The University of Alberta Pandas sit at the top of the women’s hockey hierarchy in Edmonton. A formidable program with a history of excellence, the Pandas continue to delight and amaze fans of women’s hockey each year.
Profiles of a few more of these gifted athletes are below.
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Name: Taylor Kezama
Position: Defense
Height: 5’7”
Eligibility: 3rdYear
Jersey Number: 4
What is your favourite sports team or athlete? Tampa Bay Lightning
If you have a nickname, what is it? Zammer
What’s your current favourite song? Catch by Brett Young
Why did you choose the Pandas? Because of the culture the team had, the success they had, and the schooling.
What is your favourite summer sport? Lacrosse
What is your favourite type of book? Picture book
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Name: Kalaina Kozak
Position: Forward
Height: 5’7”
Eligibility: 1st Year
Jersey Number: 14
What is your favourite sports team or athlete? Edmonton Oilers
If you have a nickname, what is it? Koz
What’s your current favourite song? Always changes but I’d have to say Humility by the Gorillaz.
Why did you choose the Pandas? Great coaching and team atmosphere.
What is your favourite summer sport? Waterskiiing
What is your favourite type of book? Honestly all of them! But I do really enjoy historical fiction.
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Name: Alex Poznikoff
Position: Forward
Height: 5’2”
Eligibility: 4th Year
Jersey Number: 16
What is your favourite sports team or athlete? Edmonton Oilers and Kelly Buchberger is my favourite athlete.
If you have a nickname, what is it? Poz or Pozy
What’s your current favourite song? Nashville by Taylor-Rae
Why did you choose the Pandas? Because of their culture; to be a part of a team so special in my hometown is more than I could have ever imagined.
What is your favourite summer sport? Wake surfing and skim boarding
What is your favourite type of book? National Geographic
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Name: Chelsea Dearsley
Position: Forward
Height: 5’5”
Eligibility: 3rd Year
Jersey Number: 26
What is your favourite sports team or athlete? Winnipeg Jets
If you have a nickname, what is it? The coaches’ nickname for me is Dears.
What’s your current favourite song? Make you Mine by High Valley.
Why did you choose the Pandas? I’ve always wanted to go out west for school, and when I came for my visit at the U of A I was amazed by the legacy of the Pandas and knew I wanted to be a part of it.
What is your favourite summer sport? Softball
What is your favourite type of book? Romance
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Name: Kalista Senger
Position: Defense
Height: 5’7”
Eligibility: 2nd Year
Jersey Number: 28
What is your favourite sports team or athlete? Favourite NHL team is the Edmonton Oilers
If you have a nickname, what is it? Kal
What’s your current favourite song? Like Gold - Vance Joy
Why did you choose the Pandas? U of A has always had a great reputation, schooling and athletics, also just felt like the right fit.
What is your favourite summer sport? Volleyball or football
What is your favourite type of book? Autobiography, or fictional
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ame: Danielle Hardy
Position: Forward
Height: 6’0”
Eligibility: 4th Year
Jersey Number: 73
What is your favourite sports team or athlete? Jonathan Toews
If you have a nickname, what is it? Dani
What’s your current favourite song? GIRL - Maren Morris
Why did you choose the Pandas? The reputation of being a national team program and the team culture.
What is your favourite summer sport? Lacrosse
What is your favourite type of book? Romance and autobiographies
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Name: Kennedy Ganser
Position: Forward
Height: 5’3”
Eligibility: 3rd Year
Jersey Number: 77
What is your favourite sports team or athlete? Edmonton Oilers
If you have a nickname, what is it? Gans
What’s your current favourite song? Ride of Your Life by John Gregory
Why did you choose the Pandas? I chose the Pandas because we are a team first mentality and everyone cares about the success of the team as well as each other.
What is your favourite summer sport? Baseball
What is your favourite type of book? I don’t generally read books, however if I do it is a sports book.
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Name: Erica Nelson
Position: Forward
Height: 5’7”
Eligibility: 3rd Year
Jersey Number: 88
What is your favourite sports team or athlete? Calgary Flames
If you have a nickname, what is it? Nelly
What’s your current favourite song? What We’re Made Of by The Washboard Union
Why did you choose the Pandas? I chose the Pandas because I had heard great things about the program, wanted to play at a high level, and get a great education.
What is your favourite summer sport? Golf
What is your favourite type of book? Memoirs or true stories
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Name: Jaslin Sawatzky
Position: Forward
Height: 5’5”
Eligibility: 3rd Year
Jersey Number: 91
What is your favourite sports team or athlete? I don’t typically follow any sports, not even hockey (guilty). So I will just go with the safe answer and say Edmonton Oilers.
If you have a nickname, what is it? Everyone calls me Jas.
What’s your current favourite song? My favourite song at the moment is probably Saturday Nights by Khalid.
Why did you choose the Pandas? When I was offered a spot on the Pandas, it was a no brainer for me to accept. The Pandas hold a long-standing legacy in women’s hockey and to be even a small part of something that incredible is truly an honour and privilege.
What is your favourite summer sport? My favourite summer sport is waterskiing.
What is your favourite type of book? I am a sucker for a good romance novel but I also really like mysteries.
The Pandas play Lethbridge on the road this coming weekend and then welcome Calgary for a home and home contest. Tied with the University of Manitoba Bison at the top of the Canada West Standings with 53 points, the Pandas look more than prepared to have an excellent post season!