Yellowhead captain Hannah Reagh ready to lead Chiefs

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This article was published 15/02/2024 (581 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Leadership is an important commodity during the post-season — lead by example and your teammates will follow.

That’s the assessment of tenacious Yellowhead Chiefs captain Hannah Reagh, who has experienced the ups and downs of the playoffs during the past few seasons in Shoal Lake.

Now a senior on the U18 AAA team playing in the Manitoba Female Hockey League, Reagh is also the team’s captain. She know what it takes to win, and the intensity of the playoffs will mean her teammates will need to match that intensity, but still stick to the game plan they followed during the 2023-24 regular season.

“In the playoffs, we need to just ensure we stay true to our game and work hard. Our veteran squad will be depended on, and the first-year players will get a taste of what playoff hockey is all about,” she offered. “We have a good mix of rookie and veteran players, and we all work hard to bring out the strengths in all of us.”

Reagh and the fourth-place Chiefs (18-9-1) open the post-season at home on Feb. 22 when they entertain the fifth-place Winnipeg Avros (15-11-2). Puck drop at 7:30 p.m.

The Chiefs ended the regular season with a 3-1 win over the Avros, so have some momentum to use against their opponent.

Standing just five-foot-four, Reagh will be counted on to provide more than leadership — her offensive prowess was on display during the season. She had set a goal for herself this season, to finish among the league’s top-five snipers.

“I worked hard all year long and feel my play this season helped my team be successful,” said Reagh, who finished tied for third in league scoring with Winnipeg Ice forward Chloe Nicole.

Playing all 28 regular season games, she scored 13 goals and finished with 30 points, 15 points back of Ice sniper Stephanie Jacob, who had a league-best 31 goals.

Reagh also knows playoff hockey will mean more bumps and bruises as the physicality of the game will be apparent in puck battles along the wall, in front of the net or blocking shots from the blue-line. She demonstrated her own toughness in the Avros game.

Going out to block a shot, Reagh took a puck off her foot, which hobbled her as she struggled to reach the bench after a whistle. The “stinger” momentarily benched the Chiefs leader for a few shifts as she fought through the pain. But then she returned to action to lead her team.

Needing to move up in the standings to challenge for a better playoff seeding knowing the Ice were secure in first-place, the Chiefs faced some of the top teams in the league. Reagh said her teammates showed their true mettle by winning crucial games.

“No matter if it was the first five games or the last five games, we knew we needed to go out there and do our best to get the two points. The last few games were crucial to ensuring we locked up home-ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs.

“We have a never-quit attitude and even when we get down on an opponent, we never give up. I was so proud of our team in our last game against the Winnipeg Ice. We were down 3-1 with seven minutes to go in the game. We dug deep, tied the game and ended up taking the two points in overtime. We are a resilient bunch.”

With the playoff configuration in place with playoffs starting on Feb. 20, Reagh acknowledges it’s a new season, and whether you finished first or eighth in the league, upsets are part of the game. She’s not worried about meeting up with the Ice in subsequent rounds, especially if it’s in the finals.

“No matter if a team is first or last, we treat them all as threats. We are currently 3-1 against the Ice in regular season play, and our games against them are always close and exciting.

“Three of the four games went to either OT or a shootout, so the fans are always in for a great, fast-paced game. We respect every team we play and know there is always going to be a winner and a loser, and we need to work hard every game.”

Since the Chiefs have plenty of overtime and shootout experience, Reagh knows her teammates can handle the pressure of those moments, especially in the post-season.

“We have had many OT games and shootouts this year, and we have had so many players step up under pressure, including our goalies (Natalie Rampton and Clair Merckx) who have made many huge saves to help secure two points and keep us in every game,” she said.

“It’s so nice to know we have such a strong squad of players and goaltenders who step up every game to give us their best effort.”

Reagh just has to turn to a memorable moment for herself this past season to know she too can be counted on in overtime.

“My most memorable highlight for myself this season was scoring 10 seconds into the OT period to win against the Winnipeg Ice and handing them their first loss on home ice of the season,” she recalled.

In 44 games with the Chiefs this season, Reagh finished with 18 goals and 23 assists.

The other playoff series are Winnipeg Ice versus Central Plains Capitals, Westman Wildcats versus Pembina Valley Hawks and Interlake Lighting versus Eastman Selects.

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