Bears’ Nowosad commits to Medicine Hat College

Nathan Reiter
-
0
Bears’ Nowosad commits to Medicine Hat College

Maci Nowosad has put pen to paper and knows where she will be playing in the college ranks next year.

The 17-year-old Nipawin product has committed to the Medicine Hat College Rattlers women’s hockey program for next season.

Northern Bears head coach Steve Young says the organization is pleased to see Nowosad get an opportunity at the next level.

“We’re very happy for her. You want all your girls that want to move on to hockey to get that opportunity and she’s got it. She’s a three-year player but a first-year player with us. I think this year she’s come into our organization and (has) fit right in and she keeps getting better down the stretch which is important to us.”

Nowosad is in her third season in the Saskatchewan Female Under-18 AAA Hockey League (SFU18AAAHL) but in just her first campaign with Prince Albert after spending the last two seasons with the Battlefords Sharks.

She says she has really enjoyed her time in Prince Albert so far.

“The transition has been really good. I know Steve (Young) has made it really smooth, placing me with good billets. The group of girls is really good too. Everyone gets along really nicely.”

In 83 career games, Nowosad has posted four goals and two assists at the U18 AAA level and has one point in 25 games with Prince Albert.

Nowosad says she takes pride in her own end of the ice and any points she records are simply a bonus.

“I’m definitely a defense first type of player. I like to shut down the opposing team in our zone. And then when the opportunity is given, I like to jump into (the) play and help create offense as well.”

Young says Nowosad has all the tools to be a top defensive player at the next level.

“She’s got good speed, she’s got a good shot, she can recover. As a defenseman you want to keep building in your game and that’s what she’s going to have to do in Medicine Hat.”

Nowosad is the the third member of the Northern Bears to commit to play at the collegiate level next season joining Tristyn Endicott (St. Thomas University) and Julia Cey (University of Prince Edward Island).

Young says having multiple players from the Northern Bears program shows the emphasis that the organization puts on giving players a chance at the next level.

“I think it’s an important part of our league in general. I think girls that come into this league want to continue to move on with their education for the most part. So whether it’s Division 1 or somewhere in the states or USPORTS, whatever it may be, it’s important that as coaches and an organization we give them every opportunity to do so.”

Prince Albert only has three games remaining in the regular season, plus playoffs. Nowosad says she is committed to the team for the remainder of the season, but is looking forward to arriving on campus in the fall.

“I’m super excited to advance my hockey experience to the next level and definitely to meet lots of new people along the way. I’m taking education. That’s my degree and then I’m hoping to be a middle school (or) elementary teacher in the future.”

The Bears return to action on Saturday afternoon when they welcome the Notre Dame Hounds to the Art Hauser Centre. Puck drops at 1 p.m.

sports@paherald.sk.ca

Gage Grassick named Canada West First Team All-Star, Huskies hungry for playoff success

Nathan Reiter
-
0
Gage Grassick named Canada West First Team All-Star, Huskies hungry for playoff success

The University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s basketball team was the cream of the crop in Canada West during the regular season and their starting point guard was a major reason why.

Prince Albert product Gage Grassick was named a Canada West First Team All-Star for the first time in her USPORTS career.

In 20 games for the Huskies this season, Grassick averaged 13.0 points per game, five rebounds and four assists. She shot 40.7% from the field, 26.9% from beyond the arc and 74.6% from the free throw line.

Grassick, a graduate of Carlton Comprehensive High School, says the individual award wouldn’t be possible without her teammates and coaches.

“It’s a really great honor. I’m super grateful for it, but it stems from having such amazing teammates and coaches. I wouldn’t be awarded what I am without them, so I’m super grateful for them.”

Last season, Grassick was named a Canada West Third Team All-Star in her first full season as a starter for the Huskies.

Head coach Lisa Thomaidis has been at the helm of the women’s basketball program since prior to the 1998-99 campaign and has earned numerous accolades, including her sixth Canada West Coach of the Year honor this season. She says Grassick has blossomed into a heart and soul player for the Huskies.

