Sister love drives Stars’ Kushniruk

Makena to join older sibling Jadyn on Cougars

Makena Kushniruk (#10) fights for position in the offensive zone.

Makena Kushniruk is looking forward to the day when hockey will have the added bonus of being more of a “sister act.”

Growing up playing hockey in Saskatoon, Makena has always looked up to her older sister, Jadyn. The two started out playing ringette until Jadyn switched over to hockey and Makena followed in her sister’s strides.

In the current day, Makena is skating through her final season in the Saskatchewan Female Under-18 AAA Hockey League as the captain and star centre of the Saskatoon Stars. Jadyn is a forward with the University of Regina Cougars women’s hockey team in the U Sports ranks.

Makena, left, and Jadyn Kushniruk in 2018.

When the 2021-22 campaign comes around, Makena will join Jadyn on the Cougars.

“I wanted to kind of get away from home but still be close to home at the same time and have family come and watch me,” said Makena, who stands 5-foot-4. “I think the U of R is a great program, and I can see the team being very successful in the next couple of years.

“Of course, having my sister there by my side to support me will for sure make it more enjoyable and a good fit for me. I just think that was something that would benefit me.”

Due to the fact Jadyn, who is 19-years-old, is two years older than Makena, who is 17-years-old, the two sisters haven’t had much chance to play on the same team in organized hockey outside of a few games when Jadyn played at the peewee level. The sisters’s father, Russ, was one of the coaches of that team and Makena dressed for a handful of games as an associate player call up.

Still, the two sisters, who have had huge support from Russ and mother, Tracey, followed what each other were doing in the game. Makena said Jadyn has been her biggest influence in helping her out in the sport.

Makena Kushniruk drives a shot on goal last season.

“She has been my role model through most of my hockey career,” said Makena. “Ever since we were little, she would take me out to ODRs (outdoor rinks), and we’d go have some fun out there and race each other.

“I think that was a bit inspiration for me.”

The two sisters’ tight bond extends beyond the hockey rink too.

“We’re like best friends,” said Makena. “We’re so close.

“I don’t think we’ve ever like really fought. We’ve had disagreements. Just throughout our whole childhood and growing up, we’ve just always been each other’s best friend.”

Makena Kushniruk (#10) breaks up ice with the Stars on a rush.

When it came time to play in the female under-18 AAA ranks, Makena elected to stay close to home and play for the Stars as an underage 14-year-old rookie in the 2017-18 season. Jadyn was a veteran with the Prince Albert Northern Bears and helped the Bears win a provincial title and advance to the Esso Cup female under-18 AAA championship tournament held in Morden, Man., in the 2016-17 campaign.

Makena joined a veteran Stars side, who were loaded with stars like Mackenna Parker, Grace Shirley, Anna Leschyshyn, Joelle Fiala, Ashley Messier and Chase Sperling. Appearing all of the teams 28 regular season games as a rookie, Makena recorded three goals and eight assists and helped the Stars win a provincial title.

Stars captain Makena Kushniruk (#10) weaves past the Bears.

The Stars advanced all the way to the championship game of the Esso Cup tournament held that season in Bridgewater, N.S., falling 2-1 to the St. Albert Slash.

“I just remember the rink being packed,” said Makena about that playoff run. “There was so much energy and emotions.

“When we won and knew we were going to Esso, it was just an unbelievable experience, and we we’re all just so happy and so excited to go to nationals. It was disappointing that we lost (the Esso Cup title game). We got there as a team, and we were very successful that year.

Makena Kushniruk (#10) eyes up a shot in the 2018 playoffs.

“Just getting to the final was a huge accomplishment as a team. It was just a great experience.”

As a 15-year-old sophomore in 2018-19, Makena had a breakout season with the Stars again appearing in all of the team’s 28 regular season games piling up 15 goals and 16 assists. She helped the Stars win their fourth provincial title in five years.

The Stars advanced to the Esso Cup after each of those provincial title wins. The Stars weren’t able to win a medal at the 2019 Esso Cup held in Sudbury, Ont., but Makena discovered her groove.

“I think I just really found myself as a player and found my role on the team and with my peers and teammates and coaches which gave me a lot more confidence,” said Makena. “It was very enjoyable.

Makena Kushniruk (#10) enjoys the Stars provincial title win in 2018. 

“We had a great leadership team and great girls in the room and coaches and everything. I think that really helped to bond our team together.”

The off-season in 2019 brought big change to the Stars. Head coach Greg Slobodzian and his entire coaching staff stepped down from their duties with the team.

Robin Ulrich, who was the interim head coach of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s hockey team in 2016-17, took on the job as the Stars new head coach bringing with her a new coaching staff.

