Jacquelyne Chief is one of three PA Northern Bears invited to try out for the Team Saskatchewan U18 roster. (Facebook/PA Northern Bears)

By Teena Monteleone

Cracking Team Sask roster

Bears defenceman vying for spot on Team Sask roster

Aug 18, 2021 | 8:00 AM

A player from the Prince Albert Northern Bears hockey team is hoping to turn some heads at the upcoming Sask. First Female Under-18 Fall Camp.

Jacquelyne Chief will be joining her teammates, Brooklin Fry and Jazlyn Petreman, in a battle for a spot to represent their province at the 2021 National Women’s U18 Championship this fall.

“I am very proud and really excited. It would mean a lot to make the team because I have always wanted to play on that team and it’s been a goal of mine,” Chief said.

The 16-year-old blueliner from Onion Lake Cree Nation lives just outside of Saskatoon in Grandora. She spent her AA Bantam years playing in Warman and made the transition to the Midget AAA Prince Albert Northern Bears last year.

“She is a very smooth skating defenceman and that’s one of the things that stands out in her game for sure,” said Bears head coach Jeff Willoughby.

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“It’s a reflection of the program when the players can make it to that level and we’re obviously very happy about that,” he said.

As an Indigenous female hockey player, Chief said it was difficult at times to get to the level she’s at now but her family has always helped her stay positive.

“Hockey is something that I really love to do, so I just had to stick to it,” Chief said.

While simply being invited to the camp is an accomplishment, Chief is hoping the opportunity leads to more good things for her hockey career down the road.

“Knowing more of the girls in Saskatchewan who play at a higher level will be super exciting and fun and then getting the opportunity to be looked at for colleges and stuff. I definitely want to be playing high level university hockey when I graduate.”

Chief will be one of 27 players at the camp in late September before a final roster of 20 players will be chosen to make up Team Saskatchewan for the National championship late October and early November.

Morgan Willoughby joins Bears coaching staff

A familiar face will be joining the coaching staff behind the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League (SFMAAAHL) PA Northern Bears’ bench this season.

Morgan Willoughby will join her father Jeff behind the bench as Assistant Coach for the Bears this season. (PA Northern Bears/Facebook)

Morgan Willoughby has been announced as the new assistant coach. Willoughby, who is the daughter of the head coach Jeff, was a Prince Albert Bear for four seasons, including being the captain the final two years of her Midget AAA career. She recently finished her five-year Usports career as a member of the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) Huskies, where she was an alternate captain the past two seasons. She obtained a bachelors degree in Education from the U of S and is currently employed in the Prince Albert Catholic School Division.

“She applied on her own and then told me after that she did so I was excited,” said Jeff. “To have the opportunity to coach with my daughter is just very special and we look forward to it very much. She’s excited to continue on with hockey. It’s been a big part of her life so to see her involved like this is really rewarding.”

Morgan is the first female on the coaching staff for the Bears.

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Teena.monteleone@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MonteleoneTeena