PROFILE
TRINA ALLARD
NO BAD DAYS
BY ADAM PELESHATY Photos by Laurie Anderson
If the first game of the new calendar year was any indication, Trina Allard of the Manitoba Women’ s Junior Hockey League’ s Manitoba Blizzard has emerged as a player to watch.
Experts around the MWJHL think of Allard as a hardworking, grinding, reliable, lunch-bucket type of player, but in her post-Holiday opener – and throughout the 2017-18 season-- she has demonstrated a different side. Despite the fact her team lost 3-2 to the Northern Stars at Bell MTS Iceplex, the thirdyear, 5-foot-11 centre scored both of the Blizzard’ s goals in the first period of the contest. Her two-goal game increased her 2017-18 season total to eight tallies( tied for second in team goal scoring behind Stefanie Leslie) and 10 points in 16 games. The Blizzard are also in a dogfight for second place in the MWJHL standings, right behind the Polar Ice.
“ I think we’ re doing pretty good this year,” Allard said.
“ We’ re closer to the top of the standings. So I think we have a good chance this year. I feel like if we make it to the finals this year, that’ s a pretty good goal. We’ ve only made it to the first or second round of the playoffs( in recent years). Finals would be a good goal for our team.”
As the Blizzard’ s schedule winds down, Allard’ s eight goals are only one short of the career-best nine she scored in her rookie year of 2015- 16, providing a dependable veteran presence and a vital player for the Blizzard.
“ I think I’ ve been doing better than in my previous season. I think I’ m actually quite pleased with this year,” she said, adding that her personal goal this season was to surpass her point total from last season, when she scored only two goals and added seven assists.
Allard learned the game at Dakota Community Centre and played her minor hockey there before suiting up for the AA Female St. Vital Victorias.
112 | GAME ON | REGULAR SEASON EDITION 2018