With fresh faces and key returners, the Redeemer Royals Women's Basketball team sets sights on a historic season.
 
The team, led by Head Coach Jesse VanHouwelingen, had a strong finish to the pre-season schedule finishing with a pair of wins over the Loyalist Lancers and George Brown Huskies. Having only 3 returning players from the 2019-2020 season, VanHouwelingen is excited about his recruiting classes from 2020 and 2021 and is looking to "make some noise" in the OCAA West this season led by third-year guard Jessica Angelini (Hamilton, ON). Angelini will be looking to build on her OCAA West All-Star selection in the 2019/2020 season. With the addition of 4^th year Stephanie Findlay's (Oakville, ON) strong defensive play, the pair will make for a formidable dynamic duo.
 
The Royals also add 5^th year Maddison Cohoon (Brantford, ON), a previous rugby player from McMaster University. VanHouwelingen states, "she is the most athletic player I have ever coached and has instantly changed the intensity and work ethic of the team." She has already proven herself racking up a triple-double in exhibition play. Rookie Karyn TeBrake (Ottawa, ON) will also be coming in to her first season playing as Royal, looking to make an impact on both ends of the court.
 
"Our added depth of Olivia Torrie, Steffanie Blair, Janae Ambrose and Avery Cline will make our rotations tough to guard.  Injuries have sidelined a few of our major contributors in Jessica Wattel and Kayla Simmonds but that just means everyone else needs to step up. If we can play up to our potential, I think we can make some real noise this year. But with a shortened season anything can happen. The OCAA west is wide open this year and every game will be a battle. We are as ready as we can be, now it's time to execute."
 
The Royals will head to Brampton, ON Thursday night to take on the Sheridan Bruins at 6 pm. Be sure to catch the action on our livestream.