Between December 22nd and 23rd, Nipissing University announced 3 commitments for next season, and one commitment for the 2022 season.
Ashlyn Zaharia is a 5’9’ left-shot forward from Balmoral Hall who will join Nipissing in 2021. She picked up 18 points in 20 games last season and was noted by Neutral Zone as “a very intelligent player, working hard at both ends of the ice. Has slick hands and gets her hard shot off with a very quick release. She reads the play well to take direct routes to the puck.”
Emma Thomas from Wllmette, IL has been playing for Notre Dame Hounds and will head to Nipissing in 2021. She previously played for Chicago Mission where she was scouted by Neutral Zone. “She is a forward with size at 5’10”, Thomas controls the faceoff circle and gets pucks on goal. She is very defensively responsible, backchecking hard with an active stick and blocking shots, and is a strong penalty killer.”
Kamryn Grooms fits the height of this class at 5’9” and will bring that reach to the defensive side of Nipissing in 2021. She is from Ladysmith, BC and has played for Vancouver Island Seals, Shawnigan Lake School, and Pacific Steelers over the last 3 seasons. Grooms was scouted with the Pacific Steelers last season and was noted as being “a very fluid skater, carrying the puck out of her end and through the neutral zone with speed and poise. She has nice size and utilizes her long reach to take away lanes and contain opponents. A heads-up player who utilizes her D partner well. She has a hard accurate shot that gets through traffic with ease.”
To compliment the strong 2021 class, Nipissing will add Gwen Gillard in 2022. Gillard is a defender from Appleton, WI and was scouted by Neutral Zone while she was playing for the Little Caesars. Scouts say that Gillard has “good size and uses it to win the puck battles. She shows offensive skill with a hard, quick slapshot and a willingness to pinch low. She makes herself an option at the point and takes her space in on the PP.”