Borbandy debuts in all-star game

Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter

 

The Alberta Female Hockey League (AFHL) honoured their best bantam players during the Elite All-Star game Jan. 14 at the Strathmore Family Centre.
It was extra special for Rocky Mountain Raiders centre Kaia Borbandy. The Langdon product got to skate in the inaugural all-star game with her family in attendance.
“It was a great experience to be a part of this event. Not too many girls get the opportunity to play in it and represent where they come from,” said the second-year Borbandy.
“It was nice to see her rewarded for her efforts. She trains very hard on her own,” said Raiders head coach Dustin Borbandy. “She is one of the first ones in on the fore check and one of the first ones back on the back check. Her line has had several opportunities at the net this season. Hopefully they get a couple more pucks in for their effort in the second half.”
The league divided the teams into a north and south team, and gave them the full NHL treatment with player introductions, an anthem and a topsy-turvy logo on a screen in one of the corners.
“Strathmore put a bid in and we thought they would do a good job with it. We know that they are one of the draw zones for the Rocky Mountain team, so there was a chance to have some local girls playing in the game,” said Hockey Alberta coordinator of programs and events, Melissa Drake.
The south squad carried the majority of the play through the first period, but headed into the intermission 0-0.
Borbandy was zipping around the ice. Starting at left wing, she was lined up with Hayleigh Craig (Lethbridge Cyclones) and Dylan Norrie (Olds Grizzlys). She had a pair of cracks at loose pucks in front of the net in the second, but couldn’t jam one in, as the north led 1-0 after two.
“I would see these girls in the regular season and think that they were really amazing. It was a great experience to play with them,” said Borbandy.
Things have been trending upwards for the Borbandy family in 2017. Earlier in the month, her older sister Emma won the Mac’s AAA Midget Hockey Tournament. The 14-year-old was very deserving of her all-star nod. She leads the Raiders with six points, and was joined by teammates Sydney Trotter and Shaye Parkinson.
“I wish all of my teammates were here to experience it with me, but I’m glad that they were here with me. They were both very deserving,” said Borbandy.
The Raiders will resume action Jan. 21 when they host the Grizzlys in Okotoks.