Makena Kushniruk cuts up ice in the 2019 playoffs.

Due to a massive amount of graduations from the team, Makena went from being one of the younger players on the Stars to being one of the veteran players. She was named team captain before the start of the 2019-20 campaign.

Makena appeared in 28 of the Stars 30 regular season games posting 10 goals and eight assists facing the best defensive players the opposition could throw against her line on a nightly basis. The Stars stumbled out of the gate at the beginning of the season before rallying to post a respectable 12-14-4 regular season record.

Saskatoon never got a chance to skate in the post-season as the entire 2020 female under-18 AAA hockey players were cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world.

Makena Kushniruk had 31 points in 2018-19.

“It was definitely different, and we were definitely a young team,” said Makena. “It is too bad that we didn’t get to finish the season and show people our full potential as a team.

“Being a role model to some of the younger people, I think it was just important to show a good example on the ice, finish on pucks and making sure you are doing the small things right.”

Ulrich said Makena’s presence was extremely valuable to the new coaching staff that was stepping in to guide the team.

“I think it was really nice to have someone like Makena for a few reasons,” said Ulrich. “One, she had a couple of years of experience with the team and had experienced the success and knew the level that was required to be successful at the AAA level.

“Having an older sister who had gone through it and was moving in to play at the university level as well, she got to see that piece of it in the work that Jadyn needed to put in to be successful there. I think for us, she (Makena) was a just a really nice piece to be able to rely on somebody that did the right things, (and) came to the rink every day looking to get better.

The Kushniruk and Sperling families after the Stars 2019 provincial win.

“She (Makena) was just kind of that nice reliable piece that you knew was going to be there and was going to help set the tone in the dressing room and on the ice for what it takes to be successful and kind of help us transition from one way to the other.”

This season, the Stars got in a couple of games before the season got paused due to the increase of new COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan. On Nov. 14, the Stars fell 3-1 to the Northern Bears in Prince Albert at the Art Hauser Centre.

Makena Kushniruk embraced being the Stars captain.

On Nov. 15, the Stars downed the Bears 7-2 at the SaskTel Centre.

In those two outings, Makena had a goal and three assists. During the pause, Makena said her teammates have enjoyed the one-on-one practice time they are getting with the coaches in sessions that are limited to eight players on the ice.

Still, Makena was hoping the pause could have been avoided.

“It is disappointing that we don’t get to play,” said Makena. “Obviously, we would prefer to have full practices and games.

“I guess we are all trying to make the most of it, and hopefully, we get back as soon as we can.”

While the current season is stalled, Makena will have the opportunity to play hockey in the future at the university level. Ulrich believes Makena can see a lot of great days with the Cougars.

Makena Kushniruk believes the current Stars can impress.

“I think she can be a very effective player at the U Sports level,” said Ulrich. “I think the thing that is going to set her up the best is that inner drive and that compete level.

“Having an older sister who is there, she has an inside look into what it takes to be successful at the U Sports level and to make that step. I think she definitely has a good chance to step in there and contribute throughout her years. I think eventually by the end she will be playing some really, really big minutes for them and be key piece to them being successful.

“I am excited to see and want to see her growth throughout the rest of this year, but then getting a chance to watch her in future years be successful as well.”

Makena Kushniruk, second from left, hopes these scenes return.

Makena would like to get things going again with the Stars this season. No matter what shape the 2020-21 campaign ultimately takes, Makena is thankful she will still continue to play the game next season.

“I’m just super grateful that I have the opportunity to be playing at the next level and I have somewhere to play after high school and after the pandemic even if this year doesn’t work out,” said Kushniruk. “I think it is just like super exciting.”

If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

-------                                     

If you like what you see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you for stopping in.

Will the not so long ago old days of sports return?

Could training camps be used to get athletes in shape again?

The Regina Pats walk the Moose Jaw Civic Centre hallway in 2000.

    Remember when athletes went to training camp to get into shape?
    It is possible those days might return.

    Due to society shutting down over the cononavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, elite level athletes haven’t been able to train at their high-level facilities on a regular basis for at least three weeks in most of North America. Often, these athletes train under the watchful eye of a skilled conditioning coach.

    At the moment, it is anyone’s guess when the sports world in the professional and elite amateur levels will return to where they were before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

    Even for the amateur minor little children’s team, the only thing that is certain is uncertainly as to when their minor sports activities will return.

    With everyone trying to self-isolate in their homes, one wonders if the training camps held by various teams will be used to get athletes back in shape.

    In a not too distant past, training camps were held for that exact purpose.

