Former N.B. Reds goalie to play in the PWHL

A familiar face to fans of the University of New Brunswick women’s hockey team is moving up to the PWHL.

Kendra Woodland, former goalie for the UNB Reds, will be the third-starting goalie for the Ottawa Charge, which has their first game of the season on Saturday night.

“I’m just really excited for the opportunity, and to be part of that is so thrilling,” Woodland said in an interview with CBC Radio’s Shift. 

She was signed as a free agent training camp invite, and has been training with the team in Ottawa since early November. She found out on Tuesday that she would be called up to play this season. 

Woodland played for UNB for five seasons, leading the team to three Atlantic University Sport championships. The Kamloops, B.C., native graduated from UNB in 2024.

She has played more games than any other goalie in UNB women’s hockey history and has the most wins as well. 

“I’m just so proud of her, “ said Sarah Hilworth, who was Woodland’s coach for much of her time at UNB. 

“I know how tirelessly she’s worked for this opportunity, and to earn a spot with Ottawa is such a proud moment for her… Ottawa’s got a good one, that’s for sure.”

Hilworth described Woodland as incredibly competitive, confident and resilient on the ice.

“She was the backbone of our program,” she said.

Hilworth said she knows Woodland will help give back to the Ottawa community and help grow the PWHL, which was founded in 2023. 

“Every young girl that got the opportunity to watch her journey here at UNB, there’s a lot of young girls here that are cheering on and are going to be Ottawa Charge fans and Kendra Woodland fans,” Hilworth said.

Woodland said the support she’s received in the past few days has been overwhelming .

“Eight-year-old me would be so, so thrilled and I’m just so glad that I’m able to impact my community around me."