Another young woman on the ice for the Rustlers hockey team is forward Kylie Perry who harbours the dream of playing for Canada at the Olympics.
The Red Deer left-winger is making Lloydminster her home as she dons the colours for the Lakeland College King’s Energy Group Rustlers program.
“I just love hockey. I took a break last year and I was going to be done, but I just couldn’t be done. I just love it so much. What keeps me going is since I was small, I always wanted to go to the Olympics and that keeps me pushing,”says Perry.
The business student credits Canadian forward Marie-Philip Poulin who scored the winners for the Maple Leaf in three out of the four Olympics that she has played as her inspiration to persevere.
“I just like her game. She’s always hard on the pucks; always going and she works hard.”
Perry says she works at her shooting especially when she’s at home by targeting the net in her garage to build accuracy and power.
The forward is resting her shoulder and will sit out Friday’s game against her hometown Red Deer Polytechnic after she sustained an injury as she went into the boards in the match up against SAIT.
With National Girls & Women in Sports Day having been observed on Feb. 1, Perry shares encouragement for young female athletes.
“Lots of girls struggle and get down on themselves. After having a bad shift, they’re just focussed on that. What’s really helped me is positive self talk. Telling myself that I can do it. Telling myself what I need to focus on while I’m on the ice and just trying to keep that positive mindset.”
Puck drop for Friday’s contest is 7:00 p.m. at the Russ Robertson Arena.