By Alissa McArthur /
When it comes to tight divisional races, the Canada West conference in Canadian Interuniversity Sport women’s hockey is a perennial dogfight. So in a division where the slightest edge counts, the fact the UBC Thunderbirds have scooped up a former member of the National Under-18 team counts as a major coup.
Cumberland native Rayna Cruickshank is a blue-chip defence prospect that UBC bench boss Nancy Wilson, a former assistant coach with the national women’s team, rates as one of best young defenders in the country. Wilson says Cruickshank is a strong skater who can quarterback the powerplay – and will do exactly that to boost the T-Birds’ attack on the man advantage this season.
“She’s an extremely coachable player,” Wilson says. “She wants to get better and she’s a very good team player.”
But despite being the highest-profile UBC prospect in recent memory, one who rejected a scholarship to an NCAA Division I school, Cruickshank herself doesn’t feel any different from her teammates.
“No one thinks I’m better than them in any way, and I don’t think so either,” she says. “I just think I has experience...if [my teammates] need help I’ll give and they teach me stuff every day.”
Even more impressive than Cruickshank’s resume is her answer when asked what she wants to work on this season. Even as an 18-year-old CIS rookie, at the top of Cruickshank’s list is taking on a leadership role with the T-Birds. Judging by her charmed career trajectory so far, it won’t be surprising to see the defenceman emerging as one of the leading lights on a young UBC team.
Growing up on Vancouver Island, Cruickshank started playing hockey with boys at three-years-old. She continued playing on boys’ teams until Midget hockey, when she joined the North Island girls’ team. After playing for Team BC at the Canada Winter Games, Cruickshank made the 2008/09 U-18 National Team.
Cruickshank’s international experience thus far culminated in a silver medal at the 2009 World Women’s Under-18 Championship in Fussen, Germany.
“It was amazing just...wearing the maple leaf on your jersey and playing with all the best players in the world,” Cruickshank said about the worlds. “Playing at that level made me so much better.”
After the 2008/09 season, Cruickshank was offered a full-ride scholarship to the University of Minnesota Duluth of the NCAA, but turned down a chance to play Div. I hockey to stay close to home. The blueliner says she chose to stay in Canada not just because of the comfort factor of being a ferry ride away from home, but also because of the balance UBC strikes between high-calibre hockey and academic excellence.
“And it’s going to be really exciting this year with the Olympics,” she adds.
As for her job on the ice this season, Cruickshank says she wants to help her team get to nationals and gain exposure for herself, as well.
“I want to contribute not only on the defensive end but get points too,” she says. “I want to be seen by the national team and get another invite to the Under-22 Team.”
According to Wilson, Cruickshank won’t have much trouble continuing to make a name for herself.
“She’s a very smooth player,” Wilson says. “You really have to watch her to see how good she is. She’s not flashy. She plays a one-on-one as well as anyone in this country.”
But the coach is wary of putting too much weight on Cruickshank’s young shoulders
just yet.
“I think she has the potential to be one of the best young players we have in this country,” Wilson says, “but she needs time to develop and we’re going to give her that time.”
With an exciting prospect like Cruickshank manning the point, the T-Birds may finally have found the keystone player to build around and propel them to the elusive CIS national championships. |