Anyone whoSA国际影视传媒檚 paid attention to womenSA国际影视传媒檚 hockey in the NWT will know Kyra McDonald is one of the best young players to come out of the territory.

SheSA国际影视传媒檚 about to show the rest of Western Canada just how good she can be.

The 17-year-old forward from Inuvik is on the roster for the Trinity Western University Spartans womenSA国际影视传媒檚 team in Langley, B.C., after being recruited from the St. Albert Slash U18 AAA girls team in Alberta during the off-season. She spent the past two seasons in the St. Albert system.

McDonald wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 the player head coach Jean LaForest originally had his eye on, however.

SA国际影视传媒淥ur goalie (in St. Albert) was the target,SA国际影视传媒� said McDonald. SA国际影视传媒淭he coach mentioned he would be watching our games and he recognized me and got in contact.SA国际影视传媒�

That goaltender, Jenna Goodwin, is also now a member of the team along with McDonald and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 a bonus for McDonald because it helped with the comfort level of being a newcomer.

SA国际影视传媒淚 knew some of the girls on the team already from playing against them and I played with some of them also,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚t really helps when you know people because itSA国际影视传媒檚 tough when you come into a new program and you may not know anyone.SA国际影视传媒�

In talking about McDonald, LaForest spoke about her competitiveness and skill.

SA国际影视传媒淜yra is an accomplished athlete that brings size and a competitive edge to our roster,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚n Kyra, we gain a player of excellent character, a strong work ethic and the potential for continued development.SA国际影视传媒�

The Spartans are playing in the Canada West Division of U Sports and they already have a few exhibition games under their belt SA国际影视传媒� UBC, the University of Calgary and Mount Royal University are some of the schools they faced off against in September. The ladies will open up the regular season at home versus UBC on Oct. 15 and McDonald is expecting it to be a big deal.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 going to be really good opening up at home,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a big rink and everyoneSA国际影视传媒檚 looking forward to it.SA国际影视传媒�

Maybe a bit more so because not only will this be the first game of the womenSA国际影视传媒檚 season but the first official varsity womenSA国际影视传媒檚 hockey game ever at the school. Trinity Western was accepted into Canada West before the start of last season but Covid-19 killed off the entire U Sports season for 2020-21.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 nervous about it. Our coach is always talking about it and heSA国际影视传媒檚 excited and weSA国际影视传媒檙e excited. I hope weSA国际影视传媒檒l get to play every team this season,SA国际影视传媒� McDonald said of the upcoming season.

The new normal around the campus includes some new rules regarding Covid-19 and they include showing vaccination cards when you enter the arena and masking up when not on the ice, she added.

SA国际影视传媒淓ven when weSA国际影视传媒檙e doing our off-ice workouts, we have to wear them,SA国际影视传媒� she said of masks.

Being away from home is nothing new for McDonald, but she said getting used to university life was an adjustment.

SA国际影视传媒淚 was intimidated at first because youSA国际影视传媒檙e coming into a new environment youSA国际影视传媒檝e never experienced before,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 enjoying it so far and ISA国际影视传媒檓 getting more comfortable. The big thing about Trinity Western is that itSA国际影视传媒檚 a smaller university and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 really helped with the transition from high school.SA国际影视传媒�

SheSA国际影视传媒檚 also been getting a lot of support from back home with people always asking her how hockey is going.

SA国际影视传媒淪o many people ask where ISA国际影视传媒檓 playing hockey and when I mentioned I was going to play at university, people were really excited,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淢y parents have been talking about it and telling everyone and that makes me feel proud. ISA国际影视传媒檓 proud that I come from a small community and ISA国际影视传媒檓 excited that everyone back home has been watching me.SA国际影视传媒