Heading South

One of the key players for Regina Cougars over the last number of years was forward Jordan Kulbida. She got caught in the pandemic with regards to her degree and her years of eligibility no longer aligning, so it left Kulbida with a decision to make when it comes to her future. Without a doubt, the Cougars would have loved to have her back in the green-and-yellow for another Canada West season, but Jordan weighed her future when it came to playing hockey, continuing her education, or doing something different altogether. After four years in school, what would she do? Her decision may raise eyebrows, but there's no doubt that head coach Ryan Miner's Minot State Beavers are getting a fantastic hockey player and an even better person!

The announcement came later in the day on Wednesday, but it is official as Jordan Kulbida will suit up with the ACHA's Minot State Beavers next season for her fifth and final season of eligibility!

"I am excited to add Jordan to the roster for the upcoming season, her experience and depth as a hockey player and person will only help the growth of our program," Miner said. "Jordan has many facets to her game that serve well within our system."

I'm not sure how much excitement Miner had to suppress in making that statement, but anytime you can acquire a player with Kulbida's experience for your program, you're likely beyond excited. Kulbida, for the record, scored 20 goals and added 21 helpers for Regina in 103 Canada West contests, but it was her knack for timely goals and big plays that made her invaluable in Sarah Hodges' system in Regina.

The 2016-17 Battleford AAA Sharks MVP has showed all sorts of skill in earning her spot with the Cougars. After a five-win 2016-17 with the Sharks where she was far-and-away the best player on the team after scoring 17 goals and five assists - nine more goals than any other player on the Sharks that season - Kulbida burst onto the university scene with four goals and four assists in 28 contests in earning a 2017-18 Canada West All-Rookie Team spot.

Her 2018-19 season saw her show a little more playmaking ability as she scored three goals and seven assists before reversing those numbers in 2019-20 with seven goals and three assists. Her final season with the Cougars following the cancelled 2020-21 season due the pandemic saw Kulbida put up her best numbers as she scored six goals and seven assists including a pair of goals against Canada West champion UBC on February 18, 2022 in a 2-1 win!

For those that don't know, Kulbida also has a cannon for an arm as she pitches for the Saskatoon G Force softball team who, at the time of writing, are controlling the Bob Stayner Division of the Saskatoon Amateur Softball Association with an 18-1-0 record this summer! Some may wonder why Kulbida is playing highly-competitive softball while being an elite hockey player, but it was Cougars' head coach Sarah Hodges, herself a multi-sport athlete, who encouraged Kulbida to play during the off-season.

"She thinks it is good that I have other interests in my life," Kulbida told Darren Steinke. "She knows that I play softball, and she loves it. Her daughters are getting into softball too, and she always like asks me for advice or how to help them. I am able to help her in that way, so that is really awesome to be able to give back to the community like that. She is super supportive of it."

At the end of that chat with Darren, Kulbida made it clear that she wasn't done with hockey once she received her degree in kinesiology and health studies at the University of Regina. She mentioned that she may look to Europe, but it seems that the school option was a better fit for Kulbida for next season as she'll play her final season of eligibility as a grad student at Minot State University where the Beavers are already a strong force at the ACHA level.

It will be different not seeing Kulbida streaking up and down the ice for the Cougars next season, but this is a great opportunity for her with a program that is all about excellence. I have a feeling that Jordan Kulbida will make an impact with the Beavers in a number of ways thanks to her speed, skill, leadership, smarts, and vision - everything we were witness to here in Canada West for four years.

It was an honour to watch her play, and I want to wish Jordan Kulbida all the best in her NCAA debut next season with the Minot State Beavers!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!