Hammond thrilled to be playing at Alberta Challenge

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

Rocky Mountain Bantam triple A female Raider defensemen Karissa Hammond was thrilled to have her named called to represent the South Lightning team at the 2015 Alberta Challenge.
“I jumped to the phone because I was excited,” said Hammond. “Everyone was texting each other and seeing if they got a call.”
She is looking forward to having that familiarity behind the bench to help her along throughout the tournament.
“It feels pretty good going in, knowing that I get my assistant coach (Bobbi-Jo Slusar), she knows who I am and how I play,” said Hammond.
The Strathmore native said what made the camp better was the fact her Raider teammates were pushing her out on the ice.
“It was nice to be back on the ice with them, even playing against them, you just pushed harder against them because you know they can take it,” said Hammond.
She said the difference between playing for the Raiders and the Alberta Challenge are the different skill levels coming to the tournament.
“There a lot of different ranged people like minor hockey, triple A, double-A kind of players. Some of the players weren’t as good, but they didn’t have the ability as other players, “said Hammond. “Even when you passed, some players would pass too hard, because it’d just go off your sticks because they couldn’t handle it, whereas when I played with the Raiders where they were stronger on their sticks and could handle the passes.”
The Alberta Challenge will take place from April 29 to May 3 in Medicine Hat.