Jason Clermont came from a time when year round training became a norm. 

    If anyone stumbles on the photo of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson smoking a cigarette with a soda pop at his feet from Super Bowl I on Jan. 15, 1967, you realize how far elite sport has come.

    Actually at halftimes of NFL games in those days through to the early 1970s, it was common for players to have a cigarette and a cup of coffee at halftime. Halftime was treated like a coffee break at a workplace.

    Even in the late 1980s and early 1990s, players often showed up at training camps in elite sport out of shape. In the WHL in the current day, players all look cut and in shape.

    In the late 1980s and early 1990s, there were only a few players that looked that way.

    Elite sport was still kind of commonly viewed a bit through the lens of being a pastime. It was reserved for the ultra-talents that had a pure knack for those games.

    If you worked full time while playing for an elite level sports team in those days, you could possibly lose your job if you decided to go to compete at a nationals competition, if it conflicted with work or you had already taken sizable amounts of time off.

Teams from the 1970s used to get in shape at training camp.

    The view of elite sports in Canada changed in the middle to the late 1990s, when year round training and off-season programs came into vogue. By the early 2000s, most elite athletes trained year round in their sport.

    Teams in that era would send athletes home with a training program and often hoped they would do it. Coaches would phone to check if their athletes were following the training program.

    Some athletes were starting to work at that time under the guidance of a strength and conditioning coach at an elite training centre.

    The start of training camps were designed to weed out athletes that didn’t do their training programs, and there were those that were weeded out.

    At that point, sport was still different. In hockey, teams didn’t introduce their style of play or work on items like the power play and penalty kill until the regular season started.

    Now, there are orientation camps and development camps in early summer, and players are playing a team’s system during rookie games at main training camps.

    There were still athletes who had bad habits in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Volleyball star Lisa Reynolds, seen here in 2000, smoked cigarettes.

    I believe the statute of limitations passed on this one, but back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Lisa Reynolds, who was a star outside hitter for the University of Regina Cougars women’s team, is the last elite player I remember who had a cigarette smoking habit.

    She played for Canada’s senior national women’s team for a couple of seasons and played professional volleyball for a number of years. Reynolds was one of those all-time great characters, who had character, and was gifted at her sport.

    I remember hanging with her a number of times in a social setting, and she would just light up a cigarette of the blue and proceed to direct a fear of God order at me to not tell her coaches. Due to not seeing Reynolds for at least 15 years, I believe I can get away with telling that tale.

    Elite level athletes in the current day would have a hard time getting away with something like that.
    Under the current climate of the COVID-19 pandemic, athletes at the moment are likely in the training spot they were in the early 2000s, where they follow a program at home that they have been given.

Barret Jackman, seen here in 2000, always arrived to training camp in shape.

    Due to how online and social media technology has evolved, it is possible for these athletes to direction from a strength and conditioning coach online.

    If the shutdown of elite level sports goes for three or four months, you might see a situation where elite level athletes go to training camp to get in shape at some levels in sport like in a not so long ago past era once again.

    That might have to be done, if some of these leagues in elite level sports want to have a season unless a decision is made to shut down for a year.

    Like many facets and areas of life, sports at the elite level are in uncharted waters.

    The possibility is there for what was once old could become new again.

Stars captain Kushniruk commits to Cougars, other notes

Makena Kushniruk is a big catch for the U of Regina Cougars.

    Makena Kushniruk is going to become part of a sister act at the University of Regina.

    On Tuesday, the University of Regina Cougars women’s hockey team announced they signed the star captain of the Saskatoon Stars female midget AAA team. Kushniruk’s older sister, Jadyn, just finished her rookie year with the Cougars this past season.

    Makena recently finished playing her third full season with the Stars, and it was her first campaign with the team where she was captain. As a 16-year-old forward, Makena, who stands 5-foot-4, piled up 10 goals and eight assists appearing in 28 regular season games for the Stars.

    She topped the Stars goals and finished second in team scoring in points.

    On top of playing with the Stars, Makena was a member of the Saskatchewan team that won a silver medal at the National Women’s under-18 hockey championship tournament last November.
    Makena was a 14-year-old underage player in her rookie campaign with the Stars in 2017-18.

Makena Kushniruk has been one of the Stars top players.

    The Stars won the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League title, the Western regional playdown and advanced to the championship game of the Esso Cup female midget AAA national championship tournament in that campaign.

    The Stars fell in a 2-1 heartbreaker to the St. Albert Slash in that year’s Esso Cup held in Bridgewater,N.S.

