Women’s hockey Rookie of the Year
The University of Regina Women’s Cougars hockey team ended their 2024-2025 season with a loss to the Mount Royal University Cougars. But it was the first time the Women’s Cougars made it to a playoff run since the 2022 season.
Leadership from senior players and the talents of up-and-coming star rookies produced wins that got the team to the playoffs.
Jules Stokes, a first-year psychology student from Terrace, B.C., was explosive for the Cougars on the back end this season. With two goals, eight assists and a total of 10 points for the season, Stokes was a staple player for the Cougars’ blue line. Normally a rookie player sees the ice minimally in their first season because they are adjusting to playing at a higher level. That hasn’t been the case for Stokes. She owned the ice like seasoned veterans and her minutes piled up quickly on the defensive line, paired with fellow rookie, Meg Farmer.
“I love Meg,”said Stokes. “[We] lived in Winnipeg for the last three years…but we had never once met.Then we came in and they paired us together, which we thought was weird because we’re both rookies, and we just clicked. Our playing styles were so similar, but then at the same time, what I had she almost had in a different way. Kind of like yin and yang. We got along on and off the ice really well.”
The pair totalled 14 points this season and both clocked a 59 shot percentage.They relied heavily on the back end to maintain possession in the Cougars’ zones, a lot of pressure for two 18-year-old rookies.
“If we were playing up against teams where they were a little bit harder to play against, I was nervous because I felt that I did need to perform,” said Stokes. “ At the same time, my partner and I communicated all the time, and we always talked about, like, ‘Oh, this scared me, but like you were there, so thank you for covering for me.’”
On March 4, the U of R Cougars’ social media feeds (@reginacougars) announced Stokes as the Canada West Women’s Hockey Rookie of the Year and that she was selected for the All-Rookie team. “I didn’t really know anything about this until halfway through the season. One of my roommates had pointed out the stats to me, that I was doing quite well. It was just a notification on Instagram that I had received these awards. I was kind of like, ‘This is surprising.’ ….I didn’t expect to have this successful of a year, but I was definitely excited about it all.”
Part of Stokes’ success came from the support of her elder teammates, both on and off the ice. Stokes’ veteran group included graduating captain Paige Hubbard, assistant captain Megan Long, Arden Kliewer, Raea Gilroy and Lauren Focht.
“They were all super welcoming to me and pushed me to do my best,” said Stokes.
Stokes sought out her captains and others for advice and constructive criticism. “They were all great and welcoming and warm spirits.”
Thanks to five-year eligibility, Stokes will have senior players Trinity Grove and Shaylee Scraba, among a few others, returning to the ice with her next season.
Support from senior players was a key component in rookie development on the team, but coach Brandy West-McMaster, named Canada West Coach of the Year, made the team environment positive and encouraging, and had a previous connection to the team that made her a great fit for the role, said Stokes.
“I had a really great year with her. I felt that she was very even with all of our players. She also played for the Cougars years ago so she had a different connection with the team. It’s just a little extra tie-in there.”
Both the men’s and women’s hockey programs foster important connections to their communities and future U of R athletes. Both programs run the Cougars’ Sunday program, a skills camp for young players put on by Cougar athletes. Along with that, the women’s team participates in the Little Sister program. Every home game, a young hockey player comes and joins the team for skates, locker room chats and warmups, and then stands in line for the national anthem. The players forge bonds with the young girls and teach them what it’s like to play university-level hockey.
“I think it’s adorable,” said Stokes. “I love having them come skate with us during the games, and then also getting to work with the young kids in our camps on Sunday. They’re just constantly smiling, and they love that they’re with the Cougars. I think it’s also great that our girls are able to give that same energy back.”
With her first season under her belt, Stokes looks forward not only to her next four years but where her career could potentially take her after post-secondary. She has her sights set on playing for the Professional Women’s Hockey League, rather than playing overseas. .
“I’m very close with my family and having to stay over there for a long period of time would just be too much for me,” she said. “But playing here in front of thousands and thousands of people, it would be pretty exciting.”
““I really don’t know what’s in store for me, but I just like having that possibility of, maybe,” Stokes went on. “It gives me that little push during the season.”
Uof R athletes will gather on April 11, 2025, to celebrate the accomplishments of the 2024-2025 seasons at the school’s Athletic Banquet. Tickets are available online for the event.
