Brooklyn Elek was in for a pleasant surprise when the email came in from Assiniboine Community College in Brandon, Man.

The 17-year-old goalie for the Prince Albert Northern Bears didn’t think she’d get any post-secondary hockey offers.

“I thought, from what I understood, that if you weren’t committed by Grade 11, you weren’t going. That was it.”

But the offer came, and Elek committed to play for the Cougars.

“It was odd when I got the email,” Elek said. “They offered me a spot and I said, oh, ok, sure!”

For Elek, the program is the perfect match.

“The school has programs that interest me. I’m not really interested in going to university, and it’s a college, so it worked out better for the education. I’m really excited about the travelling for hockey.”

It shouldn’t come as such a surprise that scouts were interested in Elek.

The rookie has posted an impressive 9-1 record so far this season with P.A. She boasts a 1.79 goals against average and a .912 save percentage. She has shut out her opponents twice this season.

For more on this story, please see the Jan. 25 print or e-edition of the Daily Herald.