    Makena had a breakout campaign as a 15-year-old sophomore in 2018-19 piling up 15 goals and 16 assists for 31 points appearing in all of the Stars 28 regular season games. She finished sixth in team scoring on a very deep Stars team.

    The Stars again won the SFMAAAHL title and the Western regional playdown to return to the Esso Cup. Saskatoon finished fourth at that year’s Esso Cup held in Sudbury, Ont.

    Following that 2018-19 campaign, it was safe to say Makena was drawing sizable interest from teams in the National Collegiate Athletic Association ranks. It was big for the Cougars to be able to sign her.

    This past season, Makena had to adjust to the fact most teams focused on checking her, because she was the Stars top returning skater. The Stars were working through a massive turnover on their roster this past season and still posted a 12-14-4 regular season record.

Stars captain Makena Kushniruk always faces the opposition’s best.

    Makena is eligible to play in the midget AAA ranks for one more campaign and is slated to join the Cougars for the start of the 2021-22 campaign.

    Makena, who will turn 17-years-old on Sunday, actually never played midget AAA hockey together with Jadyn. Jadyn, who is a 19-year-old forward, played four seasons for the Prince Albert Northern Bears from 2015-19 piling up 38 goals and 31 assist for 69 points in 110 career regular season games.

    She was a member of the Bears SFMAAAHL championship team in 2016-17 and Western regional playdown winner that appeared in the Esso Cup.

    Jadyn had one goal and two assists skating in 22 regular season games this past season for the Cougars in the U Sports ranks.

    Makena and Jadyn could potentially play three seasons together with the Cougars.

• On Wednesday, Stars 17-year-old forward Reauna Blight committed to join the SAIT Trojans women’s hockey team for the upcoming season in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference ranks. Blight appeared in all the Stars 30 regular season games posting five goals and seven assists to conclude her final campaign of midget AAA eligibility.
• On Tuesday, the Saskatchewan Drag Racing Association announced the 2020 season at the Saskatchewan International Raceway located just south of Saskatoon has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was announced the operations of the Saskatchewan International Raceway had been suspended until further notice as well. The Saskatchewan Drag Racing Association cited the physical health for everybody involved with the track as well as the financial health of their organization as the main reasons for these decisions.
• On Saturday, the six-time defending Canadian Junior Football League champion Saskatoon Hilltops announced they will continue to suspend team operations to a minimum of June 1 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That suspension of team activities was originally put in place on March 19. On Saturday, the Hilltops announced their spring camp set for May 1-3 has been postponed and new dates won’t be decided upon until the current public health crisis is under control. The Hilltops clubhouse will remain closed. The club’s support staff is working with the team’s players to create at home workouts as everyone continues to social isolate.
• The Undertaker, who is one of the most legendary names in professional wrestling, is drawing rave reviews for his performance in a win in a Boneyard Match at Wrestlemania 36. The Undertaker literally buried opponent AJ Styles in the bout. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Wrestlemania was pre-taped to be shown over a two day period tonight and Sunday. After The Undertaker’s match finished, it broke the Internet with positive reviews for a surge of time. The WWE provided a snippet of the match that can be found by clicking right here.
• A year ago Sunday, the Prince Albert Raiders bombed the Saskatoon Blades 6-1 in Game 1 of a best-of-seven WHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert. I reposted the post I wrote that night on a Facebook and Twitter to the delight of Raiders fans. That post can be round by clicking right here.
• For most of the day Friday, I went on a binge playing Madden 2008 on the PlayStation 2. For me, it proved to be a perfect distress moment to get away from all the COVID-19 pandemic craziness in the world. I have receiver Calvin Johnson jacked up in the franchise I am using, and it is a fun time to throw him the ball. I didn’t turn on any computer or a phone for a 24-hour period. Hope you all find funs ways to cope in this unprecedented time. Hope you all feel free to find a way to have some fun.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

-------                                     

    If you like what you see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you for stopping in.

Kushniruk on fire for Stars

Saskatoon forward has points in eight straight games

Makena Kushniruk has 16 points in the Stars last eight regular season games.

    Makena Kushniruk is suddenly all for playing through the Christmas break.

    The 15-year-old sophomore winger for the Saskatoon Stars has been on fire for a little over a month. On Saturday, Kushniruk had two goals including the winner in the third period to lift the defending Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League champions to a 3-2 regular season victory over the Swift Current Diamond Energy Wildcats at Merlis Belsher Place.

    With those goals, Kushniruk has points in her last eight straight regular season games totaling 10 goals and six assists over that period of time. In helping the Stars post an 18-0 regular season record, Kushniruk has piled up 12 goals and 13 assists to sit fourth in the SFMAAAHL scoring race.

