Entering the 2024-25 season, the Prince Albert Northern Bears are hoping for big things from a young roster in the Saskatchewan Female Under-18 AAA Hockey League (SFU18AAAHL)
Prince Albert features nine rookies on the roster this year including Londyn Hoffman, Olivia Trann, Jersie Andersen, Shelby Booy, Emma Christison, Aliya Clarke, Zoey Kreinke, Gracie Reed and Rowan Clement.
Northern Bears head coach Steve Young says he is hoping the rookies will have an immediate impact for the team.
“They’re first year players in the league so they come in with a lot of energy. I believe we’ve made some good picks on keeping girls in a balanced situation. Girls can offer different things in different situations so we wanted that and the biggest thing is they’ve got to be complimented by our older returning players.”
One area where the Bears boast plenty of veteran experience is between the pipes. Annika Neufeldt returns for her third season, joined by tandem mate Nikita Krayetski who is in her second season in the league. Both players will graduate from the league at season’s end.
Young says the goaltending duo will be an area of strength for Prince Albert all season long.
“It’s important, you can never take this league like an easy league and both those girls have now had some experience in this league so we’re hoping that that’s going to be big things for us. It’s a league where you need both goalies so we feel comfortable with those two and we’re excited about it.”
Last season, the Northern Bears finished sixth in the SFU18AAAHL with a record of 6-18-3-3 and lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Notre Dame Hounds in the decisive third game.
One returning contributor for the Bears in 2024-25 is third-year defenceman Liz Udell, one of 11 returning players. Udell posted 15 points in 30 regular season games for Prince Albert last year and added an assist appearing in two playoffs games.
Udell says the loss in the playoffs is a motivating factor for the returnees and that the Bears should be competitive all year long.
“I think we just need to work hard and stay focused on the hockey part of it and we’ll be just fine. I think we’re a lot faster this year, our new girls are pretty quick and know what to do and when to do it, so I think the offensive end will be a lot better. The league is super even this year. Not a lot of teams will pull forward so I think we could be top three for sure.”
There was a bit of a shakeup in the coaching staff for the Northern Bears this offseason. Head coach Steve Young and assistant coach Colten Smith return. Doan Smith, who served as an assistant coach last year, was named the new head coach of the Prince Albert Mintos and will not return behind the bench for the Bears.
In his place, Scott Reed was named as an assistant coach. Last season, Reed was the head coach of the Prince Albert U18 AA Foxes and led the team to a 16-5-2-2 record in the regular season.
After having just three coaches last year, the Bears added a fourth for 2024-25 as Shelley MacDonald will also serve as an assistant coach. MacDonald played hockey and lacrosse during her time at Elmira College in New York and was on the board of directors for the team last year.
Young says the new coaches each bring something unique to the table.
“With Scott, he’s someone that has coached all the way up. He’s coached female hockey, he’s had success at the U15 level and the U18 level. He’s also played defense when he played junior hockey, so he’ll be able to help out our defense. Shelley is someone that wants to get into coaching and wants to be mentored a bit, so we’ll bring her along. From what I see so far, I think all four of us complement each other and we’re looking forward to it.”
Udell adds the new coaches have both been great to work with so far.
“Scott and Shelley are awesome. As a D, we’ve had different coaches every year that I’ve been here. Scott seems to really know what he’s doing and it’s a lot of fun, so that’s good. Shelley is just a great female perspective on the team, kind of like a mother figure to the team this year.”
The Bears have already gotten a chance to bond as a team after attending the Calgary Firestarter Tournament. Prince Albert posted a 1-2-0-1 record at the event.
Udell says the chance to get on the road as a team was extremely beneficial for the team.
“It was awesome. The bus trip was actually lots of fun. We did really good at the tournament compared to the past few years, so I think just like getting to know each other on the ice as a team, that was really important.”
After graduating key players from last year including Tristyn Endicott and Julia Cey, Young says the Bears will need to fill those voids by committee.
“I think the biggest thing is we’re going to have to play as a team. We can’t rely on one or two players to do things for us. I think all the girls have to be ready to play every night. I’m not saying that everybody’s going to get the same opportunity, but I think at the same time, this is probably one of the teams in the little while I’ve been here that we’re going to be able to balance and do what we need to do. We’ve got to be prepared to use our team speed, and that’s not necessarily feet speed, but moving the puck and making sure the puck is moving into the offensive zone.”
The Northern Bears open the 2024-25 SFU18AAAHL campaign on Saturday, Sept. 28 when the Swift Current Wildcats visit the Art Hauser Centre. Puck drops at 7 p.m.