“She’s had such an amazing year. I think she’s really taken her game to another level this season. Coming off last year, she was solidly our starting point guard and took the team to being ranked number one in the country, and then had a disappointing playoff stand. I think she really took that to heart and worked on her game in the offseason and you can see it reflected in her play this year. She really is the engine that drives our team and (it’s) great that the other coaches acknowledge that and see her worth to our program.”

Now starring at the USPORTS level for a Huskies squad ranked second in the country, Grassick had a rural upbringing with her primary hoop at home not being on pavement, but on well-worn grass.

She says she is grateful for the opportunity to play for one of the top programs in the country.

“Stepping back and looking when I first picked up a basketball, I didn’t really think it’s where it would take me being in the position I am. With the great team I have but I am ultimately so grateful for that and I’ve learned so much being on this Huskie team being under Lisa Thomaidis (who is) one of, if not the best coach in the country.”

The point guard in basketball is looked at as one of the leaders for the team on the court. Traditionally in basketball, the point guard serves as the on-court coordinator for the team’s offense and is looked at as one of the team’s leaders.

Grassick has served as the starting point guard for the Huskies all season long. Thomaidis had high praise for what Grassick brings to the team both on and off the court.

“As a leader, she’s one of the best we’ve ever had.” Thomaidis explains. “She never has a bad day. She is always vocal, always positive. She knows how to relate to her teammates, to be demanding, but in a real positive way. She’s just a great asset to have. She always brings positive energy to every single practice, every single game. When you have a leader like that, that you can count on, it goes a long way. She’s been fantastic and I can’t say enough about her.”

Grassick and the Huskies took massive strides on the defensive side of the ball. Grassick finished third in Canada West averaging 2.9 steals per game

“We knew from last year into this year, something we really needed to improve on was just our defensive ability,” Grassick says. “Being able to step up and pressure the ball a little bit more really helps me have such an amazing defender like Andy (Andrea) Doding, Téa Demong on our team that helps you out in the backside as well. Just having such a defensive strong core on our team allows for lots of players like myself to get up pressure a little bit more and then convert on steals.”

Grassick was not the only Huskie to receive Canada West honors. Third-year guard Téa Demong took home second team honours while fifth year standout Carly Ahlstrom was given third team honours.

Thomaidis says both players were very deserving of the recognition.

“Téa came in the same rookie year as Gage, and we knew getting both of them was going to be a huge coup for our program. They’re both very talented players, great athletes, love the game of basketball (and) work really hard. This is her first time as an All-Star, very well deserved. (She) just elevated her level of play. I think we always saw that her first couple of years, but her level of consistency was what I think took her to that next level this season.”

“Carly Ahlstrom, in her fifth year, was Canada West MVP last season. She’s someone that every team knows they have to prepare for, even despite that, she’s been able to still put up big numbers. She’s just a wonderful athlete, a dynamic athlete that can do things on the court that not many others can do.”

Last year, the Huskies fell short of their ultimate goal finishing fourth in the Canada West with a loss against the University of Alberta Pandas 69-57.

Thomaidis says the Huskies have taken the results from last season to heart and have put in all the work to come out on top at the Canada West championships this weekend in Abbotsford.

“I think character really shows up in your response to when things don’t go your way and I think it really showed the character of our team and what they were willing to do to make sure that something like last year didn’t happen again and (to) do everything they could to make sure it doesn’t happen again. We’re at the point where we’ve put in all the work that we possibly could have. There’s no regrets. There’s nothing more that could have been done. This team’s prepared and now we just have to go out and perform.”

Results from the Huskies Thursday evening game against the UBC Okanagan Heat were not available as of press time. If the Huskies win, they would take on the winner of Regina and UFV at 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time on Friday evening.

sports@paherald.sk.ca

Raiders to welcome Wheat Kings for a pair of games

Nathan Reiter
-
0
Raiders to welcome Wheat Kings for a pair of games

With just 13 games remaining on the regular season schedule, the Prince Albert Raiders are firmly set in the race for a playoff spot in the WHL’s Eastern Conference.

