(Submitted photo/Rhea Peterson)

By Nolan Kowal

National champs

‘Awesome to be a part of’: Debden’s Peterson proud of ACHA hockey championship

Mar 27, 2024 | 12:00 PM

Rhea Peterson is still basking in the glow of a national championship.

The 21-year-old hockey player from Debden, Sask. recently won the ACHA title with Adrian College in Michigan. They beat Minot State in the final.

It’s the first title in school history for the Bulldogs women’s program.

“I don’t think any of us have come to the realization yet… it’s such a surreal feeling,” said Peterson. “The first national championship in school history is a big deal, I think.”

“It was a pretty great feeling to be there and to win and to be with that group of girls.”

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The Bulldogs also won their sixth consecutive league title in the process.

“It was a year of big wins and upsets for the team, and something that I’m really excited I got to be a part of,” Peterson said. “It was just an amazing group of girls and our coaches and everybody we have to support us was absolutely, unbelievably great. They were always in our corner and it was awesome to be a part of a program that has that much support and success.”

Individually, Peterson finished with a career high 35 points in 34 games. She also transitioned to playing centre this season for the first time with some help from her coach.

“My coach [Carter Clarke] had a lot of confidence and faith in me for sure,” said Peterson, who spent four seasons with the Prince Albert Bears (currently the Mann-Northway Northern Bears) prior to heading south to Adrian College, which is in Michigan. He definitely helped me out a lot this year and he put in a lot of work after practices, on the ice, off the ice.”

“I was a winger before obviously and I always kind of played like a centre, so he saw that might be a good fit for us.”

Peterson still has one more year of eligibility left and said she’s looking forward to her senior season.

“It’s exciting… hopefully we get to repeat this year, end on a high,” said Peterson. “I will be sticking around to finish my Masters Program [in Athletic Training] here in Adrian. But after that it’s kind of a grey area. I’m planning on staying in the States for work, but hopefully I get to stay around hockey. But yeah, it’s coming to an end.”

Peterson’s family is still in Debden, about an hour northwest of Prince Albert. She spends her summers in P.A.

“I start the long 30-hour drive on May 4,” she said.

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nolan.kowal@pattisonmedia.com