Sweden Is Looking Very Canadian

There are certain moments in life that one always remembers, and they differ from person to person based on experience. Some may remember their first day at school or at a new job. Others may remember getting one's driver's license or graduating university. For elite athletes, signing one's first professional contract has to be one of those moments, and it's one that former Mount Royal Cougars sniper Anna Purschke can add to her resumé after inking a deal with Leksands IF of the SDHL! While Anna likely had a number of choices as to what she did next when it came to hockey and life, the opportunity to play professionally in Sweden for at least one season - likely longer based on her talent - was one she couldn't pass up. With her signing, the U SPORTS contingent in the SDHL gets a little stronger once again!

Purschke will join former Mount Royal Cougars coach Jordan Colliton in Dalarna for the upcoming season, and I get the sense that Colliton may have wanted a player like Purschke around whom she can build. Colliton is familiar with how Purschke plays the game from their time at Mount Royal University, and I suspect that Purschke's skill set will benefit her and Leksands IF in a big way.

Alexander Bröms, general manager for the Leksands IF women's team, was impressed with what Anna can bring to his squad, stating, "Anna is a smart player who can play at high speed, she has a good shot and is a player who puts the team first. We see Anna as a really good new acquisition for the coming season."

Having had the privilege of seeing Anna play with Mount Royal over the last five seasons in Canada West, I would say that Mr. Bröms barely scratched the surface of the talent they've signed in Anna Purschke. We've seen her lethal shot and excellent playmaking abilities on display. We've seen her blow past defenders with her speed and acceleration, and her leadership on and off the ice is more than apparent. She forechecks like there's no tomorrow, she plays with her head up in all zones, and she's good at finding open ice.

Perhaps what is understated due to the Cougars relying on her offensive skill, though, is her incredible defensive play. She wins face-offs, she blankets her check thanks to her speed, and she has an excellent stick which is often in passing or shooting lanes. Away from the puck, she has an uncanny ability to read the play so that she can help teammates who may get beat, and she can turn a game around in a hurry with her excellent ability to transition to offence off a turnover.

In short, Colliton and Leksands are getting a solid 200-foot player who doesn't take a shift off. That will help Leksands IF immensely if they're to eclipse their 39-point season they logged in 2021-22. Of course, we'll see how well Anna settles into playing professional hockey in Sweden, but I suspect she'll look like her old self after a few games of figuring out the big ice and new teams.

What makes this signing great is that a number of U SPORTS teams are represented in the SDHL with Anna joining Leksands. Mathea Fischer (SDE), Kelly Murray (SDE), Hannah Clayton-Carroll (SDE), and Celine Tardif (Leksands) all skated with UBC. Lindsey Post (SDE) stopped pucks for the University of Alberta. Jaycee Magwood (MoDo) played for the University of Regina. Alexa McMillan (Göteborg) skated with the Saint Mary's Huskies in the AUS while new teammates Jessica Bélanger (Göteborg) captained the RSEQ's Bishop's Gaiters last season and Marissa Graham (Göteborg) skated with Brock in the OUA.

Beyond those players, former Saskatchewan Huskies forward Danielle Stone could return to HV71 while former Bisons defender-turned-forward Alex Anderson could rejoin SDE for another campaign. Former Montreal Carabins forwards Marion Allemoz and Lore Baudrit could return to MoDo as well, but one player who won't be back unless something dramatic changes is former U SPORTS Player of the Year Sarah Bujold as the X-Women standout signed a deal with the PHF's Metropolitan Riveters this offseason.

The vast number of Canadian players who dot the rosters in the SDHL is one of the reasons I keep an eye on the league. There are good Canadian players who went to NCAA schools who also play in the league that I haven't even mentioned - Kaitlyn Tougas and Jaycee Gebhard, for example - that keep the Canadian contingent very well represented.

I'll have my eye on the league again this season as the ladies prepare for another fantastic season of hockey, but I'll be keeping a closer eye on Leksands as we watch for a couple more of those moments I described at the start: Anna Purschke's first point and first goal as a professional hockey player. It was always an absolute privilege to watch her play, and I'll be cheering her on all season long as we await those two magical moments in her career!

Congratulations on the opportunity, Anna, and here's hoping you have a "rookie season" for the ages!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!