Generating offence key to playoff success, says Yellowhead Chiefs’ Dara Thompson

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This article was published 17/02/2024 (579 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dara Thompson is ready for the playoffs, looking to provide offence in a game likely to be defensive battles.

Post-season is a different beast, observed Thompson, who finished second in Yellowhead Chiefs scoring with 15 goals and 24 points in 28 games. She will be counted on to cause headaches for the fifth-place Winnipeg Avros along with captain Hannah Reagh when the fourth-place Chiefs open their first round on Feb. 22 in Shoal Lake at 7:30 p.m.

“In playoffs, the focus is one round at a time, and one game at a time. Otherwise, it gets too overwhelming,” she said. “We have a bit of a break before our first playoff game, but our team is practising and conditioning as usual, and our coach (Derek Tibbatts) is reminding us to stay healthy, eat well and get lots of rest.”

Thompson said finishing fourth overall will benefit her teammates when it comes to facing the Avros, a team the Chiefs defeated 3-1 to end the regular season in the U18 AAA Manitoba Female Hockey League. That win was important with their Winnipeg opposition travelling west to the rural community on Highway 21.

“We have to stay focused and keep our momentum. We have home-ice advantage against the Winnipeg Avros, and we feel optimistic about playing our first game in Shoal Lake,” she said.

“We always get good crowds on game days, especially playoff games. The parents and grandparents all bring their noise makers and wear Chiefs jerseys, so the moral support gives us the extra boost.”

The past season might seem like a blur since tryouts and training camp last fall, but Thompson has enjoyed the past six months playing her final season with the Chiefs. She’s noticed the changes since first making the U18 AAA team four winters ago, and finishing ninth in league scoring shows her game has grown since her rookie season. Her team was 4-1, she had two points, when the COVID pandemic ended her 2020-21 season.

“I feel I’ve shown continued growth this season … each year, I’ve physically gotten stronger and my skill development has also grown with all the hours spent practising and playing games.

“I’m satisfied with my stats. Our team uses Instat, and I check my metrics report after each game, and this has given me good feedback over the course of the season.”

It’s not always about scoring for the five-foot-six Thompson, as she takes pride in her 200-foot game, too.

“As a forward, my goal is always to play a two-way game, so I am mindful of my plus/minus scores and they have been good this season.”

Thompson believes her four seasons with the Chiefs have helped her for U Sports starting this fall when she will play women’s hockey at Mount Royal University in Alberta.

Climbing the standings in her teams final five games of the season was key for the Chiefs to secure home-ice advantage. Thompson said players stepped up when teammates sustained injuries as ice battles ramp up as teams battle for playoff positioning.

“It’s always about the team effort and we have a group of girls on the Chiefs who all work hard and play well together, with lots of versatility.

“We have had a few girls out with injuries, and one of our key defence players, Reese Boguski, has been playing forward on the wing. She’s doing great, putting up points and stepping in to support the team as needed.”

With sudden death a part of playoffs, and nerve-racking for all involved, including fans, does Thompson have a teammate she thinks is ideal for scoring the OT game-winner?

“Kirby Gray kills it in overtime,” she offered. “She is such a determined player, and she is able to dig deep for OT shifts, even after three full periods of play. She has tenacity and skills, and during OT, she just doesn’t quit.”

Two players the Chiefs will be focused on defending against are the Avros two top snipers Rio Pierre, who is third in league scoring with 10 goals and 31 points, and Mackenzie Lizotte, who finished sixth overall with 13 goals and 28 points.

Looking at the teams involved this playoff season starting next week, Thompson concedes the team to defeat is likely the first-place Winnipeg Ice, led by scoring race winner Stephanie Jacob.

“Stephanie Jacob is an amazing player with such strong skills, and it’s tough playing against her. The secret to winning against the Winnipeg Ice isn’t much of a secret though,” she explained.

“It’s just to play aggressive, positional, clean hockey. By focussing on our offensive play, and keeping out of the penalty box, we have proven the Chiefs work together to put up points.

“All three of our lines put up points in our winning games, and as the season has progressed, and now that we are about to start playoffs, our depth is really starting to show.”

Depth will be important for the Chiefs for a long playoff run, according to Thompson. Besides the Ice, she said there’s another team which should not be overlooked from the eight-team league.

“I think the team to watch is the (third-place) Eastman Selects. They are the singular team we weren’t able to beat this season. They are physical, have a strong defence.”

Besides generating offence, getting pucks deep, and making life tough for Avros goaltenders Adriana Almeida and Madelynne Sylvestre with lots of shots on net, Thompson said her team’s recent momentum needs to be tapped into when the puck drops on the first game.

“The highlight for the season was definitely this last weekend … it was bittersweet having the graduating players’ presentations, but we won back-to-back games against the Winnipeg teams, and that’s always something to celebrate.”

Knowing upsets are part of the playoff picture, hockey fans looking for a fun final would see the Chiefs advance to face the second-place Westman Wildcats in a series sports pundits can call the Highway 21 Series.

The Wildcats open their first round series against the seventh-place Pembina Valley Hawks on Feb. 24.

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