Newcomers earning their stripes

Mikayla Flanagan has made a smooth and seamless transition to university hockey.

The 17-year-old Stratford native may be the youngest member of the Brock Badgers women’s hockey team, but has quickly established herself as a valuable member in her rookie season.

“We brought her in because we knew she would be very good,” Brock coach Margot Page said. “She’s a very disciplined hockey player in the way of positioning but still very aggressive. Has that edge to her, is very physical.

“She has good size, good speed and is very good at face-offs. We really struggled with that last year.”

Flanagan has exceeded expectations four games into her career with three goals and an assist.

“We thought we were getting a pretty compete player that could win draws for us and could compliment a checking line or scoring line,” Page continued. “She’s had a really good start.”

Flanagan, who is majoring in nursing, is happy with the start to her career.

“It’s a big difference, the game, the speed. It’s so much different. It’s such a different atmosphere,” she said. “I think the girls welcoming me at practice and in the gym, that’s been super helpful and that’s been a big reason for my early success so far.

“I feel like everyone is doing their little part. We’re bringing each other all up together doing the small, little things and helping out everywhere and getting ready for bigger and better things later this season.”

Flanagan had her sights set on Brock for some time and correctly figured it would be a perfect fit, on and off the ice.

“The nursing program really caught my eye and really liked the Brock hockey,” she said. “I started coming here to watch some of their games in Grade 9. Everything started falling into place. I came down for tours and I fell in love with the place. It’s super small and it’s close enough to home — not too close —but far enough away and it’s nice my parents can come and see me all the time.

“I love it. Everything about it is perfect. It’s where I want to be.”

Flanagan admits playing against more experienced opponents can be challenging.

“It’s a lot different playing people that much older,” she said. “It just makes me want to be that much better because they have such high standards and I want to play up to their abilities. I want to be able to make them better as well and be up there with them.

“A lot them are really experienced, especially in school, and if I need help with something I can always go to them because they’ve been through it all.”

Flanagan’s schedule has her hopping, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It’s super busy. It’s a lot and takes a lot out of me but I think if I weren’t so busy I’d have too much time on my hands,” she said. “It’s good to be busy.”

While Flanagan’s contributions have helped the Badgers split their first four regular season games, Page said she has been pleasantly surprised by how well all of her first-year players are performing.

“Our young group is really doing a good job if you look at the points and everything,” she said. “They’re in the mix. We’ve had a bunch of people get their first goals and the second-year players are doing really well.

“When you talk about the quick adjustment it isn’t because of them — obviously they’re much more prepared compared to the past — but our veteran players have done a really good job of getting accustomed to the game.”

Page has high hopes, both for this season, and long term.

“We were thinking we weren’t going to be on all cylinders until maybe mid January. We’re a pretty good hockey team right now. We may not be winning all the time, but we’re really pleased with what we’re seeing and where the team is heading to over the next few years.

“We’re cautiously optimistic. You have a vision of where you want to be in four or five years with a team and we’re doing a good job of that. Our players are buying into what we’re doing.” 

The Badgers are home to York Thursday at 7:15 p.m.

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