U15AA Southern Express players set to compete at Alberta Challenge

By Lethbridge Herald on May 3, 2023.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Four U15AA Southern Express teammates from Lethbridge are set to battle in the Alberta Challenge beginning today in Red Deer.

The Hockey Alberta-led Alberta Challenge is a core female development program that allows for female players to discover the qualities of competitive hockey.

For defenceman Jaylee Skog, she is looking to repeat as champion of this tournament.

“It’s definitely going to be a lot different than last year, (with) just different girls and stuff” said Skog.

“But I think overall it will be a good experience.”

In order to win the Alberta Challenge, Skog thinks you have to have a good group of girls and not worrying about winning or losing.

“You’ve just got to have fun and keep pushing through it,” said Skog.

In coming back for a second consecutive tournament, Skog thinks it’s good to make more friends and being in that type of atmosphere.

“And just  like the whole atmosphere was just really good,” she said.

“So you just want to go back to something like that.”

Skog feels good with her play heading into the tournament.

“I’m really excited to play,” said Skog.

“I haven’t played games in a while. So I’m excited to get back out there and keep going.”

Mayson Mattersdorfer will join Skog on the South White roster.

“Yeah, I think that’s a big part of it,” said Mattersdorfer on having a Skog as a teammate.

“And just having her knowing the experiences beforehand even, (and) just talking to her about (how) great of an opportunity it is to play here, and how everyone’s there for the same reason and we all want to work hard and we want to win.”

Mattersdorfer thinks the female game has expanded because of this tournament.

“(At) Hockey Alberta, I think they see how many more females players  are into the game and … I think that it just almost sparks a new female hockey world because there’s not a ton of female hockey players,” she said.

“I think that Hockey Alberta is really achieving a new development for the girls in our society.”

She is looking forward to playing with new players and learning new ways to play the game thar she hasn’t learned before.

Coaldale’s Brooke Dyck will play on the South Black team and it’s her first competition of this kind.

“I feel like it’s going to be a great experience to play at the extra high level and meet a bunch of new players,” said Dyck.

Dyck is feeling pretty excited and a little bit nervous heading in.

“The season went pretty well,” said Dyck, on how the season set her up for the Alberta Challenge

”I worked hard in practices and carried it on to the games and I guess that just gave me the extra level to play for this Challenge.”

“It’s going to be a very high-tempo tournament,” said Dyck.

“I’m very excited and have to be very prepared.”

The fourth player from the Express team at the Challenge is Kat Nakama, who will be on South Green.

 The Challenge prepares for the possibility of playing on the provincial U18 Canada Winter Games team.

The try-out process begins in March with regional camps and there are six teams between the north of south regions that are formed .

The Alberta Challenge is from May 4-7 in Red Deer.

Results can be found at http://www.abchallenge.ca.