PEAK OF THE MARKET PLAYER OF THE MONTH
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SIDNEY SHYIAK
HEIGHT 5 ’ 2 ” | WEIGHT 115 | AGE 17 GOALS 1 | ASSISTS 4 | POINTS 5
BALMORAL HALL ’ S SHYIAK COMMITS TO UNIVERSITY OF REGINA
Sidney plays in the Major Junior Division of the Junior Women ’ s Hockey League , consisting of 10 teams from Chicago , Vermont , Boston , Detroit , Washington , Ontario and B . C .
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This is Sidney ’ s second season with the Balmoral Hall Blazers .
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Sidney lived in Portage la Prairie until the age of four , but after graduation from BH this year , she plans to study Kinesiolgy at the University of Regina .
Sidney Shyiak may not be the biggest player on the ice on any given moment , but she certainly carries one of the largest hearts . This speedy winger on the Balmoral Hall Blazers prep team hit the ice at a young age , and hasn ’ t slowed down since .
“ My first sport was ringette ,” said Shyiak . “ I started skating really young and really enjoyed the skating aspect of ringette . But then I moved and there wasn ’ t any ringette offered , so I decided to take up hockey to see if I liked it or not . And I just stuck with it .” Now able to attend a private school , play prep hockey and travel across North America as a part of the Junior Women ’ s Hockey League , Shyiak looks at her monthly calendar and can find upcoming games in Boston , Chicago , Washington and Detroit .
“ Playing in this league is honestly an amazing experience ,” she said . “ You ’ re playing the game you love , going all around North America , and you ’ re doing it with your best friends . It ’ s an amazing experience .” Shyiak – who is committed to play at the University of Regina beginning in the 2018-19 season – knows that she has a tremendous role model to look up to in her coach , Sarah Zacharias .
“ Sarah is an amazing coach ,” Shyiak reflected . “ She always makes us feel comfortable . She is just like one of us – professional , but at the same time she is like one of our best friends . She ’ s a great coach .”
Born in Yorkton , Saskatchewan
BY CARTER BROOKS Photos by Laurie Anderson
134 | GAME ON | DECEMBER 2017