Recapping Manitoba's 2023 Female NAHC Team: Where Are They Now?
The 2023 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC) was a good tournament for Team Manitoba Female, where they finished 2nd and earned a silver medal, losing to Team Ontario in the final. There were many talented players on the 2023 team, some of whom will return for NAHC 2024 in Grande Prairie, while others have moved on to new hockey challenges. This article will unpack where each 2023 Team Manitoba player is today, showcasing the top talents that have moved on and the talented players returning in 2024.
Returning Players (13):
- Sofie Thompson (F) - CSSHL U18
- Seanna Price (F) - MFHL U18 AAA
- Haley Braun (F) - U18 AAA
- Ginger Fast (F) - MFHL U18 AAA
- Selene Wozney (F) - MFHL U18 AAA
- Kirby Gray (F) - MFHL U18 AAA
- Jessica Anderson (F) - MFHL U18 AAA
- Braya Kapusta (F) - JWHL
- Breigh Rank (F) - CSSHL U18
- Addison Dyck (D) - CSSHL U18
- Kurtia Yetman (D) - JWHL
- Linnea Misner (D) - JWHL
- Rachel Hallderson (G) - MFHL U18 AAA
Most returning players spent the 2023-2024 hockey season playing in the local "U18 AAA" league, the Manitoba Female Hockey League. Players like Selene Wozney and Ginger Fast put up 1+ points per game, and should be key pieces to the 2024 NAHC lineup. The brilliant backstop Rachel Hallderson also returns to tend the goal for Team Manitoba, looking for revenge against Team Ontario. Sofie Thompson, Breigh Rank, and Addison Dyck each played this past season in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL), which is a league of high-level hockey academies for talented female hockey players. The 2024 Team Manitoba Female team will have a strong crop of returning players to boast and compete for a championship.
Graduates (7):
- Sophia Anderson (F) - USports
- Anya Misner (F) - USports
- Julianna Herman (D) - NCAA
- Ella Stewner (D) - USports
- Jenna Goertzen (G) - USports
- Caitlin Anderson (F)
- Ravis Constant-Kuba (D)
The two main avenues for young and talented female hockey players were NCAA or USports before the introduction of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) this year. In general, to make a college/university hockey team in your first year of post-secondary education is amazing, and to see five Team Manitoba Female players make their school teams and play games during their 19 y/o year is impressive. Julianna Herman played a full season for Saint Anselm College, putting up an impressive 11 points in 35 games as an NCAA rookie defender. Ella Stewner played a full season for the University of Alberta and Sophia Anderson played some games for the hometown University of Manitoba. Forward Anya Misner and goalie Jenna Goertzen also played together this past season for Carleton University.
Conclusion
The Team Manitoba Female silver-medal winning team was a talented team. While some of its core has since graduated, there is a great opportunity for returning players and newcomers to take charge and 'go for gold'. The 2024 NAHC tournament begins in Grande Prairie on May 6th - make sure to stay connected via MASRC socials and the NAHC 2024 website to watch the future of Indigenous hockey!
Written by Nick Lacoste.
