UPEI Women’s Hockey adds talented defender Emily Holmes amid blue-line shuffle
UPEI Women’s Hockey head coach Sean Fisher is hoping new recruit Emily Holmes will bolster the defence after the team said goodbye to several key players at the end of last season.
The Panthers find themselves young and inexperienced along the blue line after veterans Sophie Vandale, Ally Clements, Sydney Lyndon, and Katelynn Nice graduated from the program. As it stands, the defensive corps now consists of sophomores and rookies, including Holmes, who has a chance to become an impact player from day one.
Not only does Holmes have advanced skills for a defender, but she also has plenty of experience to back them up. In 2020, the 20-year-old moved to New York where she played National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I hockey for the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Tigers. After that, she suited up for the new under-22 Lady 67’s, who are considered the cream of the crop in the Ottawa Girls Hockey Association.
It’s easy to see why Fisher is excited to work with Holmes and build the next great Panther blue line.
“I really like Emily’s skating, playmaking, and general hockey intelligence. She’s a smart player who plays the game with her eyes up and makes sound decisions in all three zones,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of turnover at defence in the last 12 months and adding a player of Emily’s ability to our backend will help solidify that position for our program.”
Holmes credits her time at RIT for helping her understand what it takes to reach the top, and she’s bringing that same competitive mindset to UPEI.
“The biggest takeaway I took from the Tigers was how important it is to do the extra work at the end of practice and to take those few extra minutes to talk systems with Coach,” said the Miramichi, NB native. “As a rookie, every second of ice time is your biggest battle because everyone wants in.”
The five-foot-seven defender also brings championship pedigree and a winner’s mentality to the Panthers locker room, which can’t be understated, especially for a program in the midst of change.
In 2017, Holmes moved to Quebec to study and advance her hockey skills at Stanstead College, one of the finest prep schools in Eastern Canada that offers top-notch training and an intensive schedule against highly competitive teams. During her stay at Stanstead, Holmes helped the Spartans capture three consecutive North American Prep Hockey Association (NAPHA) championships.
Now she’s hoping to build off her successes and help the UPEI team get to where it wants to go.
“I’m really grateful to have the opportunity to play for UPEI,” said Holmes, who will continue her studies in kinesiology. “After hosting nationals, I think everyone saw first-hand the level of effort and commitment it takes to bring home a championship. I know our team will build on that experience and be a fierce competitor each time we step on the ice.”
