Although the Battlefords Sharks are currently rebuilding for next season, there have been quite a few standouts who are finding success at the college level.
The Red Deer College Queens were able to capture their first ACAC championship in 14 years this season with the help of graduated Sharks Morgan Fraser and Keinyn Nordell. Fraser, a three-year veteran with the Battlefords, was continuously in the top five for scoring and had her best campaign in 2013, finishing second on the team in points with 14 goals and four helpers. The forward was also a force on the power play unit, tallying five goals on the man advantage, leading the team.
Nordell is a puck moving defenceman with great vision who really came into her own during the 2013-14 season. Her two years on the Sharks was highlighted by a nine assist year.
“Playing with the Sharks was a large step for me in becoming a player who wanted to take her playing career to another level,” Nordell said following their championship. “The program allows females to be seen and scouted into college leagues. During my years as a Shark we did not face a lot of success as a team, but I did learn that hard work must be instilled in every player and team, no matter the outcomes. I know I am not the type of player to put a lot of points up on the board, but I am the type of player to work hard for the people around me in my dressing room, and this is a quality I obtained from playing in the Sharks program.”
The Queens put together quite the season, topping the standings with a record of 18-3-3. After disposing of the SAIT Trojans in two games during their best of three semi-final, Red Deer went on to play the number two seed in the NAIT Ooks for the ACAC title. The Ooks finished the year with 13 wins in the 24-game season.
NAIT jumped out to a 1-0 series lead, defeating Red Deer in a close 2-1 tilt before the Queens roared back with a 5-1 statement win. From there, they didn’t look back, taking the series lead on home ice with a 2-1 victory before narrowly edging the Ooks in double overtime in the deciding game. Red Deer was able to tie the game with under a minute left in the final frame before eventually hoisting the trophy.
“It was all adrenaline and excitement and all I wanted to do was celebrate with my teammates,” Nordell said. “Winning a championship with the Queens team is something that I will never forget. Watching the puck slide over the goal line is an image I will have imbedded in my mind forever.”
Fraser believes it was the team effort rather than certain individuals that made the team succeed the way they did.
“We worked so hard as a team to come this far. We always had each other's’ back and there was no getting down on one another,” the forward said. “We played as a family and we knew we were a championship team and that we had something special. This is a moment I had always dreamed about and now one I will never forget.”
The championship was well earned. It gave Red Deer the taste of revenge considering NAIT was able to defeat them just a year ago in the finals.
“The fifth and fourth year veterans have been waiting for this chance for many years and it was incredible to be apart of a team that earned that for them,” Nordell said.
As far as their contributions, both ladies were instrumental in the championship run. As a rookie, Fraser, who has been known for her ability to find the back of the net, chipped in with two goals during the playoffs and found the back of the net three times in 14 games over the season. Nordell chipped in with three helpers in six games in the postseason.
It was a family-type atmosphere that ultimately brought them success. This was fostered by first-year coach Kelly Coulter. Coulter was able to bring back the ACAC championship in his rookie season behind the bench, earning him coach of the year honours.
“Kelly coached us to work on our strengths, such as skating, shooting or puck work,” Nordell said. “He pushed us to use what we knew we could do best. Relentlessness became a word he used often to describe how we needed to play. He knew we could win a championship if we wanted to, but we needed to be relentless.”
Next season, the Red Deer Queens will be welcoming a new face from the Sharks to their team. Landry Derdall committed to play for the Queens this offseason after an impressive campaign for the Battlefords. Red Deer will be receiving another defenceman with leadership capabilities, as Derdall donned the “C” on her jersey this year for the Sharks. The stay-at-home defender totalled four goals and eight assists in 53 games in the past two years.
The Battlefords have found their roots in Red Deer. Former head coach for the Sharks, Ashley Rafuse, played two seasons for the Queens and Dustin Gorgi will also be heading to play for the Kings this upcoming campaign.
