“This will be Makenzie’s
first year at the NAHC and
she will play a major role
for us. I know Makenzie is
the type of player who will
be up for the challenge.”
This season, McCallum
finished with 20 goals and 39
points in 26 of her team’s 30
games. A player who starred at
the Esso Cup National Midget
Championship last year in
Morden, she’ll be expected to
lead Team Manitoba on the
scoresheet when the 2018
NAHC opens on May 6, 2018
at Membertou First Nation
on Cape Breton Island.
Meanwhile, Powell is a
defenseman who can also play
at both ends of the rink. Bear
loves the fact that Powell is
a defenseman who anchors
the power play for the Hawks,
but plays forward with Team
Manitoba at the NAHC.
“Kaila will be returning for
her second year at the NAHC
and while Kaila plays defence
during her regular season
with the Hawks, I talked to
her last year about her playing
forward at the NAHC and she
jumped at the chance,” Bear
explained. “That’s a decision
that turned out great for all
of us. She finished in the
Top 5 in scoring at last year’s
NAHC. Kaila has great vision
of the ice and is very calm
under pressure, which gives
her time to make the plays she
does. She’s a great player.”
Powell was born and raised
in Swan River, way out in
Western Manitoba. She
starting playing at age five
and played boys hockey for
the Stampeders organization
throughout most of her
minor hockey career.
“I followed my older brother
into hockey,” she said. “I
always wanted to be like him
and was lucky enough to
get to play with him every
second year. When I got to
Bantam, I played girls hockey,
but our team in the Parkland
Region folded, so I was able
to move anywhere and I
went to Yellowhead. But I
also played Swan River boys
hockey at the same time.
“When I got to Midget,
there was still no Parkland
team so, once again, I could
anywhere I wanted so last
year I knew Pembina Valley
was going to host the Esso
Cup championship and I
wanted to play in the national
championship so I went to
Pembina Valley, loved it, and
now I’m in my second year.”
This past season, Powell
was outstanding in Morden.
She had three goals and 20
points in all 30 of her team’s
games, but she also convinced
McCallum to take a serious
look at Team Manitoba.
“Makenzie’s one of my
closest friends,” Powell said.
“I learned that she just got
her Metis card, so I got her
into it. That tournament is
the experience of a lifetime.”
McCallum started
playing the game in Morden
when she was four.
“My older brothers’ Jordan
and Rylan, both played and I
wanted to be just like them,”
she said with a laugh. “So
I decided I would play, too,
and they got me skating
when I was really young. I
played TimBits at five and
then got moved up so I could
play with my brother and
that helped cut down the
scheduling time for my family.
They don’t have girls’ hockey
in Morden so I played boys
hockey right through Pee Wee.
I think playing boys helped
become a faster player.
“I moved to Pembina
Valley in Bantam and now
I’m playing Midget with
the Hawks. Kaila talked to
me about getting involved
with the Manitoba team and
contacted Dale and I’m excited
to play with Team Manitoba.
The Lea twins, Keyara and
Keyanna, were both excited
about having me join the team
so I’m really looking forward
to the trip. I’m committed.”
Ask Team Manitoba head
coach Dale Bear and he’ll tell
you he knows both Powell
and McCallum are committed.
There is a gold medal on the
line and nobody in Manitoba
wants to give it up. ❍
MAKENZIE MCCALLUM
1 1 8 | G AME ON | PL AYOFF ED ITION 2018