Makena Kushniruk (#10) celebrates her winning goal for the Stars.

    She has way surpassed her offensive totals from her rookie campaign last season, where she had three goals and eight assists appearing in all of the Stars 28 regular season contests.

    Kushniruk said her consecutive games point streak has greatly improved her confidence. As a rookie last season, she admitted there were times she was overwhelmed playing on a team that contained numerous standout veterans like Grace Shirley, Joelle Fiala, Anna Leschyshyn and Mackenna Parker. Parker graduated from the squad at the end of last season.

    “Last year was a little intimidating,” said Kushniruk. “I felt like I couldn’t take the puck.

    “I thought I always had to pass it to an older player, because they have more experience. I know now that it is not about that, and that I have the ability to do it.”

    More often than naught this season, Kushniruk has found herself as the trigger person playing on a forward line with Fiala, who is an ultra-skilled playmaker.

Makena Kushniruk, right, clears the puck on the penalty kill.

    With the Stars locked in a 2-2 tie in the third period with the Wildcats, Kushniruk tipped home a sweet set up pass from Fiala to net the winning goal for Saskatoon with 8:38 to play in the frame.

    “It feels just so good,” said Kushniruk about scoring the winning goal. “It doesn’t really matter if it was me or anyone else on the team.

    “It is just that we got the goal in and came out with the win.”

    Stars head coach Greg Slobodzian was pleased to see Kushniruk has found her offensive touch.

Joelle Fiala assisted on the Stars winning goal.

    “She had a real good summer this year, and she really developed,” said Slobodzian. “When she started this season, she came to camp and she was one of our best forwards at camp.

    “She sort of stumbled out of the gate at the beginning of the season. It wasn’t happening, and she started to get frustrated. We just sort of calmed her down a little bit and made her realize you still have put the effort in.

    “As soon as she started moving her feet, she is really smart, good with the puck and has that composure that I talk about all the time, things just started working for her. She has a hot hand right now.”

    Slobodzian said it has been big for the Stars to have another forward breakout offensively outside of the trio of Shirley, Leschyshyn and Fiala.

    “If you look at the scoresheet the last couple of games, I don’t know if Grace Shirley has a goal,” said Slobodzian. “For us to still come out on top with everyone else chipping in, it is a real good sign that we are building what we need to go deep.

    “Any time those players can start putting the numbers on the board and then consistently like Makena (Kushniruk), what it does is the other teams all of sudden have to look out for another player. It gives more room for those Grace Shirleys and Joelle Fialas.”

Anna Leschyshyn, right, scored the Stars first goal on Saturday.

    On Dec. 9, Kushniruk netted the winning goal in the third period for the Stars in the championship final of the Mandi Schwartz Memorial Tournament in Wilcox, Sask. Saskatoon downed the host Notre Dame Hounds 3-1 in the title game.

    Kushniruk said she appreciates the fact her Stars won the Mandi Schwartz Tournament and have started 18-0 in the regular season. The Stars are now off until Jan. 10 in the new year, when they travel to Battleford to face the Battlefords Sharks.

    Kushniruk admits she would have loved to continue playing through the break considering the hot streak she is on personally.

Amaya Giraudier makes one of her 25 saves for the Wildcats.

    “I am a little bit worried coming off from like a two-week break,” said Kushniruk, whose older sister Jadyn plays for the Prince Albert Northern Bears. “I’m probably going to be like going to the ODR (outdoor rink) or something and just like still being on the ice and just always practising whether it is going to the gym or finding some open ice.”

    The Wildcats took a 1-0 first period lead in Saturday’s game on a goal from Layne Hryhoriw.

    Leschyshyn sent the teams into the first intermission locked in a 1-1 tie sniping home a low on ice shot with 21.5 seconds to play in the opening frame.

    Makena Kushniruk scored her first of the contest 16 seconds into the second period to give the Stars a 2-1 advantage.

    Brooklyn Rublee scored the equalizer for the Wildcats to force a 2-2 draw heading into the second intermission.

Ashley Messier gets set in the offensive zone for the Stars.

    With 12:05 remaining in the third period, Wildcats forward Baylee Kirwan was stopped on a penalty shot by Stars netminder Kaitlyn Cadrain.

    That set the stage for Kushniruk to score the winner in the third period.

    Cadrain made 18 saves to pick up the win in goal for the Stars. Amaya Giraudier turned away 25 shots to take the setback in net for the Wildcats, who fell to 6-9-1.

    The Wildcats return to regular season action on Jan. 5 in the new year, when travel to Battleford to take on the Battlefords Sharks.

    Kushniruk is looking forward to resuming play with the Stars after the Christmas break.

