Kaitlin Willoughby

Kaitlin Willoughby
Willoughby with PWHL Toronto in 2024
Born (1995-03-26) March 26, 1995 (age 29)
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height 167 cm (5 ft 6 in)
Position Forward
Shoots Right
PWHL team
Former teams		 Toronto Sceptres
Calgary Inferno
University of Saskatchewan
Playing career 2013–present

Kaitlin Willoughby (born March 26, 1995) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Toronto Sceptres of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL).

Career

In high school, Willoughby played for the Prince Albert Bears in her hometown, where she served as team captain. After graduating, she moved to Saskatoon to attend the University of Saskatchewan. Across 132 USports games with the university, she scored 111 points. After scoring 25 points in 28 games in her rookie university season, she was named USports Rookie of the Year and was named to the 2013-14 Canada West All-Rookie Team.[1] That year, she would also score the game-winning goal as the university won the Canada West conference championship for the first time in history.[2][3] She would lead the team in scoring for three of the next four seasons and was twice named to the Canada West All-Star Team.

She was drafted 37th overall by the Calgary Inferno in the 2018 CWHL Draft.[4] In her rookie CWHL season, she scored 6 points in 27 games, as the Inferno won the Clarkson Cup.[5]

After the collapse of the CWHL in May 2019, she joined the PWHPA. She was awarded Goal of the Game at the Unifor Women's Hockey Showcase in September 2019, playing for Team Johnston as it lost to Team Jenner 4–3. She earned an assist the next day of the Showcase, as Team Johnston beat Team Knox 6–5 in shootouts.[6] She played for Team Bellamy at the Secret Showcase in January 2020.[7] She would stay with the organisation for the 2020–21 season, being named to the roster for the Calgary section.[8]

International play

Willoughby was invited to the 2016 Hockey Canada's Women's Development Camp.[9][10] She represented Canada at the 2017 and 2019 Winter Universiade, winning silver both times.[11] She served as team captain in 2019.[12]

Personal life

She has a degree in nursing.[13] Her sister, Morgan Willoughby, also played hockey at the University of Saskatchewan.[14]

References

  1. ^ Hartwig, Kimberley (January 29, 2014). "Dog Watch: Kaitlin Willoughby". The Sheaf - The University of Saskatchewan Newspaper Since 1912. Archived from the original on October 25, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  2. ^ Flaherty, Ryan; Giles, David (February 16, 2017). "Saskatchewan Huskies women's hockey set for playoff battle with Regina Cougars". Global News. Archived from the original on October 24, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  3. ^ "Saskatchewan Huskies win national awards, going for CIS gold - CBC News". CBC. 2014-03-13. Archived from the original on 2019-02-14. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  4. ^ Staffieri, Mark (September 28, 2018). "University of Saskatchewan's Kaitlin Willoughby's drafted by Calgary Inferno". Women's Hockey Life. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  5. ^ Maxwell, Nigel (March 26, 2019). "Prince Albert's Willoughby on fire". Prince Albert Now.
  6. ^ "Recapping the Unifor Women's Hockey Showcase". Pension Plan Puppets. September 25, 2019. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  7. ^ "PWHPA Secret Showcase - Dream Gap Tour | Jan. 11-12, 2020 - Toronto". PWHPA. Archived from the original on 2020-10-31. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  8. ^ Jay, Michelle (October 22, 2020). "PWHPA releases 2020-21 regional rosters". The Ice Garden. Archived from the original on October 25, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  9. ^ "Sports in Brief: Kaitlin Willoughby invited to Hockey Canada's Women's Development Camp". The Star Phoenix. July 21, 2016. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  10. ^ Jacobson, Josef (August 4, 2017). "A hockey reunion". Archived from the original on April 27, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  11. ^ "Kaitlin Willoughby makes Canadian Universiade Team". The Star Phoenix. October 7, 2016. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  12. ^ Punkari, Lucas (April 2, 2019). "Whirlwind month for Willoughby". Archived from the original on October 30, 2019. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  13. ^ Zary, Darren (April 3, 2019). "With the CWHL folding, Kaitlin Willoughby finds her pro hockey career in limbo". The Star Phoenix. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  14. ^ "Kaitlin Willoughby - Women's Ice Hockey". Huskie Athletics. Archived from the original on 2020-10-27. Retrieved 2020-10-23.