and women’s hockey teams.

“There’s been growth in sport, a lot more girls are coming in to play hockey,” said Mike Sippola, TCI’s new head coach, who has coached Winnipeg East minor hockey for the past five years.

Five games into the 2019-20 season, the Titans are 2-3. Their four points put them in fifth place of the nine-team division at press time.

“The girls are coming together and getting the team aspect of the game,” Sippola said. “Everybody’s working together.”

With only one Grade 12 player, Sippola said that the bulk of Titans skaters are in either Grade 9 or 11.

“Three girls are new to hockey,” he explained. “We have two from ringette and the rest are experienced hockey players.”

With a fairly young squad, Sippola said there has been a period of adjustment.

“The girls new to hockey are making big strides,” he said. “Our goalie (Jenna Eori) is stopping a lot of pucks. Hopefully by Christmas, we’ll turn another corner and start challenging a lot of the top teams.”

Goaltending and speed have been strong suits for the Titans early on in the season, Sippola added.

“A couple of our experienced girls are strong skaters,” he said. “And the effort level has been high, and the enthusiasm in the games.”

Chris Roulston, who manages the team with his wife Sandee, said the drive to get a women’s hockey team together at TCI was driven by a dedicated group of students, which included his daughter Kennedy, a Grade 9 forward.

“We’re a pretty balanced team,” said Roulston, who is also acting as ice convener at Transcona East End Arena, which the Park City’s six high school hockey teams (boys and girls) all call home.

With nearly 20 games remaining in the season, Sippola said he is focused on fundamentals.

“I’m not so much worried about wins and losses, but we want to compete in every game,” he said. “My goal is to close the skill gap so they can really start working as a full team.”

There’s a new kid on the Winnipeg Women’s High School Hockey League block this season.

The Transcona Collegiate Titans are the latest team from northeast Winnipeg to join the growing high school league’s Hire Marketing Division. Last season, the Murdoch MacKay Clansmen joined the Collège Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau Canadiennes and Kildonan-East Reivers — who joined the league in 2017-18 and 2016-17, respectively — in the division.

Supplied photo
The Transcona Titans are the latest team to join the growing Winnipeg Women’s High School Hockey League this season. Head coach Mike Sippola said goaltender Jenna Eori has been “stopping a lot of pucks” for the new squad. — Supplied photo The Transcona Titans are the latest team to join the growing Winnipeg Women’s High School Hockey League this season. Head coach Mike Sippola said goaltender Jenna Eori has been “stopping a lot of pucks” for the new squad.

With the addition of TCI, all six high schools in northeast Winnipeg with hockey programs (which includes River East Collegiate and Miles Macdonell Collegiate) now ice both men’s and women’s hockey teams.