    “I am really excited,” said Kushniruk. “It is nice to have a little break.

The Stars celebrate their win over the Wildcats.

    “When we get back to the rink, we’re going to be working hard together.”

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

-------

    If you like what you see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you for stopping in.

Kushniruk rises from nowhere to be key member of Bears

17-year-old forward set to play at U of Regina next season

Jadyn Kushniruk became a Bears assistant captain this season.

  PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – Jadyn Kushniruk was a diamond in the rough the Prince Albert Northern Bears found.

    During her 13-year-old season, Kushniruk was playing female house league bantam hockey in Saskatoon, where she was discovered by Bears head coach Jeff Willoughby. Willoughby liked Kushniruk’s skating and physical strength and invited her to come to training camp with the Bears.

    From that invite, Kushniruk hasn’t looked back. She made the Bears, who are one of the top teams in the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League, as a 14-year-old underage player in the 2015-16 campaign.

    As a 15-year-old sophomore in 2016-17, Kushniruk recorded 11 goals and seven assists appearing in all of the Bears 28 regular season games.

Bears C Jadyn Kushniruk, left, checks Wildcats F Carissa Hogan.

    She helped them win the SFMAAAHL title, a Western regional playdown series and appear in the Esso Cup national championship tournament.
    Kushniruk, who stands 5-foot-4, had a solid third season posting 10 goals and five assists in 26 regular season games with the Bears. This past summer, she committed to playing for the University of Regina Cougars women’s hockey team in the U Sports ranks starting in the 2019-20 campaign.

Currently in her 17-year-old and final midget AAA season, Kushniruk is helping lead the Bears as one of their assistant captains.

    “It is awesome,” said Kushniruk. “I love being here.

Jadyn Kushniruk smiles after scoring a first period goal.

    “Spending my fourth year being a leader on the team is really awesome. I am hoping to have the young girls look up to me and just do my best and leave my mark on the team as I am graduating.
    “Before I came, I played a lower level of hockey that I shouldn’t have, and Jeff (Willoughby) found me. It was really nice that he showed confidence in me early, and it is helping me to build confidence as I go on through my last year and move on to next year.”

    On Saturday at the Art Hauser Centre, Kushniruk gave the Bears a 1-0 lead against the visiting Swift Current Diamond Energy Wildcats in a SFMAAAHL regular season clash just 3:10 into the first period. She drove hard to the net on a rush into the offensive zone and tipped home a beauty setup pass from linemate Alli Soyko on the backdoor of the Swift Current goal to put the Bears ahead.

Alli Soyko (#22) set up the Bears first goal by Jadyn Kushniruk.

    That quick start helped propel the Bears to a 5-2 victory.

    Kushniruk broke an eight-game goalless drought with her tally against the Wildcats.
    “It was really nice,” said Kushniruk. “I had been looking to score a goal for a couple of games now.

    “Alli (Soyko) made a perfect pass, a perfect feed and I couldn’t have asked for a better setup to start the game.”

    Kushniruk has four goals and five assists appearing in all 11 of the Bears regular season games in the current campaign. Willoughby is pleased to see how far his hard-working forward has come in her midget AAA career.

Rhea Peterson scored the Bears third goal on Saturday.

    “She is not the typical bantam AA that moves on to (midget) AAA,” said Willoughby. “To see her from start to finish committing to Regina now, it is just a real good feel good story. You don’t hear them all the time.

    “We’re just proud of her. Everything she has gotten she has earned. She is just one of those consistent players that just sets a good example every night.

    “We’re lucky to have her.”

    The Bears expanded their lead to 2-0 with six minutes remaining in the first on a near identical play to Kushniruk’s goal only with 16-year-old forward Brookyn Anderson sending a beauty feed to linemate Kailey Ledoux, who notched her third goal of the campaign.

    Anderson set up the Bears third goal at the 6:13 mark of the second hitting sophomore forward Rhea Peterson with another backdoor setup pass to give the Bears a 3-0 edge.

Brooklyn Anderson had two assists for the Bears on Saturday.

    “We’re happy with the start we’ve had,” said Willoughby, who team’s previous game was a 3-2 overtime loss to the Stars in Saskatoon back on Nov. 11. “Obviously, we were off for a couple of weeks.

    “We didn’t know how the feel would be, but I think the girls made a connection right away, made some nice passes, had some puck possession and scored a couple of quick goals. I think that just helped set the table for the rest of the game for us.”

    The Wildcats answered back just 23 seconds after Peterson’s tally, when 16-year-old forward Sara Kendall roofed a shot past Bears netminder Lexi Beuker to cut the Bears lead to 3-1.

