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Makenna Williment grew up in a hockey home and has loved the game for as long as she can remember.

It's a sport that allows her to grow and be a part of something bigger. It's also a sport that she's very good at and all of her contributions on and off the ice certainly have not gone unnoticed. While this year's campaign has now come to an end for Makenna, she now gets the chance to look back at the season it was and the fun she had.

Back with the Balmoral Hall Blazers of the Junior Women's Hockey League, the team's competition included games against clubs from across North America. They won 13 of their 17 regular season games, finishing in a tie for second place, just behind the North American Hockey Academy. Across those 17 games, Makenna finished top 10 in team scoring with two goals and three assists.

Makenna and the team then went to Washington for the Challenge Cup from February 16 to 18. Playing five games in three days saw the team win two of their contests, while two ended in a tie and their final game resulted in a hard-fought 4-2 loss against Shattuck St. Mary's. The team's season was set to roll on a few weeks after that event as they took part in the national event in Boston.

Four teams remained, all of which were two wins away from winning a championship. Balmoral Hall went up against Stanstead in their semi-final and came up short which they followed up with another tough loss in the bronze medal match as the Blazers finished in fourth place.

That said, Makenna still believes this season was a special one and one that she will never forget.

"It meant a lot to us that we were able to get that far," said Williment. "We didn't let that tough weekend define us as a team because we did so well throughout the year."

Makenna finished the season with four goals and four assists across 22 games.

"I thought it was a pretty good season for me," offered Williment. "I probably could have contributed more than I did, but I was contributing in other ways and I'm happy with how things went."

Hockey Stick for Golf Club:

Makenna will now shift her focus to enjoying the beautiful weather that Manitobans wait for all winter long. The hockey star is a big golfer and plays plenty throughout the summer months at courses around Winnipeg and while she focuses plenty on improving her game, it's not just about her.

Alongside her brother Ethan who plays with the Dauphin Kings, the duo join forces to provide lessons to younger players who are trying to get into the game and improve themselves.

"Being able to teach younger kids how to play the game is fun and it's something that I get to experience with Ethan," offered Makenna. "It's a great opportunity to help kids out, we have so much fun. We swing and laugh, it's a great time."

Speaking about the relationship she has formed with her brother, Makenna says he means everything to her.

"We are very close and we have been since we were young," said Williment. "He's a great role model for me, I'm always looking up to him. He always is giving me feedback to make me a better person on and off the ice as well, we have a special bond."

The Next Chapter:

After spending the summer on the course and with her family and friends, Makenna will be back with the Blazers next season for one more campaign as a junior. Ironically enough, Ethan will return to Dauphin next season for one more campaign as a junior player.

Following next year, Makenna will make the near 24-hour trip to Syracuse, New York, as Williment has committed to join the Division 1 Syracuse Orange women's hockey team in time for the 2025-26 season.

Playing against the top NCAA teams in the nation, the Orange finished this past season with seven wins.

"I had a few different options, but Syracuse seemed like a perfect fit for me," said Williment. "The school has everything I was looking for and the faculty that I'm looking to pursue which was huge for me. It's just a perfect spot."