The Raiders will welcome their division rival Brandon Wheat Kings for a pair of games at the Art Hauser Centre on Thursday and Saturday night.

Raider head coach Jeff Truitt says Prince Albert will need to come out of the gate strong to take control of the game on home ice.

“We got to play with urgency and manage the puck well. Discipline comes into it. We gotta be able to carry the play and we’ve got to be able to skate with these guys and close them down because they’ve got some real talented forwards. They’re a good team and we’ve got to bring our level up again.”

Prince Albert and Brandon have met a total of four times so far this season with the Wheat Kings winning three of the four contests. The most recent meeting between the two sides was a 7-3 Raider win at the Art Hauser Centre on Feb. 10.

“There is familiarity there, but on the other hand, we know what they are all about.” Truitt explains. “They know what we are all about and it’s whoever is going to do the best right now and minimize mistakes and capitalize on opportunities. They usually come down to one or two plays a game and that’s what it’s going to come down to in my mind.”

Prince Albert is coming into the game with momentum after recording a pair of wins on their recent southern Alberta road trip, defeating the Medicine Hat Tigers 2-1 in a shootout and the Lethbridge Hurricanes 4-3 in overtime after scoring two goals in the final minute of regulation.

Truitt says the Raiders are feeling confident after the road trip, coming home with four points

“Winning the game in the ways that we won in Medicine Hat in overtime against a very potent offensive team. In Lethbridge, they got the momentum early, but we showed the resolve of coming back and winning in a game that might have looked a little bit out of hand at times. Our guys stuck with it, stuck with a plan, they were patient. When the time came, we scored on opportunities because of their miscues and that’s what we need to do here. We need to continue to do that as these games get more and more important.”

Only four points separate the Raiders and Wheat Kings in the WHL’s Eastern Conference standings. Brandon currently sits in sixth place with a record of 27-22-5-1, good enough for 60 points. Prince Albert has posted a 26-25-1-3 record and 56 points in the standings.

If the Raiders were to win both meetings and Brandon were to also lose their Friday night contest in Saskatoon, the two sides would be tied heading into the final stretch of the regular season.

Truitt says the Raiders will need contributions from up and down the lineup in order to pull even with the Wheat Kings in the standings.

“When these opportunities arise, you’ve got to be able to take advantage of it. We can look in and say to ourselves that if everything goes well, we can be tied with them. They’ve got a game in between with Saskatoon. The fact of the matter is we’ve got to play well at a high level. Everybody’s got to pitch in and do things that we need to do to be successful. It’s proven that in the past, we’ve got to continue.”

After this weekend, Brandon and Prince Albert will conclude the season series with two more meetings at Westoba Place in the month of March.

Puck drops between the Raiders and Wheat Kings at 7 p.m. Thursday night at the Art Hauser Centre.

sports@pahearld.sk.ca

Don’t panic, call on Sloan Stanick: Raider comeback stuns Hurricanes

Nathan Reiter
-
0
Don’t panic, call on Sloan Stanick: Raider comeback stuns Hurricanes

With a massive two points on the line for both sides, the Prince Albert Raiders shocked the crowd at the Enmax Centre, downing the Lethbridge Hurricanes 4-3 in overtime on Saturday night.

Raider head coach Jeff Truitt says the win was crucial for Prince Albert’s playoff chances, but he wants to see more consistency out of his team moving forward.

”It’s massive and I see Calgary wins and whatnot but we just got to keep the pedal down, keep focused and play more than just four minutes than we did tonight. I didn’t think we played very well all game long, but we figured it out and we got the job done. But we got to learn a lesson from this. We can’t sit back and wait, be tentative, be light and non physical. I thought they took it to us for the majority of this game, but we dug down, we got it.” 