    Before the second period ended, sophomore 15-year-old forward Paris Oleksyn tipped home a point shot from defender McKenzie Mayo to give the Bears a 4-1 edge. Bears star forward Kate Ball expanded that advantage to 5-1 scoring 79 seconds into the third period.

    The Wildcats rounded out the game’s scoring with 12:33 to play in the third period with a short-handed goal coming from Crystal Wale.

Taylor Lind picked up assists on both Wildcats goals on Saturday.

    Beuker made 24 saves to pick up the win in goal for the Bears (6-4-1). She made a least three huge saves on Wildcats star forward Taylor Lind including a sprawling stick paddle stop on a breakaway with 11.4 seconds remaining in the second period.

    Lind picked up assists on both Swift Current goals.

    Harper Davey turned away 24 shots to take the setback in goal for the Wildcats (3-5-1).

Both teams face each other again on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Art Hauser Centre.

    Looking to the future after this season, Kushniruk is looking forward to playing at the university level with the Cougars. Near the end of this past summer, she received an email from Cougars head coach Sarah Hodges regarding interest about joining the Cougars.

    Kushniruk said she was in right at the start. She was brought in to visit the U of R campus.

Lexi Beuker holds on to one of her 24 saves in goal for the Bears.

    During that visit, Kushniruk went to lunch with Hodges, and the veteran bench boss told the young forward she definitely had a spot on the team and gave Kushniruk time to think things over. Kushniruk said she didn’t need to think things over and wanted to go ahead full steam in joining the Cougars.

    Kushniruk’s mom, Tracey, is originally from Regina.

    “It is exciting,” said Kushniruk. “It will be nice to have the support of my family there.

    “(Bears alum) Ireland (South) is there too, so it will be nice to play back with her again and have a couple of familiar faces on the team that will welcome me in.”

    Before she heads off to join the Cougars, Kushniruk hopes to enjoy a special season to conclude her time with the Bears.

The Bears celebrate their win over the Wildcats on Saturday.

    “We just want to continue to push ourselves to be better and better,” said Kushniruk. “Winning league and Esso is not too far out of our reach, so I think that is what we are all kind of hoping for.”

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

-------

    If you like what you see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you for stopping in.

Ball finds home with Northern Bears in Prince Albert

Kate Ball was a perfect fit with the Prince Albert Northern Bears.

    Kate Ball and the Prince Albert Northern Bears ended up being a match made in heaven.

    Before the season started, the 15-year-old Saskatoon product was kicking tires looking for a female midget AAA team where she would have a chance to contribute in an offensive role. On a whim, she decided to attend a tryout camp with the Bears, and head coach Jeff Willoughby asked if she wanted to play.

    Ball had a choice of playing with either the Saskatoon Stars in her hometown and the Bears. With the Stars returning almost all of their key offensive players from the previous campaign, the skilled centre decided to go play for the Bears.

    “It has actually been so exciting,” said Ball. “I love my team. They are just all like really awesome.

    “The room is just filled with like positive. We’re all like really nice to each other. It is just like really great.”

Kate Ball celebrates a goal with Jasper Desmarais and Camryn Amundson.

    With the Bears, Ball, who stands 5-foot-5, had a spectacular rookie season finishing second in team scoring with 15 goals and 15 assists in 28 regular season games. Prince Albert finished with its best record in team history going 22-6.

    In the post-season, the Bears won their first 11 straight contests sweeping the Stars in the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League championship series in three games and taking out Hartney, Man., based Westman Wildcats in a two-game sweep in a Western regional playdown series in Prince Albert.

    Those victories allowed the Bears to earn a berth in the Esso Cup female midget AAA national championship tournament for the first time in team history. The Esso Cup started on Sunday and runs to Saturday in Morden, Man.

Kate Ball (#21) battles for the puck behind the net in the offensive zone.

    While big goals were established on personal and team fronts before the season started, Ball was still a bit awestruck that those goals were realized.

    “I wasn’t expecting myself to do that good,” said Ball. “I guess just really good teammates just helped me a lot.

    “I actually never thought we would like come this far. I am just so proud of my team coming this far. It is just an amazing feeling.”

    Willoughby said the Bears were fortunate Ball decided to come to Prince Albert to play.

    “She’s been playing very consistent for us,” said Willoughby. “We’ve asked her to play an offensive role, and she jumped right into that.

    “She is always around the puck. She definitely knows where the net is. Her effort she has given is second to none.

    “Getting a point a game as a rookie is a pretty outstanding feet.”

Kate Ball, left, enjoys the Bears SFMAAAHL title win.

