Westman Wildcats winger Karlyn Gudz excited about move to Minot State

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This article was published 10/01/2024 (618 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Having excellent coaching since she started playing minor hockey in 2012 has helped develop Karlyn Gudz into the player she is today.

Born in Brandon, and a Grade 12 student at Neelin, Gudz has two goals and five points, plus 14 penalty minutes in 16 games playing for the fourth-place Westman Wildcats (12-6-1) in the competitive U18 AAA Manitoba Female Hockey League.

“Growing up I have had some really great coaches I’ve learned many different things from, and that helped me improve to be the player I am today,” she said.

“My puck-handling skills and IQ of the game as well as my confidence have improved, which has led me to play a strong physical game that has benefited me in the past few years and hoping it will in my upcoming years.”

Gudz’s hockey future will see her move to North Dakota and play for the Minot State University Beavers during the 2024-25 season.

While she explored other post-secondary hockey opportunities, it came down to familiarity with a few players on the Beavers current roster, which helped with her decision when offered to commit to MSU.

“The main reasons I chose MSU were because I have previous teammates and friends Makenna Beard and Paige Kozak who play there and they have loved it,” she said.

“I liked the campus and the small size school as well as the girls and coaches, on top of it being close to home.”

While at MSU, Gudz plans to enrol in MSU’s physical education program, with a goal to graduate and become a French immersion gym teacher, perhaps finding a job where she’s attending now.

Finding a post-secondary school to continue playing hockey after graduating from high school was a goal Gudz set for herself for the 2023-24 season.

“My goal coming into this season was to find a school that would be the best option for me to play hockey with and continue my education for the next four years, as well as be a leader on and off the ice for the younger girls in the room … and win another MFHL championship,” she said.

An assistant captain this season, Gudz was a rookie member of the 2021-22 MFHL U18 AAA provincial championship Wildcats team. She also played for Team Manitoba at this year’s U18 national championships.

“It was such an awesome experience with such a great group of girls and leaders that led us to win, leaving us rookies with the best first year,” she recalled. “It will be even better to finish off my time as a Wildcat with another MFHL provincial championship as a vet.”

“We are excited to add Karlyn to our roster for the upcoming season,” Beavers coach Ryan Miner said. “She brings a well-rounded style of play to the ice, using her skill to contribute offensively while still having the ability to battle and work.

“Being in a leadership role, I look forward to Karlyn bringing those qualities over to our program as well.”

The Saskatoon-born Miner, who played goal in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, has already recruited four former Wildcats to his current roster: Beard and Gillian Gervin of Boissevain, Kozak of Souris and Krissy Rink of Melita.

Gudz is the fourth Westman player to commit to a post-secondary team this season, joining rearguards Addison Vines (University of Manitoba Bisons) and Hallie Franklin (University of Saskatchewan Huskies), plus forward Kelsey Huibers (University of Manitoba Bisons).

“The U Sports route is also a great option, and I’m excited for Addi, Hallie and Kelsey, but Minot State had all the things I was looking for and felt like a better fit for me from my first visit,” Gudz said.

What does Gudz bring to her 200-foot game with the Wildcats?

“I bring speed, strength and size especially this year having a smaller and younger team,” she said.

This is a contrast to her rookie season when she looks back three seasons ago.

“As a rookie on the team, I learned so much just by playing in a stronger league with bigger, better and faster girls compared to U15.

“Playing in the league with, and against some really great players I think has really developed me to the player I am this season.”

Gudz concedes she has plenty of strengths she brings to her Wildcats team, but admits there are improvements in her game she constantly works on to become a solid two-way player as she moves up to that next level at MSU.

“My strengths are my ability to use my speed with or without the puck, using it to forecheck and backcheck. My size and strength allow me to win puck battles, and getting pucks out of our zone,” she said.

She also wants to improve on her skating “to have quicker feet off the start of my stride.”

Looking back on her minor hockey history, Gudz started skating at age two, but was never really interested in playing like her brother. It all changed thanks to a friend at school.

“My best friend from school had convinced me to try it out with her, and her dad was the coach,” she recalled. “After my first year of playing hockey, I fell in love with the game and decided to keep playing.

“After one year in Timbits, I aged out to play one year of U9 boys until I was asked to play up with the U11 girls. I played three years of U11, then moved up to U13 and U15.

“My first year of U15 (girls), I was cut from the U15 Wildcats leaving me the option to play house league or try out elsewhere. I decided to play house league and improve myself to prove them wrong the next year.”

Returning for Wildcats tryouts in the fall of 2020, she made the team. But it was short-lived as her season was postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Missing a year of U15 did not deter her from moving up to another age group.

“Moving up to U18, I was so nervous for tryouts, but made the U18 Wildcats my first year,” she said.

It was not until she arrived at U15 when Gudz decided playing forward was her position choice, specifically skating on wing.

“I decided to stick with forward (at U15) because I like to play offensively and create scoring chances for the team … I can still use my speed to backcheck hard when needed,” she said.

“I prefer playing wing since I’ve played it for so long, and have gotten confident with my role in that position.”

Like her fellow teammates who have their own favourite Team Canada players, Gudz is no different. She likes Natalie Spooner and Meaghan Mikkelson.

“I got to participate in a camp ran by Meaghan Mikkelson and Sami Jo Small called The Scotiabank Girls Hockey Fest held in Brandon in 2014,” she recalled.

“In 2015, the Clarkson Cup was brought to Brandon by Natalie Spooner where I got to meet and play road hockey with her.

“After those camps, I really looked up to them and dreamed to be like them one day.”

Focused on the regular season now, and playoffs this spring, Gudz knows she will have a busy summer preparing herself for the jump to the Beavers in September.

“My plan is to finish off this season strong, and get right into my summer training — on and off ice — and focus on getting prepared for next season.”

While some of her teammates switch to softball in the summer, Gudz has other distractions to keep her busy until hockey season returns.

“I usually spend my summers at Clear Lake where I enjoy spending time doing water sports as well as beach volleyball,” she said.

“Other than that I spend some of my summertime at the rink and participate in some of the specialized off-ice training that has been available to me at (Western Canada Hockey Academy).”

In 127 current career games — including tournaments — with the Wildcats during the past three seasons, Gudz has scored 21 goals and added 29 assists.

Knowing this is her final season with the Wildcats, Gudz knows she won’t forget the past three years playing with her various teammates who have all worn the Westman jersey. But she knows new friendships and memories will be made with the Beavers.

“I will honestly miss everything about (the Wildcats). I’ve been so honoured to be on a team with the best coaches and group of girls for these past few years that have become some of my best friends,” she said. “I’ve learned so much on and off the ice being a part of the Wildcats program.”

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