Parker, Stars in quest for national girls’ title
Team captain to receive Hockey Canada award for leadership and dedication
Saskatoon Stars captain MacKenna Parker has the ability to carry her team on her back.
She often takes on the weight of the opposing team, too.
“With the numbers she puts up, obviously every coach that we coach against has her marked,” said Stars head coach Greg Slobodzian, whose team is the West representative at the 2018 Esso Cup national female AAA hockey championship in Bridgeport, N.S.
“Their best defence, their best forwards, are all over her. She’s usually double-teamed. She carries players to the net on her back. “(But) she just won’t be denied.” When Parker shoots, she often scores.
Parker led the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League in scoring with 33 goals and 27 assists for 60 points in 23 games during the regular season.
“She shoots the puck better than a lot of midget AAA guys,” said Slobodzian, whose team left Saskatoon on Friday morning for its cross-Canada flight.
“Her release is just unbelievable and, again, that’s not to be denied. She’s dangerous because she can shoot from anywhere. Yet, when girls start to really get in lanes and stuff, she’ll do a nice five-foot sauce (saucer pass) to someone. So, she sees the ice well. She moves well. She’s just one of those players that’s a dream to coach. I’m lucky.”
So, too, are the Stars, who cruised through the SFMAAAHL with a 21-3-3-1 record and remain undefeated through the playoffs.
So far, the Stars are 10-0 in the post-season.
For her part, Parker will be honoured with a Hockey Canada award Saturday night. She’ll be presented the prestigious Isobel Gathorne-Hardy award given annually to a Canadian player who best demonstrates leadership and dedication in women’s hockey.
Which, coach Slobodzian said, “is a really big deal.”
But Parker is quick to deflect the praise. “You can’t have individual success without the team,” stressed Parker. “The team has always been first. We’re doing so good and the chemistry’s there. That’s what comes first and success just comes later.”
The Stars will face a tough schedule to start as they’ll open up the
tournament Sunday (9 a.m. Sask. time) against Ontario’s Brampton Canadettes, followed by Quebec (Pionnieres de Lanaudiere) at the same time Monday and the Pacific regional champion St. Albert Slash on Tuesday (12:30 p.m. Sask. time).
“We can’t go in there thinking that we have it,” said Parker. “We’re going to put in the work. We’ve all just got to keep skating and doing our thing and I think we’ll be successful.”
Parker began playing hockey in the novice ranks within the Saskatoon Minor Hockey Association’s Comets female hockey zone.
“Every game, I’m aspiring to get better and better,” she said. “I’m just trying as hard as I can.”
Parker represented Canada at the 2017 IIHF U18 women’s world championship, winning a bronze medal in Dmitrov, Russia.
After midget hockey, she is headed south to Boston University on a hockey scholarship.
“It’s so exciting,” she said of her NCAA hockey future. “I’ve always dreamed of it since I was a kid. I always wanted to go play college hockey and I also wanted to come hereanddothebestIcanwiththe Stars.”
As for the Isobel Gathorne-Hardy award?
“It’s amazing to know that all my hard work is paying off and it’s a team thing. They ’re all helping me out and they ’re all encouraging me. It’s good to know that I’m putting in the work and it’s paying off.”
In the end, team success trumps individual success.
“Definitely team,” she said. “That’s way better than doing it all by myself. And we have such a great group of girls.”
Slobodzian praises Parker for her dazzling skill-set and low-key humility.
“It’s not about her,” said Slobodzian. “She’s not a big celebrator. She’s here just for the team.
“I wasn’t around when the Rocket played, but I sort of see the same thing in her when I watch highlights and stuff (of Rocket Richard), busting through and finishing.”
Slobodzian expects Parker to lead the way at the Esso Cup and carry the team if she has to.
“Absolutely. Going into the playoffs, I pulled her aside and said, ‘If you’re feeling good and playing the way you can, we’ve got a real good chance here.’ I don’t mind putting pressure like that on some of my athletes.”