Cougars playmaker Baranyk enjoying rookie season

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This article was published 29/11/2023 (713 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

From Wildcat to Cougar, 18-year-old Billie Baranyk is enjoying her college rookie season playing in the American Collegiate Hockey Association.

After six games — she missed three Assiniboine Community College Cougars tilts because of an injury — the five-foot-four winger has scored four goals and collected two helpers. And just one minor penalty, which is good news for coach Tony Bertone.

“I want her on the ice because of what she can do for your team,” he said.

Laughing when she looked back on her final season with the U18 AAA Westman Wildcats, the ACC freshman had 24 points, and 106 penalty minutes.

“Yeah, playing college hockey is a whole different game, so I’m still adjusting to the league,” she said, adding she plans to cut back on time spent watching the game from the penalty box.

Besides the tempo of the college game, Baranyk is adjusting to being up at 5 a.m. for her team’s 6 a.m. Wednesday practices at J&G Homes Arena.

“I’m glad I’m only 10 minutes away from the arena because I have never had an early practice like that playing minor hockey since I played Timbits, novice and making the transition from playing with boys to girls.”

She started her U18 AAA Wildcats campaign after moving from boys’ bantam AAA, but only managed to play three games before the COVID-19 pandemic ended her season. The following year, she moved to Winnipeg to play for the Rink Hockey Academy, where she led the team in scoring with 43 points.

She returned home the following season so she could finish her Grade 12 year at Vincent Massey and play again for the Wildcats.

Adjusting to playing with girls again, Baranyk no longer had to worry about having her head down moving the puck, as female hockey is hit-free.

“When I was playing bantam AAA you made sure you played with your head up, and you were always thinking ahead to the next play,” she said. “You needed to know where the puck was going, whether it’s going to the tape, or off tape. If you hesitated the guy was on you.”

“Now that I’m back playing girls’ hockey, I can go where I want and not have to worry about being nailed with a big hit. Now I can read, and react,” she added.

“It’s a slower game compared to the boys, so now I can hold on to the puck longer, and have a look where I want to pass. I prefer to be a playmaker with my linemates, but I’m also known for putting the puck in the net.”

On a line with Binscarth’s six-foot Madison Haliuk and five-foot-six Kasey Fouillard from Miniota, the trio is having success offensively after nine games.

Her linemates are sophomores on the roster, with Fouillard pacing the attack with five goals and 16 points in nine games. Last season, she had 14 goals and 11 assists in 23 games.

Haliuk has two goals and eight points after nine games, while her 2022-23 season saw the towering forward tally 13 goals and eight assists in 24 contests.

Making the transition to the college game, Baranyk is enjoying the road trips and the game atmosphere facing American opponents.

“The competition is not as intense compared to when I played boys’ bantam AAA or U18 AAA girls hockey, but I like that this team can just roll four lines. I know when we play the Sault (in Northern Ontario) it will be a whole different game from what I’ve heard for the girls who played them last season.”

While her team’s early season success is due to a balanced attack, and stingy defence — Cougars have outscored opponents 65-4 — the rookie winger knows there’s lots of work to do learning coach Bertone’s array of systems she’s quickly learning with each practice.

She’s looking to qualify for nationals being played in St. Louis, Missouri in spring 2024. And more long bus road trips where she has three things on her to-do list.

“I do my homework, lots of talking, and watch TikTok,” she said. “This season for me is about making memories, so it’s enjoyable being on the bus with your teammates.”

What does she bring to the team besides her natural hockey skills?

“I’m an outgoing person,” she said. “I bring character on and off the ice. With my linemates, I take a positive approach so we all have success when I make plays. On the ice, I want to make my teammates better, not just myself.”

Baranyk’s choice to play for the Cougars came down to being at home and around family, plus what the college offered. She will make the switch to nursing in year two of three, so coach Bertone can expect to see her playing into the 2025-26 season.

“I looked at programs in the United States, but when you are on a roster of 28 players, you don’t play as many games when you’re a rookie,” she said.

“If I was just going for the hockey, I might have got the U.S. route. But I wanted the schooling, too, as I want to get into the health care program here.”

Having veterans on the team has helped the rookie winger adjust to balancing school with hockey, she offered.

“They show the rookies how you manage school with your hockey at the college level. My teammates have been a big help with that because you’re doing a lot more than when you were in high school and playing minor hockey.”

She’s especially keen on the Cougars road trips.

“This is a lot different because you’re travelling together as a team, compared to when I was younger and I’d be going to games with my mom and dad in the car, or travel with another teammate’s parent.”

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