Kohl, 16, and Nimegeers, 15, attended the recent Hockey Night in Boston Girls Major Showcase, a high-profile tournament designed to act as a recruiting tool for coaches and scouts from Prep and NCAA programs all over the United States.
That, while offering some high-level instruction in fun ‘summer camp’ environment for the over 400 players who take part in the competition every year.
“I thought the whole experience in general was really fun,” said Kohl, who is heading into her second year with the 18U AAA Prince Albert Northern Bears. “It was really new, especially playing with and against people from the States, too, since I’d only played in Canada. So I thought that was a really cool experience… Overall, it was really, really exciting for a first push into the NCAA route.”
The event format saw 20 teams taking part in a series of practices before participating in a five-team round robin tournament, followed by an All Star game at the end of the week.
Wouldn’t you know it, not only did both Moose Jaw players excel -- Nimegeers picked up the Top Performer in her games three times, Kohl once -- but both were named to the All Star Game and Nimegeers was named one of the entire event’s top defencemen.
“It’s a really, really good feeling,” said Nimegeers, entering her second season with the 18U AAA Regina Rebels. “Even though my team didn’t come out with the win in the tournament, being able to play in the all-star game and win those awards was really great… it really boosts my confidence level and it helps my game as well, being noticed like that.”
Nimegeers is no stranger to elite hockey outside of Canada, having played in the World Selects Invitational in Chamonix, France back in 2019. But the set-up of the HNIB event was different in on specific -- and enjoyable -- way.
“It was definitely a new experience, since I’ve usually stayed with my parents, but this time I was with three completely random girls,” Nimegeers said. “But it was so, so fun staying in the hotel with them and getting to making life-long friendships.”
Kohl felt much the same way about that aspect.
“You really get to bond with them when you stay with them for a week,” she said. “So now I have some really close friends from all over.”
The on-ice experience was also something different for Kohl, especially when it came to seeing different styles of play compared to back home.
“The first initial practices were really a challenge for me, meeting new people and stuff, but the coaches were really supportive,” she said. “It was a lot different with how the hockey was actually played, too. In Canada, it’s the same way and same format and everything, but from all over the States, all these girls play different offensive and defensive zone regroups and everything. So we combined all our stuff together to make our own little unit and that was kind of different in itself, really cool.”
Adaption is an important part of the game, though, and once she adjusted to the style, the flow of the game came quickly for Kohl. And when her coaches let her know just how well she had actually taken to the style...
“It was like wow, really? Thanks so much!,” Kohl said of cracking the All-Star team roster. “Sometimes when you’re playing in these things with these great girls it’s hard to stand out, but it showed I was succeeding in this and it was a lot of fun.
“And that All-Star game was really something,” she added. “It was the highest level of hockey I’ve played in my whole life, it was great.”
Now, it’s all about getting ready for the new season. Both players will be heading off to their teams in the near future, optimistic for what the new Sask Female 18U AAA Hockey League season holds.
“I hope it’s a regular season, nothing happens with COVID or anything like that,” Nimegeers said. “I think our Rebels team is looking pretty good this year so we’re really looking to succeed.”
The Northern Bears, meanwhile, will finally host the Esso Cup national championship this spring after seeing the event cancelled due to the pandemic the last two seasons.
“I’m really excited for it, especially for my second year,” Kohl said. “I think we’ll come out strong, once we step on the ice we’ll actually get to play the whole season, there won’t be any concerns and it’ll be great to be back out there.”
