Moon Township, Pa. - Robert Morris University head women's hockey coach, Nate Handrahan, has announced the addition of three freshmen to the 2008-09 squad. The newcomers include freshmen Brianna Delaney (Stittsville, Ontario / NCCP Raiders), Paige Pietrangelo (Niagara Falls, Ontario / Hamilton Hawks), and Kathryn Stack (Edmonton, Alberta /Edmonton Thunder).
Delaney is a 5-5 forward who is an all-around athlete, having participated in seven sports while attending Sacred Heart Catholic High School. She earned Junior Athlete of the Year accolades in 2006 and received Senior Athlete of the Year honors in 2008. She was named MVP of her hockey team in 2006, 2007 and 2008 while also earning MVP honors in Softball (2007, 2008), Field Hockey (2007) and Badminton (2007). While playing for the NCCP Ottawa Capitals, Delaney led her team to a silver finish in the Provisional Championship and a spot in the PWHL league playoffs in 2007. She finished the year leading her team with 36 points, scoring 17 goals and 19 assists in 31 games for an average of 1.2 points per game. In 2007 she was selected to play for Team Ontario Blue at the U18 championships in Kitchener, Ontario and earned a bronze medal at the Ontario Winter games in 2006.
"Brianna is a forward that will add to our quality at the position,” said Handrahan. “She is very heady and has a knack for scoring goals. Scott did a great job finding her because she is a player that you have to watch closely to appreciate how good she is. I believe that she will help us take another step forward in producing offense."
Pietrangelo is a 5-10 defender who comes from a large hockey family, having a father that played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, a cousin that was recently drafted by the NHL and numerous other family members that have college hockey experience. Throughout high school, Pietrangelo participated in soccer and basketball in addition to hockey and earned the Girl's Hockey award when she was in grade 12. While playing for the Hamilton Hawks, Pietrangelo played in 42 games, earning one goal and 10 assists for 11 points.
"Paige will be a welcome addition to our program,” said Handrahan. “She will add an element that we haven't had a lot of with her size. She has very good hockey sense which will help her adapt to the college game quicker. Paige was born in Pittsburgh (living in Niagara Falls, Ontario) so it is great to have another native-Pittsburgher joining us."
Stack, a defensive player, comes to Robert Morris from Alberta, Canada and played club hockey for the Edmonton Thunder. While attending St. Francis Xavier High School, she earned the Dr. George Caffaro Heart and Soul Award. She was also selected as the Global Edmonton athlete of the week and earned the Silver Stick Award for being the most outstanding student.
"Kathryn is a great kid with a great attitude toward the game,” said Handrahan. “She is excited to be a Colonial and she will continue to develop in our culture. Being from Edmonton, Alberta, she comes from a hockey-rich part of Canada and brings a passion to play."
With 20 players returning and the addition of three new players, the Robert Morris Colonials will look to continue its success in the upcoming 2008-09 season.
