Prince Albert's Stryker Zablocki fires a shot from the high slot against the Northern Bears in Esso Cup action on April 26, 2023. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW staff)

By Logan Lehmann

Esso Cup

Local Rebels players talk about playing Esso Cup in hometown, close to home

Apr 27, 2023 | 1:00 PM

Despite playing for the enemy, a pair of local players for the Regina Rebels are feeling all the love from family and friends playing at home on the national stage.

Stryker Zablocki is in her first year playing for the Rebels after spending her minor years playing in Prince Albert, where she talked about playing on the national stage in her hometown.

“It’s very special,” she said. “It’s not something you experience every day and I think it’s been super fun for me and my whole team, especially for me since it’s my hometown.”

The 16-year-old has wasted no time finding her groove in the SFU18AAAHL, posting 40 points (25g, 15a) in her rookie season while adding another 11 points (7g, 4a) in the playoffs. Her exceptional regular season was enough to land her in a tie for fifth in league scoring. Now on the national stage, she’s continued to turn heads registering four points (3g, 1a) in four games with the Rebels so far in the Esso Cup.

Zablocki also mentioned the change of pace and the atmosphere in the Art Hauser Centre, saying it’s an electric environment.

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“It’s crazy, the cheering is wild,” she explained. “Everywhere you went, there was people cheering and banging on the glass and it was pretty special as well.”

Birch Hills product Kadence Dansereau prepares for a faceoff in the attacking zone. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW staff)

Her teammate, Kadence Dansereau, also spent time playing minor hockey in the Prince Albert area. Hailing from Birch Hills, she talked about what it means to play for National Gold just up the road from her hometown.

“I have a lot of family here and it’s something that you don’t get to experience day to day,” she said. “This is my only chance to (experience playing the Esso Cup in Prince Albert) and if it doesn’t come back to Prince Albert, as my years go on then I’m just really happy to be here while my family can be here to watch.”

Like Stryker, the 15-year-old posted promising numbers in her rookie campaign, scoring 21 points (9g, 12a) while adding a goal and an assist in the playoffs. In the tournament, Dansereau has one point, collecting an assist in the Rebels’ 6-5 loss to Fraser Valley on Tuesday.

Being no stranger to the Art Hauser Centre, she said that this tournament will be an experience she will never forget.

“I have a lot of memories in this rink from when I was a child and I’m glad to be playing here again,” she said. “This will probably be my biggest and most special memory and I’ll keep it forever.”

Regina wraps up their round-robin play on Thursday afternoon, taking on the Atlantic representative Northern Selects at 3:30pm. A win would secure the Rebels a spot in the medal rounds at the Esso Cup.

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logan.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @lloganlehmann