Zablocki follows the play at the 2024 Esso Cup during a contest against Quebec's L'Intrépide de l'Outaouais. (Hockey Canada/Sophie Isaac)

By Nolan Kowal

Golden girl

‘Super special’: P.A.’s Zablocki reflects on Esso Cup win, reveals plans for next season

May 2, 2024 | 11:00 AM

A gold medal at the Esso Cup was an impressive ending to an impressive hockey season for Prince Albert’s Stryker Zablocki.

The 17-year-old forward won gold at the tournament with the Regina Rebels as they beat Ontario’s North York Storm 2-1 in the final on Saturday in Vernon, BC.

“It’s amazing…all the adversity we faced this year, and to see that it finally paid off and all our hard work throughout the year paid off is super special,” said Zablocki, who was named the tournament’s MVP.

It was also the first-ever Esso Cup win for the Rebels.

“It’s super cool…the Rebels have never won it before so we made history,” Zablocki said. “Being a part of that team that made history means a lot to me and I hope that the Rebels can do it again.”

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“No one can ever take that away from us that we’re national champions, and it’s a super amazing feeling.”

The gold medal win put a bow on a busy season for Zablocki, who also won a bronze medal with Team Canada at the U18 Women’s Worlds in January.

“I got to experience so many cool places and meet so many amazing people, and that was super special for me,” she said.

Zablocki comes from an athletic family as her older brother, Storm, is a track athlete, while her younger sister, Steele, is also a hockey player.

“Our family is very competitive…whatever we do everyone wants to win so that helps a lot, and I guess we support each other a lot in our family too and we’re all supportive of our siblings and cheering each other on all the time and just hoping the best for each other,” Zablocki said.

Zablocki is back in Prince Albert for the summer and revealed she will not return to the Rebels next season. Instead, she’s opting to head south of the border to attend Bishop Kearney High School in New York and play for the Bishop Kearney Selects in her Grade 12 year. Following that, she’s already committed to Northeastern University in Boston to play NCAA Division I hockey. She’s planning to major in business.

She added she has pro aspirations and is excited about the emergence of the Professional Women’s Hockey League.

“Yeah, that’s a big goal of mine actually. It’s really exciting to see that girls eventually have a great place to play and get paid, so super cool to see that established,” said Zablocki, who added that her favourite player to watch is Emily Clark.

“Just because she’s a Saskatchewan native and she’s super talented and so fun to watch,” she said.

Zablocki herself is poised to join a long list of top hockey players who hail from Prince Albert.

“It’s good to see that a small town like P.A. can produce some good hockey players and good athletes, and I’m proud and honoured to be one of them.”

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nolan.kowal@pattisonmedia.com