CALGARY - It's an exciting time for women's hockey at the University of Calgary. Embarking on the 2011-12 season, in their third season back in CIS competition, the Dinos are looking at one of their most experienced rosters ever, with many veteran players on the roster along with some high-profile recruits with previous international experience.

The Dinos optn the season this weekend with a home-and-home series against the Alberta Pandas, beginning Friday night at Father David Bauer Arena - their new permanent home. Face-off is 7 p.m.

Leading the way for a second season is Hayley Wickenheiser, the returning CIS player of the year and one of CIS' Top 8 Academic All-Canadians. Wickenheiser made national headlines when she joined the team last year, then put up an impressive 17 goals, 40 points, and a plus-22 rating in just 15 games with the team last season. To complement her unquestioned leader, head coach Danielle Goyette has assembled a solid supporting cast that will look to compete for a conference title and a trip to the CIS championship this year.

“This year we will have a core group of players in their fourth year, many of which will be strong leaders on our team,” said Goyette, who will be entering her fifth season at the helm of the squad.

Notable absences for the squad will be the loss of fifth-year captain Cait O'Hara and assistant captains Beccy Niehaus and Shannon Davidson due to graduation.

A major recruit for the Dinos this fall is forward Iya Gavrilova, a member of the Russian senior national team. Gavrilova has been a national team member since 2003, and her offensive abilities will be a great addition to the squad.

“She has had experience playing at an international level and already has a strong skill set that she can bring to our team,” commented Goyette.

Gavrilova represented Russia at both the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics and spent the 2007-08 season with the University of Minnesota-Duluth, scoring 41 points in 26 games. Most recently, she had a brief stint with the Minnesota Whitecaps of the Western Women's Hockey League.

Stephanie Ramsay, a redshirt in 2010-11 after transferring from the University of Alberta, has the ability to make a big impact on the team. Ramsay was the MVP of the 2010 CIS championship, which she won with the Pandas, was the 2009 Canada West rookie of the year and a second-team All-Canadian, and won gold with Team Canada at the Winter Universiade in Harbin, China in 2009.

A native of Charlottetown, P.E.I., Ramsay graduated from the National Sport School in Calgary and played three seasons with the Calgary Oval X-Treme of the Western Women's Hockey League.

“She has the talent to be one of the best defensemen in the league,” said Goyette. “She can bring a lot of offense to the team, and can get the puck out of the zone which is a key to a team's success.”

Rounding out the recruiting class are F Bronwyn Stevens, F Alex Gowie, D Stephanie Zvonkovic, and D Sarah Astle.

Another key returnee for the team is goaltender Amanda Tapp, who was a Canada West all-star last season after posting a 1.64 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage.

“Amanda brings a lot of stability and experience as a goalie, for us to contend for a CIS championship we need a strong goalie and she brings that to our team,” said Goyette.

The Dinos have had a strong start to the year, boasting a preseason record of 6-0.

“We have the team that we will need to be successful, we just have to play the kind of hockey that we are able to,” said Goyette. “Our expectation as a program is to get better every year and our goal as a coaching staff is to get the most out of every player and if we can achieve that we will have a successful year.”

-UC-