A NEW CHALLENGE

Kelsey McHolm is walking into a challenging new job. It shouldn’t be difficult, but it will be a challenge. That’s what happens when you take over as hockey operations co-ordinator at one of the most committed and successful Prep Hockey Programs in the country. In fact, Balmoral Hall School might just have the very best program in Canada. After beating Stanstead College from Stanstead, QC, in the third-place game of the Junior Women’s Hockey League championship tournament, one could argue that the Blazers are, indeed, the best U19 team on this side of the 49th Parallel. So as McHolm, 25, a former six-year player at York University gets comfortable with her new surroundings, she’s also getting a handle on how important the BH hockey program really is. “Kelsey will be the hockey operations co-ordinator, taking over the role that I’m doing,” said interim head coach Regan Boulton who is handling the job until Sarah Zacharias returns from maternity leave. “It’s a lot of the logistical work, getting around North America during our travel season, doing the stuff that no one really sees – travel secretary, rink booker, all that stuff behind the scenes that no one sees that takes a lot of hard work.” McHolm, who has a degree from York in communications, marketing and professional writing, will also take over the Blazers’ social media accounts. “That’s a big job,” said Boulton. “Sarah and I have been doing it for years, whoever has time really, but to have Kelsey handling that on a regular basis will be great, she is really suited for that role.” McHolm certainly comes well-prepared for a job in the hockey business. She spent seven years at York, six on the varsity hockey team and is also an accomplished softball player who is now coaching the Smitty’s U15 team. “I played five seasons at York, at least on the ice for five seasons, but with one COVID year, so, I was on the team for six,” said McHolm, who originally hails from East St. Paul. “I got into hockey because of a gentleman named Dale Hughesman (a co-founder of Game On Magazine). He saw me playing ringette and asked me if I wanted to play hockey. Dale asked me to come out and skate with him for the Junior Steelers spring team. Then a year later, he passed away. I was in Grade 7 or 8 at the time so, I got into hockey kind of late. “I originally played with the Winnipeg Ice, but after the program folded, I went and played with the Avros for two years and then went and played for York for five years, but got an extra year because of COVID. I think I was the first Winnipegger to go to York (back in 2016) and since then, I think 12 have trailed behind (this past season, there were seven Winnipeg players on the York University Lions). Coach (Dan) Church likes the prairie players because they know how to get on a bus and travel. “But it’s great to be back home and I’m excited to get into this new challenge.”