Saskatoon product Trae Wilke would get the Hurricanes on the scoreboard first at the 14:04 mark of the first period with his ninth goal of the season. He would receive a pass on the back door from former Raider Hayden Pakkala and lift it past Max Hildebrand. Landen Ward picked up the secondary assist.

Miguel Marques would double the Hurricane lead at the 5:25 mark of the second period as the draft eligible forward would fire a wrist shot past Hildebrand for his 23rd goal of the season. Logan McCutcheon and Logan Wormald would receive credit for the helpers on the play.

After a Hurricane penalty expired, Kale Tipler would be sprung on a breakaway coming out of the box. The rookie defenceman would make no mistake to record his first career WHL goal at the 10:07 mark of the second period. Hurricane captain Joe Arntsen picked up the lone helper.

The Hurricanes had posted a 17-2-2-0 record this season when leading after two periods entering play Saturday.

Krzysztof Macias picked up his 19th goal of the season at the 8:46 mark of the third period on the power play. Macias looked to make a backdoor pass to Niall Crocker at the far side of the Lethbridge crease, but the puck went off of Arntsen and past Harrison Meneghin to get the Raiders on the board. Sloan Stanick and Justice Christensen would pick up the assists.

Justice Christensen would strike for his ninth goal of the season at the 19:20 mark of the third period. He fired a shot on Meneghin, but the puck would trickle through the Lethbridge netminder and past the goal line after the whistle.

Upon video review, the on ice call of no goal was overturned and the Raiders would pull within one.

With just 4.8 seconds to go, Turner McMillen would tie the game with his seventh goal of the season to force overtime. The goal was unassisted and McMillen’s fifth in a Raider uniform since being signed by the team prior to the trade deadline.

Truitt says he was ready to take some chances after the Macias goal.

“The circumstances started with 3-1 and then we got the second one. Even at three one, I thought to myself that we got to go for it, we got to do it and we’ve got to have to take chances. We did and pulled that goaltender and we’ve scored some goals with six on fives and the guys did a great job putting it to the net. Turner McMillen puts it on there. Anything can happen and it did.”

The Raiders would waste no time in the extra frame as just seventeen seconds in, Sloan Stanick called game as he would rip home his 24th goal of the season to seal a 4-3 win for Prince Albert. Aiden Oiring and Christensen provided the helpers on the game winning goal.

Max Hildebrand earned his 20th victory of the season for the Raiders, making 29 saves on 32 Hurricane shots. Harrison Meneghin made 22 saves for Lethbridge.

The Raiders return to action on Thursday night when they return to the Art Hauser Centre to take on the Brandon Wheat Kings. Puck drops at 7 p.m.

sports@paherald.sk.ca

Raiders snap road losing streak with shootout victory over Tigers

Nathan Reiter
-
0
Raiders snap road losing streak with shootout victory over Tigers

The Prince Albert Raiders road losing streak came to an end at 10 games as they defeated the Medicine Hat Tigers 2-1 in a shootout at Co-op Place on Friday night.

Raider head coach Jeff Truitt says Prince Albert played desperate and earned the two points.

“We’re getting the wins when we need to get the wins. At this point in time, we want to continue to get the wins. But (it was) just a determined effort. Down one nothing in the first period and we come back to the one one. We lock it down halfway through the second and the third. We did a pretty good job. We gave up some turnovers on the inside of the ice, which I really didn’t like. But special teams, penalty kill did good against a very good Medicine Hat power play.” 

Andrew Basha would open the scoring just 1:20 into the first period as he would find a loose rebound and put it past Max Hildebrand for his 24th goal of the season. Reid Andresen and Hayden Harsanyi assisted on the play.

Prince Albert would respond at the 3:33 mark of the second period. Tigers goaltender Zach Zahara would go behind the net to play a puck along the far boards. Oli Chenier would collect the puck and fire a quick shot that would beat Zahara five hole for his 11th goal of the season to even up the score at 1-1. 

