CALGARY – Months after winning the program's first-ever Canada West and CIS championships, the University of Calgary Dinos women's hockey team has a target squarely on their collective backs as they open their defence in 2012-13.

It's banner raising night Friday at Father David Bauer Arena – and the Dinos will honour the 2011-12 CIS championship team prior to the 7 p.m. puck drop against the Lethbridge Pronghorns.

The unanimous choice among Canada West coaches to finish first in the standings, the Dinos are a talented, deep squad that returns virtually the entire roster from last March's national championship victory at Clare Drake Arena in Edmonton. And for sixth-year head coach Danielle Goyette, the idea of being the hunted is something her team will need to adapt to quickly.

“The last couple of years, teams wanted to beat us because we have Hayley (Wickenheiser) on the team,” said Goyette, who was part of the coaching staff that won another world title for Canada last spring. “Now that we have won a championship, they will want to beat us not just because of Wick, but because we've won a championship.

“It's pressure, but it's good pressure – the players like it, and it's my job to make sure they can deal with it. It's a good challenge for us. The players are working hard, and they know that if we're going to be successful it's going to involve them working day after day and not taking any days off.”

The Dinos had seven of the top 18 scorers in Canada West last season – all of them returning – and all 10 of their top scorers from a year ago are back on the roster. Leading the way again, of course, is Hayley Wickenheiser, who put up 46 points in 23 games last season, 14 of which came in the seven playoff and CIS championship games. Wickenheiser is joined by a solid supporting cast including fellow all-Canadian and blueliner Stephanie Ramsay, Russian phenom Iya Gavrilova, forwards Elana Lovell and Tanya Morgan, and defenceman Melissa Zubick.

In goal, CIS championship MVP Amanda Tapp returns for her fourth year. Add to that a solid recruiting class including forward Heather Berzins along with blueliners Daniella Calogheros, Megan Grenon, and Kelsie Lang, and the squad has depth at all positions.

“We have a good mix,” said Goyette. “Last year we played some games with three lines, but this year we have more depth and I'll be able to play four lines all the time. Yes, we have a lot of veterans and experience, but we have some younger second- and third-year players who have been there and had that experience as well. When you have a taste like that, you just want more, and it motivated the players to train harder this summer.”

The Dinos' preseason schedule took them to southern Ontario for a grueling tour that featured four games in four days, all of them wins – including a 7-1 triumph over perennial powerhouse Wilfrid Laurier. In those four games, Calgary outscored the opposition 21-2.

“Those were teams we had never played before, and we didn't know what to expect,” said Goyette. “We came back with four wins, but we know we didn't play our best hockey – and that's a good thing.”

Goyette fully expects the competition to be that much stiffer when conference play gets underway, thanks to the depth and talent level of the Canada West conference.

“In Canada West, if you don't play your best game it's rare you have a chance to win,” she said. “You never know what will happen when you step on the ice – and you want to play the best so you know where you are. You can't ask for a better conference than what we have here in the west.”

Calgary enters this weekend's season-opening series with Lethbridge on an 18-game win streak in contests that count – a streak they'll look to extend to 20 when the puck drops Friday night at Father David Bauer Arena.

2012-13 University of Calgary Dinos Women's Hockey
Key returnees: F Hayley Wickenheiser, G Amanda Tapp, F Iya Gavrilova, D Stephanie Ramsay
Key departures: F Casey Irving
Key additions: F Heather Berzins, D Daniella Calogheros, D Megan Grenon, D Kelsie Lang,

2011-12 Regular Season Record: 20-4-0
2011-12 Regular Season Standings: 1st
2012 CW Playoff Record: 4-0
2012 CIS Championship Record: 3-0
Last CW Championship: 2012
Last CIS Championship: 2012

-UC-