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.”

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