By Derek Cornet

La Ronge athlete makes SJHL history after suiting up for the Ice Wolves

Jan 16, 2019 | 4:00 PM

La Ronge’s Taylor Keast, 17, had no idea suiting up for the Ice Wolves at a recent regular season game would be an historic moment for the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL).

Her involvement with the team began the morning of Jan. 12, when midget Coach Tom Carlson received a request from Ice Wolves Head Coach Evan Vossen asking for a backup goaltender for that night’s game against the Kindersley Klippers. Vossen needed a second goalie in case an issue arose with Jordan Frey, as the team was still waiting for the arrival of Brendon Benoit who was acquired from the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Dauphin Kings. Although she didn’t make it on the ice during the match, Keast said she was honoured to be dressed for the Ice Wolves.

“It was a pretty cool experience to dress with the team I watched play since I was a little kid,” she said, adding it will likely not happen again. “I don’t think so unless the coach calls. It will be if they need another goalie or they are short or something like that.”

Keast played hockey for the last 10 years and was heavily involved in La Ronge Minor Hockey program. She’s also currently a Grade 11 student at Churchill Community High School and plans to finish the 2018-2019 hockey season with the La Ronge Midget Ice Wolves. Next season, Keast said she’ll likely play recreation hockey as university hockey would be the next step for her.

Keast is also the only female player on the midget team and Carlson said she’s proven to be a skilled goalie. When Carlson was asked by Vossen for a backup goaltender, he said he didn’t think twice about recommending Keast.

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“Taylor chose to stay in La Ronge and play boys hockey, and she’s one of my best players,” Carlson said. “She’s a fairly good technical goaltender. She’s fairly shy, but she comes to practice all the time and works hard. Good things happen to good people and she’s a really good kid.”

According to the SJHL, no official records are kept but the organization believes Keast was the first female to suit up in the league for a regular season game. She’s not the first for Junior A hockey, however, as Shannon Szabados starred in the Alberta Junior Hockey League between 2003 and 2007. Szabados was also named that league’s Goaltender of the Year when she was 20 years old.
 

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno