Slator exceeds expectations at NAIT

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This article was published 30/07/2020 (2078 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Few rookies can shoulder the responsibility of leading a team to victory.

Kaitlyn Slator had no other option.

 In 2018, the Brandonite relocated to Edmonton to study personal fitness training at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. She also suited up as goalie for the NAIT Ooks’ women’s hockey team.

 Slator’s first year on the team blew everyone’s expectations out of the water — even her own.

 “It was definitely the best season of my hockey career. That was a crazy year,” said Slator.

 Due to a handful of reasons, Slator was the only Ooks goalie her rookie season.

 She backstopped NAIT to a first-place finish in regular season standings with a 19-2-3 record, playing every game.

 “We had a strong team in front of me that year that helped me get all those wins. It was pretty cool to do all that,” Slator said.

 The net minder’s storied season had many highlights, including competing in Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference’s first outdoor hockey game. 

The match was definitely a little different from your standard competition at the indoor rink.

Strategic game talk came with an extra challenge, as the two teams dressed for their game in a gymnasium — with only curtains separating the rivals. Then, the players were carted on a bus to the outdoor rink and set out to play.

Slator said playing outdoors was an absolute blast, but came with its own challenges.

“It was so snowy that the ice had to be cleared every ten minutes, but it was one of the best experiences ever and we’re lucky that our teams were chosen to do it,” said Slator, who came out on the winning end of a double-overtime thriller.

Slator capped off the being honoured with a slew of awards, including ACAC rookie of the year. She set single-season records for most games won (10), most saves (558), most games played (24) and was named first-team all-conference.

“There are so many people that could have gotten that award so it felt pretty nice to be recognized a bit,” Slator said.

“It just solidified that I’ve worked hard and got to where I was with all the hard work throughout the summer and season. I couldn’t have done it without the team around me though, with the D-men blocking shots, pucks and all that.”

Slator was also recognized for her efforts off the ice as an academic all-Canadian, which goes to athletes maintaining a minimum grade-point average of 3.7. Only one other female hockey player in the ACAC received the honour.

For Slator, the awards were a reminder of what a big difference one year could make.

When she moved to Edmonton, the goalie immediately noticed what a big leap the playing field took in a post-secondary level. While it was a big jump, it was the jump Slator needed in order to grow as a person and as a hockey player.

“Getting to that next level of hockey that I’ve been working out for the past couple years, knowing that I can compete and contend … It shows the work I have done my whole life is actually paying off,” Slator said.

Her most season was panning out to be one for the books as well, until it got shut down early because of COVID-19.

The Ooks were in Game 3 of the best-of-five ACAC final, down 2-0 against MacEwan University when they got the call saying the remainder of their season was cancelled. 

“It kind of sucked because it was just the unknown, not knowing what was gonna happen. We we’re all ready to come back and fight for that chance to. It’s frustrating, all that work and then you just never find out what’s gonna happen,” said Slator. 

Looking ahead, Slator is looking forward to her third year at NAIT. With her personal fitness training program finished, she’ll be starting a new venture in the field of medical radiologic technology.

With the upcoming hockey season not starting until January 2021 because of the pandemic, Slator is eager about the opportunity to train even harder and prepare herself for another successful season of hockey.

“I’m excited to see how things work out with all the athletes and teams having so much longer to train and prepare and build muscle, speed, before stepping on the ice,” she said.

“I want to see how that translates and then go from there.” 

» dshewchuk@brandonsun.com

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