School’s in.
Cochrane’s Hannah Olenyk is already hard at it, hitting the books and the rink at University of Alberta in Edmonton.
The 18-year-old Bow Valley High School Class of 2014 grad and former Highwood Raiders midget AAA all-star is in her rookie season with the U of A Pandas. The squad is second in Canada West University Athletic Association women’s hockey standings (3-1) with a pair of wins over Lethbridge Pronghorns and one over Regina. Olenyk has two goals and six assists in her first four games wearing a Pandas sweater.
“It’s been going really well,” the 5-foot-5 forward says of her introduction to Canadian university women’s hockey. “Our team’s really strong and our coaches are great. It’s going to be a good year.”
If there is a period of adjustment at the next level, Olenyk is in it now. But she’s proven to be a quick study, up for the rigours of elite women’s hockey.
“She brings a natural intelligence to the game,” says Pandas head coach Howie Draper. “She’s quick and she sees the ice very well. She makes good decisions with the puck most of the time. Given a little time, when she starts to create a little more space for herself, she’s going start scoring some goals for us.”
She’s excelled at every level so far, finishing her minor-hockey career with bronze on Team Alberta at last year’s national midget girl’s tournament and an Alberta Major Midget AAA Female Hockey League final appearance with Raiders.
“Definitely a step up from minor hockey,” Olenyk observes of the next level. “It’s so different. I think the overall biggest difference is the compete level in every single player. In practices, everything is game-like. You go 110 per cent on even your own teammates in practice to make each other better. It’s just a big commitment that everyone is in for.
“Every time you get on the ice, you’re fighting. You’re fighting for your spot in the lineup. You’re fighting to play even to get in the lineup that game because every line sits out a game. It’s a battle.”
She arrived in Edmonton Aug. 22 to set up her freshman year in what will be a lengthy stay in Alberta’s capital.
“It’s really neat being part of a team you know you’re going to be with for the next five years. It makes you want improve that much more for your teammates. It is honestly a family. Which is really neat.”
She’s plotting a hockey track mirroring that of minor-hockey cohort Sam Sutherland, whom she considers a good friend. They’ve played a lot of hockey against each other since peewee in Cochrane.
Sutherland is at Boston University playing hockey and currently in Team Canada’s women’s development stream. Olenyk wants to get there.
“My goal is to get recognized by (Hockey Canada) U22, and I still have few more years to do that.” Olenyk states. “That’s my goal. I think the position I put myself in going to U of A was a smart choice for me because I believe the coach here, Howie Draper, is in my opinion one of the best coaches. He’s very involved with all that stuff. He knows all my goals and he’ll help me do what I can to get where I want to be.”
For Olenyk, there will always be another level to shoot for.