Regulation would solve nothing between the two teams as the Raiders would only allow a single goal to a Tigers team that has scored the second most goals in the WHL this season.

Truitt says the Raiders did a good job at limiting opportunity for Medicine Hat’s top talent along with some timely stops from Max Hildebrand.

“You try to take as much time and space, know, with guys like Wiesblatt, McKenna, Mrsic, Basha, these guys know they can out stick-handle a lot of people. Our guys closed in on them and we blocked some shots. Hilty was outstanding, which was a big key to this tonight. So we found this way to win on the road. We needed it and we wanted it.”

Despite the Tigers having several chances to win the game in overtime, they couldn’t put the puck across the goal line to send the home fans home happy and the game would be forced into a shootout.

Sloan Stanick and Aiden Oiring would score for the Raiders in the shootout with Zahara making a stop on Krzysztof Macias. Max Hildebrand would stop Oasiz Wiesblatt and Andrew Basha with Gavin McKenna recording the lone shootout tally for the Tigers.

The Raiders are no strangers to the shootout with all five Raider home games in the month of January heading past overtime.

Truitt says the experience in the format will help the team down the stretch.

“I think it’s going to help us out the rest of the year if we get into them. You have the guys shooting that should be shooting and should be scoring and we’re finding a way. You can score all you want, but if they’re scoring too, you’re in trouble. Hilty’s come up big for us.”

In the playoffs race, the Raiders received help on the out of town scoreboard with the Saskatoon Blades defeating the Lethbridge Hurricanes 1-0 and the Calgary Hitmen falling 5-3 in Brandon.

Truitt says it was nice to see the Raiders receive some help, but the team ultimately wants to take care of their own destiny.

“It is important and you take a look at it between periods and find out what’s going on, but ultimately it’s what you’re going to do. We got some help here tonight. We’ve had some help here over the last little while, but we have to make hay when we can and that’s what the theme is going to be continued as.”

The Raiders continue their Alberta road swing on Saturday night in Lethbridge. Puck drops at 7 p.m. Saskatchewan time.

sports@paherald.sk.ca

Mintos defend home ice with 2-1 over Contacts

Nathan Reiter
-
0
Mintos defend home ice with 2-1 over Contacts

A pair of goals from the top line turned out to be all the Prince Albert Mintos would need as they skated to a 2-1 victory over the Saskatoon Contacts on Thursday night.

Minto assistant coach Dane Byers says the game was a complete effort from Prince Albert, who outshot Saskatoon 35-17 in the game.

“I thought we played a full 60 minutes. It felt like a playoff type game. We didn’t make it easy on ourselves at the end, but the guys stuck with it, and we were able to pull it out.”

The lone goal of the first period would go the way of the visitors as Ryan Hue would get the Contacts on the board with his 12th goal of the season just 4:57 into the first period. Samuel Wardell and Kanye Huang provided the assists on the play.

Shots would favor Prince Albert 13-6 after the first period.

Taite Donkin would get the Mintos on the board with 6:09 remaining in the second period with his 15th goal of the campaign. Jordon Abrametz had the lone assist on the goal.

Newly minted Lethbridge Hurricanes prospect Owen Nelson would find a loose rebound at the side of the net and give the Mintos their first lead of the hockey game with his team-leading 27th goal of the season. Donkin and Abrametz each picked up their second points of the contest with assists on the play.

The top three Minto scorers:  Donkin, Margolis and Nelson have skated all on the same line for the Mintos all season long.

Byers says the team will rely on the trio 

“I think they have some good chemistry. They’ve been huge for us all year. They read off each other really well. But they played the big minutes, so they got to produce, and they have. And we’re going to have to lean on them into the playoffs.”

Brady Holtvogt would shut the door the rest of the way making 16 total saves to earn the victory for Prince Albert. His counterpart Logan Edmonstone made 33 stops for the Contacts.

