Golden Knights Welcome 10 Newcomers

Featuring top players from the United States, Canada and Europe, the incoming class for the Clarkson University Women's Hockey team should make a big impact for the Golden Knights in 2007-08. Entering its fifth year as an NCAA program, Clarkson will look to continue its progress by adding 10 new players to the mix. The Class of 2011 includes five forwards, three goaltenders, one defender and one defenseman/forward, and will help make up for the loss of the 12 graduated seniors.

The freshmen will join the Green and Gold's 11 returning players for the upcoming 35-game campaign. Guided by head coach Rick Seeley and assistants Shannon and Matt Desrosiers, the Knights open with an exhibition contest against Stoney Creek on September 29 at Cheel Arena and then begin the Division I schedule with a weekend series at home against Wayne State on October 5-6.

Here is a look at the incoming freshmen:

Lauren Dahm, Goaltender, Baldwinsville, New York; played for Syracuse Stars U19, leading them to their fourth NY State Hockey championship in five years. In 55 games she had a .949 save percentage while recording a 1.79 goals against average. With Syracuse she was U-16 National Champion in 2004, as well as runner up in 2005. Dahm is a multi-sport athlete, earning softball MVP and tennis all-star status at her high school. Dahm has also been a part of the National Honor Society for her junior and senior years. 

Rebecca Gordon, Forward, St Catharines, Ontario; captained the Stoney Creek Sabres. In 74 games she scored 35 points and was a +10 rating. The consummate leader, Gordon led her team to the Provincial Championship coming out of the ultra-competitive PWHL in Ontario. She has also been a consistent honor roll student and an Ontario Academic and Athletic scholar. 

Eve Grandmont-Berube, Goaltender, St. Charles de Drummond, Quebec; played last season at St. Laurent, a Cegep college in Montreal where current Golden Knight, Gen Lavoie, also played.  Last season she had a 1.79 goals against average and was named Cegep League Goalie of the year, and was a first team all-star. Grandmont-Berube led her team, while being massively out shot, in a 1-0 overtime loss against the eventual winners and undefeated Dawson College, in the Cegep play-off semi-finals. 

Laura Hart, Forward, Wheaton, Illinois; was captain at Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts.  Last season, Hart scored 18 goals and had nine assists as top-scorer for her team in the New England Prep School League. She received MVP honors for her team, and has been a regular participant at the USA development camp in Lake Placid. 

Daniel Murmes, Goaltender, Wellsley Massachusetts; played for Charles River U-19.  She was a 1st Team public school all-star, as well as captain, and MVP for her Wellesley H.S. team.  She was also on the Boston Herald All-Scholastic team and was the most valuable goaltender in the Baystate League. 

Caitlin Oleska, Forward, Battle Creek, Michigan; played for The Culver Academy in Indiana. Last year she led a strong Culver team in scoring with 11 goals and 11 assists. She was also named to the Indiana All-State Academic team for ice hockey.

Courtney Olson, Defense, Great Falls, Montana; was the top defenseman and captain at Warner Hockey School in Alberta. In an injury shortened season, Olson had four goals and 11 assists. She was also captain for Team Montana and has been a regular participant at the USA National development camps in Lake Placid.

Daris Tendler, Forward, Verwood, Saskatchewan; played for the Notre Dame in Wilcox Saskatchewan serving as a captain for the Hounds. In 22 games Tendler had 14 goals and 20 assists.  She also represented Team Saskatchewan, as an assistant captain, at the Canada Winter Games. She is truly a talented all-around athlete, earning MVP honors in both rugby and soccer, while taking home the Female Athlete of the Year  award at Notre Dame . 

Melissa Waldie, Forward, Aurora, Ontario; previously a teammate of current Golden Knight, Britney Selina, played for the provincial runner up Aurora Intermediate AA Panthers of the Ontario PWHL. In 30 games she had an exceptional 22 goals and 15 assists.  She was also a member of the gold medal winning Team Ontario at the Canada Winter Games.

Stefanie Wyss, Forward/Defense, Alleniveften, Switzerland; comes to Clarkson from the Swiss National program.  Wyss is a smooth skating defenseman with good offensive instincts. She recently played at the Women's World Championship in Winnipeg, playing forward while taking most of the team's important face-offs. Wyss had five goals and five assists in 20 games playing defense with her club team.