Woodland, a 23-year-old Kamloopsian, was among four finalists for the Lois Mitchell Trophy, presented annually to the U Sports female athlete of the year
Kendra Woodland has been recognized with a series of trophies and awards after an outstanding season between the pipes, the goaltender’s fourth campaign stopping pucks for the University of New Brunswick Reds.
“It means a lot,” Woodland said. “I went into the season hoping I would get a community service award, give back to my community and to my team, ultimately.
“I came out with a bunch of individual ones, which I think is a massive testament to the development of our team and culture over at UNB.”
Woodland, a 23-year-old Kamloopsian, was among four finalists for the Lois Mitchell Trophy, presented annually to the U Sports female athlete of the year.
Sarah Gates, a basketball player from McMaster University, won the award. Each of the nominees were given a commemorative gold ring from Baron.
Woodland led the nation with a save percentage of .960 through the U Sports regular season — helping her team to a first-place finish in Atlantic University Sport conference standings — and was named the Atlantic conference’s most valuable player.
“It’s been phenomenal to be in one place for so long,” Woodland said. “It’s very similar to what would be a junior player for the Kamloops Blazers, being so loyal to a program and really enjoying the staff and building the culture.”
Woodland continued her dominant play in the AUS playoffs, finishing with a league-leading .952 save percentage and backstopping the Reds to their second consecutive conference title.
She was named AUS Championship MVP for her efforts and was later honoured with the Brodrick Trophy, handed to the U Sports women’s hockey player of the year.
Woodland, who was named AUS female athlete of the year, is a four-time AUS conference all-star and was named a U Sports first team all-Canadian for the first time this season.
“I hope I can crack the national team squad at some point, but just hoping to finish out my university career in my last year and make it the best year,” Woodland said.
Woodland was also honoured with the Colin B. MacKay Shield this season as UNB’s female athlete of the year.
“I’m super proud to be a Red,” Woodland said. “Especially with our program being basically cut in 2008 and brought back in 2018, and being able to be the guinea pigs for that first season and build the culture the way we wanted to build it.”