Veteran forward Haliuk grows with Cougars

Madison Haliuk is a prime example of how sport can help someone break out of their shell.

The 21-year-old forward for the Assiniboine College Cougars may be quiet and keep to herself away from the game, but as soon as her blades pierce through the ice, a switch is flipped, and the transformation begins.

“What I really notice is that, like, I kind of get out of my comfort zone,” said Haliuk on Wednesday. “I find myself talking lots, either I’m yelling for the puck because I want it, or I’m cheering for my teammates, or if they’re down, I always make sure to say, ‘Hey, just forget about it, we all make mistakes.’ It’s just kinda weird because in person I’m really shy, but on the ice, no, I don’t care. I could yell random stuff if something happens, and it just happens naturally.

“Hockey’s so important to me, so I don’t care what other people think about me. I don’t care if they think, like, I’m yelling too loud or something like that, because that’s how I play, it kind of takes away my shyness.”

That attitude is also embraced in the way she competes as well, as Haliuk describes her play as a mix between an enforcer and a playmaker, who can work down low in the corners and use her grittiness and six-foot frame to win puck battles while also doing her part on the score sheet.

Through 11 games in the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 2, Haliuk has posted four goals and 10 points, most recently potting in two goals over the weekend during Assiniboine’s dominant back-to-back set at home with the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, when they outscored their opponents 13-0.

The Cougars have gotten off to a hot 9-2 start this season — only losing on the road to the Jamestown Jimmies and Sault College, the archrival Cougars squad that has won the national title three years in a row, with the last two coming at the expense of AC.

The third-year forward is one of just six returning players, and said the roster turnover this season took some getting used to on the ice, but now, it seems everyone is on the same page.

“We started off a little slow, but I think that’s how every team is just because there’s new girls coming in and we haven’t played with each other, but like, once we got more into practice and playing more games and got all the nerves out, we got a lot better,” Haliuk said. “Lots of improvement has been made, like our passes have been really good, we’re scoring goals, and the chemistry is there.”

Haliuk is playing alongside veteran winger Alexis Campbell and rookie Kali Remillard. The trio have combined for 19 points thus far.

“I feel like our chemistry is really good. Kali’s winning draws and we have really good passes, and we’re just, we’re always looking for each other. We’re always talking out there, so it’s really good,” said Haliuk. ”Then if we have any problems about our line, we talk to each other and see how we can improve on our line so that we can get goals and how we can help our team out, so that’s important.”

In addition to the newfound chemistry on the ice, the fresh group of players entering the fold has also helped Haliuk be more herself off the ice.

“I could say that this group has really helped me out to get out of my bubble a lot,” she said. “It’s kind of crazy because we have grown really close to each other in such a short period of time, so it’s nice to see that.

“It’s just a great bunch of girls who are always wanting to hang out with each other and support each other, and I think that really helps us to be a team.”

A big piece of the team bonding has come during trips on the road, when the team indulges in some friendly but competitive trivia battles hosted by head coach Charles Tweed — who according to Haliuk, should ask some more creative questions other than what’s happening in the NHL.

Now, the team will have plenty more time for all the trivia they can handle, as the team won’t be in action until Dec. 13, when they begin a two-game series against Lake Region State College.

Haliuk admitted the break will be a good opportunity for her and the rest of the team to get some much-needed rest.

“I think it’s really good just because it’s kind of been hockey, go, go, go, and we practice three times a week and then we have games, so it’s like, it’s a nice break for our body to get some rest,” she said. “I see this break as something that we need, especially with school picking up.”

Once the Cougars return to the ice, they will look to continue their dominant form and hopefully carry that momentum to the post-season, where they hope to manifest a different ending than the one they’ve had the past few years against Sault College in the final. Haliuk believes if AC were to get that opportunity in the championship game again, it will make it count.

“We all want to win,” Haliuk said. “I didn’t start playing for the trophies or the medals, but it’d be so nice, just winning nationals. That would be like kind of the cherry on top, so that’d be amazing.

“The mindset for us, obviously losing in the final is, ‘Okay, we kind of have a go-all-in’ … We have nothing to lose.”

» mdelucataronno@brandonsun.com