HAMILTON — Colgate women’s hockey head coach Greg Fargo has announced the addition of seven student-athletes, including six first-years and one transfer that will join the program this fall.
The seven players add to a talented Raiders team fresh off their second-straight ECAC Hockey Championship. Colgate’s incoming class features six forwards and one defender. Five of the student-athletes hail from Canada, and two are from the United States.
Forward
Franklin, Mich.
Detroit Little Caesars
A 2022 graduate of Wylie E. Groves High School, Biederman also played for Detroit Little Caesars. She helped the team to three state championships, a national-runner-up finish, and back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022. Biederman rounded up her final season with 91 points. Additionally, she served as team captain during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.
Biederman suited up for the USA Hockey U18 National Team at the 2022 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship, earning a silver medal. She also attended USA Hockey Select Player Development Camps in 2019 and 2021, as well as the Women’s National Festival in 2021.
Academically, Biederman was a member of the National Honor Society.
#14 Kasundra Betinol
Forward
Okotoks, Alberta
University of Minnesota Duluth
Betinol joins the Raiders after spending two seasons at Minnesota Duluth. She most recently played with China, appearing in all four games at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and tallying one goal. She was also a part of China’s championship team at the 2022 IIHF Women’s World Division I, Group B Championship.
At Minnesota Duluth, Betinol played in all 55 of the Bulldogs’ games during her two seasons, recording three goals and four assists. During her sophomore year, she earned Division I Krampade All-American Scholar, WCHA Scholar Athlete, and All-WCHA Academic Team honors as a member of Minnesota Duluth’s Frozen Four team. In 2020 she was also invited to the Hockey Canada National Development Camp.
Before playing collegiately, Betinol competed with Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy, where she helped her team win the 2019 CSSHL Championship. She was also selected to play for Team Alberta and won a gold medal at the 2019 Canada Winter Games. Additionally, Betinol was a tournament champion at the 2018 Stoney Creek University Showcase and won the CSSHL Championship with Okanagan Hockey Academy in 2017. She graduated from George Elliott Secondary School in 2019.
#18 Ava Svejkovsky
Defender
Point Roberts, Wash.
Delta Hockey Academy
A 2022 graduate of North Delta Secondary School, Svejkovsky represented Team USA at the 2022 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship, where she earned a silver medal. She previously participated in USA Hockey U18 Select Player Development Camps in 2019 and 2021, as well as the 2021 Women’s National Festival.
During her time with Delta Hockey Academy, Svejkovsky helped her team reach the CSSHL Playoffs in five straight seasons. She also played for South Delta Minor Hockey and Seafair Minor Hockey. Svejkovsky tallied 52 points in 100 career games, including 10 points this past season.
#22 Sara Stewart
Forward
Antigonish, Nova Scotia
Northern Subway Selects
Stewart graduated from Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High School in 2022 and played for Northern Subway Selects. She recorded 101 points by 61 goals and 40 assists during three seasons. Stewart tallied 20 goals and 16 assists during her final season and added on an additional 16 points during the playoffs. She was named team captain during the 2021-22 season after serving as an assistant captain the previous year.
Stewart helped lead her team to three-straight U18 AAA League Championships and two-straight Hockey Nova Scotia Provincial Championships. During her final season, Stewart’s squad won the Atlantic Region Championship and the U18 AAA National Atlantic Reps Esso Cup after she finished as the top scorer in the Atlantic Region and earned MVP honors. She was also a two-time MVP and scoring leader in the Nova Scotia U18 AAA Hockey League and earned Rookie of the Year in 2020.
#71 Tess Holk
Forward
Ancaster, Ontario
Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres
A 2022 graduate of Bishop Tonnos Catholic Secondary School, Holk helped lead her high school team to a City Championship in 2018. She also played for the Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres as well as Team Ontario Red. During the 2018 season with her bantam team, Holk was selected to serve as the team captain.
Additionally, she was chosen to participate in the 2021-22 Hockey Canada National Women’s Under-18 Team Summer Development Camp.
#88 Jenna Duarte
Forward
Hamilton, Ontario
Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres
Duarte graduated from Bishop Tonnos Catholic Secondary School in 2022 and helped her team win the City Championship in 2018. She was also a member of the school’s student council. She played for the Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres and served as captain for the U18 team in 2019 as well as an assistant captain for the Jr. team in 2022.
Duarte took part in Hockey Canada National Women’s Under-18 Team Summer Development Camps twice, earning a roster spot in 2021 and 2022.
#91 Sarah Roger
Forward
Brighton, Ontario
Kingston Jr. Ice Wolves
A 2022 graduate of East Northumberland Secondary School, Roger played three seasons with the Kingston Jr. Ice Wolves. She served as the team’s assistant captain during the 2021-22 season.
Roger was selected to participate in Hockey Canada U18 Selection Camps twice, as she attended in 2021 and 2022. Academically, Roger was named an Ontario Scholar and served as a new student orientation leader at her school.