With four games remaining in the regular season, the Mintos have mathematically clinched a playoff spot. Byers says the key for the team now is to play well and build momentum heading into the postseason.

“This is the fun time of year. A hard time of year to play, but it’s fun. We got to start making sure we got really good habits heading into playoffs, so we can hit the ground running.”

The Mintos return to action on Saturday night when they welcome the Warman Wildcats to the Art Hauser Centre. Puck drops at 7 p.m.

sports@paherald.sk.ca

Raiders ready for southern Alberta weekend road trip

Nathan Reiter
-
0
Raiders ready for southern Alberta weekend road trip

In the midst of a tight Eastern Conference playoff race, the Prince Albert Raiders are hoping for some road success this weekend as they will head to southern Alberta for road dates with the Medicine Hat Tigers and Lethbridge Hurricanes.

Raider head coach Jeff Truitt says Prince Albert will need to be prepared to play against two talented teams.

“They’ve got dynamic skill and good goaltending at both ends. Both back ends are big and strong and we’re going have to try to penetrate things by playing smart and not reinventing the wheel because they’ll shut you down in a hurry but both are quick teams that are gonna push space.”

Special teams will be a key focus for the Raiders to secure victories on the road. Both Medicine Hat and Lethbridge rank in the top five in the WHL in penalty killing. The Tigers sit fourth in the league and have killed 81.5% of man advantages. Lethbridge ranks third, killing penalties at an 82.1% clip.

The Raider power play ranks 10th in the WHL with Prince Albert scoring on 23.0% of opportunities so far this season.

Truitt says the Raiders will need to get as many pucks on net as possible to find success against some of the top penalty killing teams in the league.

“The four man units on the penalty kill, they work very well together. Both teams have them in tune. When you get opportunities, you got to put pucks to the net. You can’t be slowing things down. You got to (have) a shot first mentality, get pucks to the net and create some opportunities that way. So, we’ve got to shoot more.”

Including this weekend’s road trip, the Raiders have six road games remaining on their regular season schedule. The two games this weekend are the only times the Raiders will play outside of the Saskatchewan/Central time zone.

Truitt says the Raiders are looking to play well regardless of what building the team is playing in down the stretch.

“Being at home or being close to home is one thing, but we’ve always stressed that it doesn’t matter where we play. We’ve got to play the same way and look for that consistency in our games. To have that last overnight road trip away in Alberta, towards the end of the season you’re not going to have to face those guys on the road. They’re two very good home teams and we’ve got to make sure that we’re raising our level at a desperate time.”

Grady Martin has connections to southern Alberta. The 17-year-old Oyen, Alberta product posted 16 points in 37 games for the Lethbridge U18 AAA Hurricanes back in the 2021-22 campaign, right before he got selected by the Raiders in the second round of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft.

The Raiders have suffered some serious road woes since the Christmas break, dropping their last 10 games played away from the Art Hauser Centre.

Martin says Prince Albert will need to come out focused to return to finding the road success the team had earlier in the season.

“I think we just need to not take it too casual when you go right off the start and send a message early that we don’t care where we’re playing, what barn we’re in, what crowd we’re around. We’re ready to play always.”

“Every game is important with the push in mind. They’re just as important as home games, they’re wins, they’re two points, we really need them.”

Reinforcements will be arriving to the Raider lineup in the near future. Standout forward Ryder Ritchie has been out of the lineup with a lower body injury suffered during a collision back on Dec. 15 against the Kelowna Rockets.

Prior to the injury, Ritchie had posted 13 goals and 18 assists in 34 games. Despite being out of the lineup for nearly two months, Ritchie still ranks fourth on the Raiders in scoring.

Truitt says Ritchie is eager to get back on the ice for the Raiders, but a decision about his return is still yet to be made.

“He’s close, but we still (have) got to make that decision whether or not he’s going to go. What he’s been through here over the last couple weeks has been very promising. It’s been great to see the progression of things that have happened. He wants to go and I’m not concerned about that whatsoever. We believe that he’s real close. When he’s ready to go, it’s going to be both parties sitting down and deciding that.”

