Bonnyville will have representation on the ice at a national-level.
Local Ali Macaulay was named a member of the Alberta National Hockey Team for the second year in a row.
The young athlete will be heading to the 2019 National Aboriginal Hockey Championship in Whitehorse, YT from May 4 to 13.
Macaulay noted she’s looking forward to not only the opportunity to play nationally, but also to travel to a part of the country she has never been.
”It’s going to be exciting to go there and see what it’s like.”
After making the team last year, Macaulay knows what’s in store.
”It’s going to be different, but I’ll still know what to expect from the tournament,” she emphasized.
The defenceman has been playing hockey “since I can remember.”
She said, “It just gives you the passion to focus on teamwork and communication skills. It’s just been in my life for so long that I can’t remember myself not playing hockey.”
After starting her career in Bonnyville as part of the Lakeland Jaguars, Macaulay moved on to become a defensive player for the Lloydminster Steelers midget AA last season.
In 25 games, she scored eight goals and six assists for 14 points overall.
”She had a good year and she fit in very well,” noted Steelers head coach Randy Laumbach. “She played a lot of important minutes for us. We used her a lot as a shutdown defenceman. In some games she did some top lines, and she handled that very well.”
Laumbach believes Macaulay is among the top defencemen in the province.
He continued, “She worked hard to make the Steelers, and I know she would have worked hard to make that team. It’s a good opportunity, and... (she) should go enjoy it, have fun with it, get better, and you’ll have different coaching staff and teammates for that week. Enjoy that part of it, and take it in. When you’re young, these opportunities don’t come along very often, and as you get older you don’t get them anymore. Make the best of it, and have a good time.”
Macaulay has high hopes for her hockey career. She wants to continue playing in post-secondary, and to one day join the country’s best on Team Canada.
She believes the tournament is a good place to showcase herself.
”I think it’s definitely a good place to display my skills, and it’s a start to going somewhere in my career. Just making the team is so exciting.”
Since she strapped on her first pair of skates, Macaulay has seen the popularity for girls hockey grow in the area.
”When I was young, it was just starting up, and now... (the Bonnyville Jaguars) play more teams in the league and there’s more teams that want to join.”
