For the second straight summer, Stryker Zablocki will be looking to make an impact for Canada.
The 17-year-old Prince Albert product will be playing for the Canadian Under-18 Women’s National Team for a three game series against the United States starting on Wednesday at Canada Games Park in Thorold, Ont.
Zablocki suited up for the Canadian squad at the IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship in Zug, Switzerland in January. The Canadians finished the tournament with a bronze medal and Zablocki recorded two goals and five assists in six games.
Heading into her second time suiting up for the Canadian U18 squad, Zablocki says the novelty of playing for her country hasn’t worn off a bit and that she is ready to take on the United States.
“(It’s) pretty much the same. It’s a great feeling obviously and it’s an honor and I’m just really excited to get started and play the US again. I’m really looking forward to it. Both teams are really talented this year and it should be a super tight series and hopefully we can come out on top.”
Zablocki is currently committed to play hockey at Northeastern University in the fall of 2025, the same school that former Prince Albert Northern Bear and current PWHL New York defenceman Brooke Hobson attended.
However, Zablocki will not be playing in the Saskatchewan Female U18 AAA Hockey League (SFU18AAAHL) this coming fall. Instead, Zablocki will be playing for the Bishop Kearney Selects, a college prep program in Rochester, New York. Last season, the 19U Girls Selects posted an overall record of 47-8-3.
Zablocki is coming off a season where she took home the Hayley Wickenheiser Award as the SFU18AAAHL’s most valuable player. In 27 games, Zablocki posted 40 goals and 25 assists for the Regina Rebels who took home the league crown and won the Esso Cup title in Vernon, BC.
Zablocki says she decided to forgo her final season in the Sask U18 ranks because Bishop Kearney will allow her to play with and against other top NCAA recruits.
“The school I’m going to is a really good college prep school and I want to be ready for Northeastern so ultimately that was the decision I made. I can go there and get some really good development and some college-like experiences before I actually go off to college.”
Despite the fact she is not returning to the SFU18AAAHL, Zablocki says she holds the league in high regard as it helped her get to the point where she is today.
“It helped me build up a lot of confidence. It’s a good league. There’s good players to play with, but I feel like after playing in the league for two years, I have more confidence on the ice and have more confidence off the ice.”
sports@paherald.sk.ca
