An Okotoks hockey player has committed to making a strong union with the young Rocky Mountain Raiders and to the university of her choice.
Josie McLeod, a forward with the Raiders, verbally committed last week to the Union College Dutchwomen, of the NCAA.
“I think NCAA hockey Div. I is the best hockey you can play,” said McLeod, a second-year Raider. “I wanted to strive to be as good as I can be.”
She is following somewhat in her older sister Amanda’s footsteps. Amanda is a junior playing with the Div. I Penn State Nittany Lions. (Penn State beat Union College 3-1 on Saturday on the weekend).
“She kind of led me to this path – she inspired me to be the best hockey player I can be,” said Josie, a Foothills Comp student.
McLeod is aiming to attend Union starting in the fall of 2020. She has some work to do this year, provide some leadership to the ultra young Raiders.
The Raiders are the two-time defending Mac’s Midget Hockey champions and were Alberta Female Hockey League provincial Midget AAA finalists a year ago – a title they won along with a Pacific championship two seasons ago.
The 2018-19 Raiders aren’t at that level yet.
Their 3-1 loss to the Edmonton Pandas on the Raiders’ home-opener Saturday at Davisburg’s Scott Seaman Sports Rink left Rocky Mountain with an 0-4 mark in the early going of the season.
“I am definitely trying to lead the girls but I want to go out there and just play my role,” McLeod said. “I would say I’m an IQ player I like to make the plays and make those key passes.
“I think I am a good forechecker and works hard — I create energy.”
Sydney Trotter is also a second-year Raider, a leader on the blueline for Rocky Mountain.
“We are a new team, the majority are first years and we are getting better every game,” said Trotter, who didn’t dress against Edmonton due to a suspension. “I need to be a leader and encourage the younger girls. This is a big jump from Bantam. I will help them get adjusted.”
Trotter is the last of the three sisters to play for the Raiders, she follows in the footsteps of Cassidy and Breanne Trotter who are playing for the Mount Royal University Cougars.
“It’s been different not playing with my sister (Breanne),” said Trotter, who has contributed a goal this year.
“She used to help me out telling me what I was doing wrong and encouraging me. This year my teammates are doing that.”
The Raiders are young, they have 11 players who were born in 2003.
Forward Brooklyn Leduc is making the adjustment. The 15-year centre has two assists this season.
“This is definitely a completely different game than Bantam,” said Leduc who played for the Bantam Elite Raiders last season. “Bantam was more if you see the puck, go get the puck. Midget is knowing when to make the plays.
“I wouldn’t say it’s been more difficult, but faster and tougher.”
Jordyn Matthews, another 2003-born Raider said Midget hockey “is an incredible adjustment the game is way faster and a lot more technical, but every game I have picked it up a lot more.”
She added she’s getting plenty of encouragement from coaches and the second and third-year players.
“100 per cent,” she said, when asked if she was gaining more confidence. “We have tons of new players. It just shows it is really nice to see we can step up at this level and in the following years we will continue to develop.”
Hailee Easson is putting on the Midget Raider sweater for the first time.
“It is definitely a step up from Bantam — you have to adjust,” said Easson, a forward with the Raiders, who has one goal this season. “In Bantam you can skate more with the puck, here you pass more.
“It’s been kind of difficult, but fun.”
She moved to Okotoks about three years ago and said it was her goal to play with the Raiders after watching them play.
Athena Hauck is an HTA student who calls Grande Prairie home. She is currently out with an injury.
The Raiders dropped to 0-5 when they lost to the Red Deer Sutter Chiefs 3-1 in Davisburg on Sunday.
Despite the slow start, Union-bound McLeod remains optimistic.
“I think we are a good team, we have a lot of really first-year players and leaders,” McLeod. “It’s not about the beginning it’s about the ending. I think we will keep building.
“I am not worried about it.”
The Raiders next game is a rematch against the Chiefs on Oct. 20 in Red Deer.
For more information go to midgetaaa.afhl.ca