Puck drops Friday night at 8 p.m. Saskatchewan time in Medicine Hat. The game against Lethbridge on Saturday has an earlier then usual start time with the puck dropping at 7 p.m. Saskatchewan time from the Enmax Centre.

sports@paherald.sk.ca

From the gridiron to the Hall of Fame: Ashley Viklund part of 32nd PA Sports Hall of Fame induction class

Nathan Reiter
-
0
From the gridiron to the Hall of Fame: Ashley Viklund part of 32nd PA Sports Hall of Fame induction class

Ashley Viklund has always enjoyed the sport of football and she will be honoured for her contributions on the gridiron as part of the 32nd Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame induction class.

“I was incredibly surprised that I had been nominated.” Viklund says. “I think that was immediately followed by feeling really honored. I think it’s very special to get to be included in the Hall of Fame here in PA.”

While she attended Carlton Comprehensive High School in Prince Albert, Viklund had a passion for the sport of football, but never joined the team. While Viklund was living in Regina pursuing her master’s degree, her career on the gridiron took off in 2012 when she joined the Regina Riot of the newly formed Western Women’s Canadian Football League (WWCFL).

“I always loved the sport of football.” Viklund says. “I remember watching the players back in high school get to walk around in their jerseys and I was so envious of them getting to play. But I was never really comfortable to go and join the high school team because it was pretty much all male. It really didn’t feel like a co-ed sport at that time. I got really into watching the CFL and all those things. When the WWCFL started up, I was just so excited for an opportunity to play against women and I think that made it much more accessible and possible for me to go and join and get involved.”

Viklund started her career with the Riot, but would join the Saskatoon Valkyries in 2018 where she won three championships, as well as the most valuable linesmen award in the 2021 season.

Valkyries head coach Pat Barry says the strength Viklund possesses made her so effective on the offensive line.

“She’s really quite a strong person and she’s a very strong athlete. I know from her other sports, which is something that I’ve always been interested in, her powerlifting, it’s something that she’s really committed herself to over the years. Because of that power and also the tenacity in her blocking, it’s not much fun for the person across from her sometimes. That’s what makes her such a valuable offensive line player.”

During her day job, Viklund works as a registered psychologist working with both youth and adults with mental health issues.

Barry says he was ecstatic when he heard the news of Viklund’s induction and that her career has made her a very important teammate with the Valkyries and will have a positive impact on her work as a coach.

“It’s so well deserved. I think pretty highly of her as a person, and she is someone that I’ve talked to in a meaningful way quite a bit over the last six or seven years. She is someone who’s a mental health care professional, and she cares very deeply about her teammates and she cares very deeply about people that she’s responsible for when she’s coaching them. I think very highly of her. I’ve told her several times over the years that I’m a big fan of hers and this is something that’s well deserved. I’m quite pleased that her hometown is recognizing her in this way.

Viklund took home hardware for Team Saskatchewan winning a national silver medal in 2012 and a gold medal in 2016, as well as being recognized as an all-star.

After being hesitant to play football in her youth, Viklund says there are more opportunities opening for females in football and she would encourage any young girls to give the sport their all.

“I think my biggest advice is to just go out and do it and give it a try. We’re finding more and more high school programs that are specifically for females developing. If all that’s accessible for you and your family right now is the local team, go and do it. A lot of girls are having a great experience by doing that. With a little success, maybe you’ll get an opportunity for your community to build something. Out in Tisdale, they’re starting to do all female camps here. The PA minor football association is looking at joining the Saskatoon minor football six a side league if we can get enough interest. So if you start going out and participating in the high school league, all girls programs might follow.”

Viklund currently serves as a coach for the Prince Albert River Riders and the Saskatchewan U18 Women’s Tackle Football team.

Barry says Viklund is someone younger female football players can look up to.

