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Thomson and Skrypichayko key players on AAA team

The Lloydminster PWM AAA Steelers of the Alberta Female Hockey League (AFHL) will face off against the defending Esso Cup champions, the St. Albert Slash, on Jan. 28, at the Clancy Richard Arena.
Alex Thomson of St. Paul and Brooke Skrypichayko of Glendon are both playing for the Lloydminster AAA midget girls team.
Alex Thomson of St. Paul and Brooke Skrypichayko of Glendon are both playing for the Lloydminster AAA midget girls team.

The Lloydminster PWM AAA Steelers of the Alberta Female Hockey League (AFHL) will face off against the defending Esso Cup champions, the St. Albert Slash, on Jan. 28, at the Clancy Richard Arena. Two local athletes will lace up to take part in the matchup.

St. Paul’s Alex Thomson and Glendon’s Brooke Skrypichayko both play for the Lloydminster Steelers. The puck is scheduled to drop at 1:45pm, as the city clubs duke it out for better positioning in the league’s tight standings.

Head coach Randy Laumbach says the Steelers are a talented team in a tough league.

“(So far) we’ve put together a strong season. We won the Mandi Schwartz Memorial Tournament this year, which is probably the biggest tournament in Western Canada for female hockey.”

He adds, “That speaks to the depth of our team. We have a good group of girls to coach and they buy in and care for one another. We’re good from goaltending to defense to forwards.”

The top four of the six team league is separated by just 10 points, and most games are decided by one goal or a lucky bounce.

“It’s a tough league. Every day you have to bring your best to each game,” Laumbach said.

“If we win the winnable games and if we can win every (season) series against the top teams that we play, we have a legitimate shot at taking a run (at first place). To take first place you have to beat third place first and that’s St. Albert. I expect (next Sunday’s game) to be nothing but a really fast and hard type game.”

Laumbach is in his first year as head coach for the Steelers but has been when they were playing Bantam. Laumbach speaks highly of Thomson’s game.

“She’s a good skater and works hard. She’s got a great attitude and she’s a leader. She’s a very positive teammate to everyone and all the girls respect her a lot,” Laumbach said of the defenceman.

“As (coaches) we can depend on Alex. She’s a great hockey player and a great kid. She’s made great strides on the back end and willing to learn more. She’s (like) a sponge.”

Thomson herself sees improvements in her own game.

“With new coaching staff this year, I have upped my game and became more confident with my defensive game . . . We have very resourceful coaches who always push us to do our best.”

While playing hockey in Lloydminster has made her a better hockey player, it has also made her a better person, said Thomson.

Glendon’s Brooke Skrypichayko is also a defencemen and new to the Steelers and AAA hockey, but she has more than impressed her head coach.

“When she came into (training) camp she raised the bar. Coming out of mainstream hockey to making an elite AAA team - that’s not easy,” said Laumbauch.

“She’s strong and has a good shot and she believes in her skills. She’s come a long way for us and improves weekly,” he added.

Ten of the 18 players on the Steelers roster are from outside Lloydminster, so the club relies on billet families to house the players.

“Sometimes living away from home gets tough, but having a great billet family and supportive teammates and coaches makes it a lot easier,” said Thomson.

Laumbauch said all the teams in the league rely on players from across Alberta to make the teams as talented as possible, and games in central locations like St. Paul, are welcomed.

He says people interested in checking out the game on Sunday won’t be disappointed.

“It’s a fast game. They move the puck well and have good positioning. The girls are all top quality athletes and a lot of them will go on to play NCAA or (USports) later. It will be a treat.”

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