    Willoughby said it was cool seeing Ball improve on the ice and off the ice. Away from the game, the bench boss was impressed with how quickly Ball found a high comfort level with the rest of her Bears teammate.

    “At the start of the year, I think she was maybe a little bit to herself and shy like a lot of rookies would be,” said Willoughby. “I think she’s come along.

    “She’s really opened up. I think she is no different than the rest of them. They are all such good teammates, and they care about each other, and they care about what the other person is doing.

    “They want to help each other out, and that is exactly what Kate (Ball) has been doing.”

    Ball’s move to the Bears was also made easier by the fact nine other players from the Saskatoon area were also on the team. The Bears roster contains fellow Saskatoon products Jadyn Kushniruk, Kassidy Kicia, Kate Wagner, Sierra Parenteau, Hannah Koroll and Miranda Heidt.

    Also on the team are Warman products Jordan Ashe and Jasper Desmarais and Martensville’s Story Navrot.

Kate Ball cuts into the offensive zone for the Bears.

    Ball said she actually knew more players on the Bears than she did on the Stars due a lot to her experiences playing spring hockey. On the ice, she found magic playing on a line with Desmarais and speedy Debden product Camryn Amundson.

    “I’ve played with Jasper for four years, so we have like good chemistry,” said Ball. “Camryn, me and her just like clicked right away, so it was really great.”

    As for her start in the sport, Ball followed in the footsteps of her two older brothers Daylon and Justin. Daylon, who is now 21, finished his competitive playing days at age 16.

    Justin was with the Saskatoon Contacts last season, who played in the Telus Cup midget AAA national championship tournament, and he recently finished his 18-year-old rookie season in junior A with the Melfort Mustangs of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.

    Kate’s brothers weren’t her only family members that made waves as competitive athletes. Her uncle Sheldon was a star quarterback first with the Saskatoon Hilltops and then the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. He has been the offensive coordinator of the Hilltops for the past 11 seasons.

Kate Ball piled up 30 points in 28 regular season games with the Bears.

    While she has had a lot of good influences to help her along in hockey, Ball found her own love for the sport.

    “I love skating,” said Ball. “Skating is my passion. I just love it.

    “I like the playmaking. It is just really fun.”

    Ball admitted beating the Stars in the SFMAAAHL championship series was a big highlight this season along with winning the Western regional over the Wildcats with a thrilling come-from-behind 7-6 series clinching victory in Game 2. The Bears were down 6-3 with 13:24 to play in the third period and closed the contest with four unanswered goals.

    She was pumped to go to Esso Cup and is also looking forward to playing two more seasons with the Bears. 

Kate Ball, left, and her teammates enjoy the Bears Western regional win.

    This season she continued to live in Saskatoon, and her parents drove to her to Prince Albert for practices and her games.

    Next season, Ball is planning to live with a billet family in Prince Albert.

    “I’m actually real excited to think about two more years,” said Ball. “I just love this group of girls and just being here. I think it will be good.”

    After her midget AAA playing days are done, Ball has a wish of where she would like to play on the post-secondary front.

    “Hopefully, I get to play with University of Saskatchewan, because it is like a mile from my house,” said Ball. “That would be really convenient.

    “If that doesn’t work out, then NCAA or college in the States that would be really good too.”

Bears pick up first win at Esso Cup

Camryn Amundson (#9) scored twice for the Bears on Tuesday at Esso Cup.

    On Tuesday in Morden, Man., the Bears picked up their first win at Esso Cup dumping the Summerside, P.E.I., based Mid-Isle Wildcats 6-1 at the Access Events Centre.

    Camryn Amundson and Jadyn Kushniruk both scored twice for the Bears, while Story Navrot and Miranda Heidt each netted singles. Ryan Fontaine turned away 13 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Bears.

    Madison Vincent had the lone reply for the Wildcats. Maggie Johnson turned away 57 shots to take the loss in goal for the Wildcats.

    The win allowed the Bears to improve to 1-2, while the Wildcats fell to 0-3.

    The Bears opened the Esso Cup on Sunday falling 2-1 to the host and Manitoba champion Pembina Valley Hawks. On Monday, the Bears dropped a 5-1 decision to the Pickering, Ont., based Durham West Lightning.

    Prince Albert returns to action on Wednesday taking on the Alberta-based St. Albert Slash. The Bears close their round robin schedule at Esso Cup on Thursday, when they face the Sherbrooke, Que., based Harfangs du Triolet.

    The top four teams in the round robin standings qualify for the playoff round. The semifinal round for the Esso Cup is set for Friday. The bronze and gold medal games will be held on Saturday.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.