ITHACA, N.Y. – The Big Red women's hockey team has announced its incoming Class of 2017, a group that includes six talented athletes who hope to help Cornell return to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive season.
 
All six members of the Big Red's incoming class are from Canada including five from Ontario and three who played on the same club team. The class is made up of four forwards, one defenseman and one goaltender.
 
Hanna Bunton | F | Belleville, Ontario | Canada U-18/Whitby Wolves
Bunton played for Canada at the IIHF World Women's U18 Championship in 2013. She won gold with her home country thanks to Canada's 2-1 overtime victory against the United States, assisting on the game-winning goal in the extra period. Bunton played her club hockey for the Whitby Wolves along with Cornell teammate Victoria Pittens. A three-sport athlete in high school, Bunton played on her school's basketball team for two years as a point guard and her track team for three years as a hurdler, sprinter and triple jumper besides three seasons on the hockey team. Bunton was her team MVP in all three sports.
 
The Coaching Staff on Bunton: “Hanna's an intense competitor who combines her explosive athletic abilities and strong, fast hands with an intelligent approach to the game. She has the ability to create dangerous offensive situations out of nowhere, and has already shown the willingness and understanding required to be a strong defensive forward.”
 
Caroline DeBruin | F | Burlington, Ontario | Aurora Panthers
DeBruin is one of three members of the Class of 2017 who comes to Ithaca having played her junior hockey with the Aurora Junior Panthers. DeBruin was an assistant captain for the Panthers her first two years with the team and was named co-captain in her final year. She finished first on the team with 42 points in 36 games in the 2012-13 regular season and tied for ninth in points in the league. In 2011-12, she was part of a team that finished second in the PWHL and fourth at the Final Four Weekend. She was second on the team in points that season with 39. In high school, DeBruin was an assistant captain of her team since her freshman year and a captain her senior year.
 
The Coaching Staff on DeBruin: “Caroline is an intelligent player with smooth hands and an aggressive mindset. She has the ability to make skill plays in small spaces and with little time.”
 
Kaitlin Doering | F | Waterloo, Ontario | Mississauga Chiefs
Doering played her club hockey with the Mississauga Junior Chiefs where she served as an assistant captain for the squad that finished second in the PWHL last season. She was also an assistant captain of Team Ontario Blue and won the U18 Canadian National Championship with that team. In high school Doering played four years of hockey and was also a prominent field hockey player and downhill skier. In hockey she was team MVP, and in skiing she won 10 individual gold medals in her high school career. She was named Athlete of the Year for her accomplishments.
 
The Coaching Staff on Doering: “Kaitlin is an exceptional playmaker with strong hands and a rangy frame. She sees the ice well, anticipates the play and is able to create time and space for her teammates when she distributes the puck.”
 
Sydney Smith | D | Lethbridge, Alberta | Canada U-18/Southeast Tigers
A strong, explosive defenseman, Smith was on the roster for the Canadian National Under-18 team for its three-game series against the United States in Blaine, Minn., from Aug. 16-19, 2012. Smith played her junior hockey with the Southeast Tigers of the Alberta Major Midget Female Hockey League. With the Tigers, she was named to the AMMFHL All-Star Team in 2012 and 2013 while also winning its fastest skater award in 2012. Smith was named the AMMFHL's top defenceman as well. Smith was an assistant captain for both her club team the Tigers as well as with Team Alberta. Smith is also a distance runner, competing in 1500- and 3000-meter races.
 
The Coaching Staff on Smith: “Sydney is a fit and explosive athlete with a very competitive and aggressive approach to the game. She uses her skating ability, tenacity and intelligence to minimize time and space for opponents all over the ice. Her skating ability also allows her to get up in the offense when she sees an opening.”
 
Brianna Veerman | F | Burlington, Ontario | Aurora Panthers
Veerman played club hockey with the Aurora Junior Panthers along with two of her hockey teammates at Cornell. She led the Panthers in points in 2011-12 while serving as a team assistant captain and helping the team a second-place finish in the PWHL and fourth at the Final Four Weekend. She was also on Team Ontario Blue in 2011. In high school, Veerman played hockey for all four years, winning the 2010 Hockey MVP and Athlete of the Year awards. She was also a javelin and discus thrower in high school and was named her school's 2011 and 2012 Track and Field MVP while claiming the OFSAA Bronze Medal in the javelin in 2012.
 
The Coaching Staff on Veerman: “Brianna is a very fluid and strong puck handler. Her exceptional stick skills allow her to beat defenders one on one, and her hand strength can be seen in her quick release and accurate shot.”
 
Paula Voorheis | G | Shanty Bay, Ontario | Aurora Panthers
Voorheis, a six-foot-tall goaltender, comes to Cornell with club experience from the Aurora Junior Panthers along with two of her fellow freshmen. Voorheis was the Panthers' primary goaltender, reaching the PWHL Final Four in 2012 and guiding the team to a second-place finish in the PWHL that season. Her Panthers were the 2011 Union College Fall Classic Champions as well as the Nepean University Showcase Tournament Champions that same year. In high school, Voorheis played on the boys' team and won MVP in 2010. She also played four years of basketball, three years of softball as well as volleyball. Her basketball team was the 2010 and 2012 CISAA champions, and she was the Athlete of the Year for her school in 2010 and 2011. Voorheis was the Most Important Player on her softball team in 2011 and 2012 as well as on her volleyball team in 2012.
 
The Coaching Staff on Voorheis: “Paula combines her size, and technical ability with very strong athletic ability. She tracks the puck well and is able to react quickly to consistently position herself correctly.”