It won't be a be a break from the rink over the next couple of months for three local female hockey players.
Nova Langevin (Humboldt), Reece Thiemann (St. Gregor), and Venessa Hering (Bruno) will be spending a portion of the offseason back on the ice after they were selected to Team Saskatchewan’s Elite Female Hockey Program.
This past season, Langevin and Hering played with the U13 AA Warman Wildcats. Langevin finished the year with 30 points (10G-20A) while Hering collected 42 points (26G-16A), leading the Wildcats in scoring and was among the league’s lead in scoring, finishing fourth overall
Langevin enjoyed spending the year in Warman with the welcoming nature of her teammates and noted it took some time to adjust find synergy with the Wildcats but noted eventually she was able to discover chemistry with her squad.
Hering was pleased with her season with the Wildcats but added there’s always things she could work on.
In the regular season, the Wildcats finished on top of the North Division with 42 points (21W-7L) but were defeated in the North Division finals losing a best of three series to the Saskatoon Comet Hurricanes 2-1, with Game 3 ending in overtime.
Thiemann backstopped the U13 AA Humboldt Broncos (coed) and ended up with a record of 14-9-4-1 and a 3.48 GAA (Goals Against Average).
She credited her teammates for providing a positive atmosphere
“The boys on my team were really respectful and welcoming.”
With their hockey seasons over for the winter, the girls elected to continue their season with a chance to play for Team Saskatchewan.
All the girls felt it was a chance to see how their skills on the ice measure up to those of some of the elite female hockey talent in North America.
“I can have the opportunity to play a high level of hockey and against some of the best girls in North America,” Hering explained.
Langevin said, “I wanted to see how could get to playing at my best level and I also wanted to see how good all the other girls would be and if I could be better than them.”
“I wanted to play with girls that would be the same all-around calibre and play at the highest level I can play at.” Thiemann added.
At the conclusion of the tryout, all three girls were successful and were ecstatic when they found the news they made the squad.
With Team Saskatchewan, the girls will be competing against some of the best competition not only in Canada, but also in the United States as a part of the Rose Series which includes stops in Boston, Calgary and Edmonton.
All three of them are brimming with anticipation for their trip to Boston.
“It’s really fun to go outside of the province,” said Thiemann.
Langevin noted along with the hockey, the team will be enjoying some other fun activities.
“Some of our teammates are going to be watching a (Boston) Red Sox game and I will be excited for that.” She added this will be her first trip outside of the country which adds to the exhilaration of the trip.
For Hering, it will be a first-time experience on the ice in Boston which is something that she’s eager for.
Victories are the ultimate goal for the girls when they compete with Team Saskatchewan, but they also want to refine some skills to improve their hockey skills.
“I’m looking to improve puck control and setting up plays,” Hering said.
The emotional aspect of the game is what Langevin will be striving to improve on.
“Not retaliating and mostly my body language.”
As a goaltender, Thiemann will try to spruce up her skills between the pipes.
“I’m going to work on my speed and my hand-eye coordination and maybe some playing with the puck.”
After a season on the ice that will spill over to summer, the girls will get a little bit of breather from the ice before they’re back at the rink for winter.
For the trio, their hockey paths will branch off as they continue to chase their dreams.
Hering is planning on returning to Warman for another season with the Wildcats as she will try out for the U15 AA squad and attending Sask First camps.
While Langevin would like to play another season in Warman but says that she’ll likely be playing closer to home with either the Northeast Aces or the East Central Fillies.
Thiemann anticipates another season of competing with boys as she will try out for the U15 AA Humboldt Broncos team.
For sponsorship opportunities or donations, you can contact Jorges Langevin (306) 231-8796 or email jorgesjacques@hotmail.com