“She would be sort of a pioneer in the sport or a trendsetter. There were no opportunities for young girls to play tackle football when she was younger. Those opportunities exist now. In a lot of cases, the young girls that are on the U18 team that she coaches quite regularly, they look up to people like her who have been on Team Canada and the Valkyries.”

Viklund also took home a bronze medal in powerlifting in 2016 at the National Powerlifting Championships and was named the top female listed for Saskatchewan Powerlifting in 2021.

The 32nd annual Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet takes place on April 27 at the Ches Leach Lounge.

sports@paherald.sk.ca

Strong third period lifts Northern Bears past Sharks

Nathan Reiter
-
0
Strong third period lifts Northern Bears past Sharks

The Prince Albert Northern Bears picked up their second consecutive victory as they defeated the Battlefords Sharks 2-1 at the Art Hauser Centre on Wednesday night.

Head coach Steve Young says Prince Albert played a fairly complete game and were able to break through in the third period.

“I thought we did a lot of good things and I thought their goaltender was playing a strong game and we knew going into the third that we just had to continue with the type of game we’re playing and we got some pucks by her.”

Tien Woo opened the scoring for the sharks with just 2:40 remaining in the opening frame with her first career goal at the U18 AAA level. Anneka Aspaas and Danika Dureau picked up the helpers.

Prince Albert controlled play through most of the period and led the shots 10-4 after twenty minutes of play.

Neither team would score in the second period as the Bears once again held the advantage on the shot clock 14-7.

Elizabeth Udell would get Prince Albert on the board with her fifth goal of the season with 14:00 remaining in the third period. Julia Cey would pick up the lone assist.

Young says Udell has been a key piece to the Prince Albert blue line all season long.

“She’s really committed to the hockey club. She works hard. Tonight we had five defencemen, she logged a lot of ice, but she stuck with her game and was rewarded with that goal.”

Just over a minute later, Cey would pick up a goal of her own as the Bears captain would bury her team leading 13th goal of the campaign with 12:59 remaining. Udell had the helper on the play.

Although the Bears had plenty of chances in the first forty minutes, Young says it was a good sign for the team to break through with a pair of goals.

“We’ve been on the other end of the stick lots and I think it’s important for the girls to continue to work hard and get what we got tonight and those two quick goals were key because that goaltender played very well tonight.”

That would be all the support that Annika Neufeldt would need as the 16-year-old netminder would shut the door the rest of the way making 18 saves to earn her fifth win of the campaign.

Cypress Classen made 34 stops for the Sharks.

The Bears return to action on Saturday night when they welcome the Swift Current Wildcats to the Art Hauser Centre. Puck drops at 7 p.m.

sports@paherald.sk.ca

PA Ski League hosts second annual skills festival

Nathan Reiter
-
0
PA Ski League hosts second annual skills festival

It was a busy day at Little Red River Park as the Prince Albert Ski League hosted their second annual skills festival.

“This is our home, this is our training ground.” Club president Hounjet said about the event being held at Little Red. “We do lessons during the week and then we do the skills festival.”

The day consisted of five stations where skiers of all age levels participated in various drills. Some of the highlights include a station where skiers would race downhill and have their speed tracked by a radar gun, racing through sets of brushes and moguls.

Participants were even treated to lunch and warm hot chocolate at designated break stations.

With Prince Albert receiving a light snowfall in the days leading up to the event, Hounjet gives a lot of credit to the club’s hill manager Nathan Stregger for the excellent conditions on the hill

“Any fresh powder is good, but Nathan here at the hill is just so good. He’s been, he moved some features around for us today. He was making snow. We were actually the first hill open out of all of our freestyle clubs. Nathan got us open the very first, so we got bragging rights on that this year with the weather that we’ve been having, that Nathan was able to open for us, and we were able to have lessons at the beginning.”

The Prince Albert Ski League is planning on hosting a competition sometime in March.

sports@paherald.sk.ca

1...91011...70Page 10 of 70