Jefferson Hagen / MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – As Red Deer spent large chunks of time in their own zone on the powerplay in last Friday's Griffins women's hockey home opener, you couldn't blame the Queens if they had nightmares later over a certain No. 15 jersey.
Karlie Bell, the owner of said jersey, and her forward partner Shanya Shwetz gave them fits all night, continually disrupting their breakout, which helped add up to a 2-1 win for the Griffins.
Hard work has become Bell's calling card as she enters her third season with the Griffins. She'll lead the ACAC defending champs into a weekend home-and-home series with cross-town rival NAIT (Friday, 7 p.m., Downtown Community Arena and Saturday, 6 p.m., NAIT Arena).
"I think in general, Bell exemplifies the three pillars of being a student-athlete," said Griffins head coach Lindsay McAlpine. "She always boasts one of the top GPAs on our team. She's one of the hardest workers in every single practice and off-ice session. And it transfers into the games. I think her work ethic is the strength of her game."
Bell certainly takes pride in the details, the little things that sometimes go unnoticed to others, but never to her coach and teammates. After Friday's win, McAlpine highlighted Bell's play in her post-game speech to the team.
"I know I can work had and know that's my strength, so that's what I like to play to," she said. "For Lindsay to say that, that's good for me to hear because I do try to do those little things right and that's what I base my game on."
For a coach that's a dream.
"I always tell her she's probably one of the easiest players I've ever coached and that's exactly it," said McAlpine. "She's always an example. She's a great leader, both in the dressing room and on the ice for practices and games and in the classroom.
"She's a coach's dream because I can look to her and use her as an example in various situations."
In other words, Bell is one of the key reasons the Griffins are the ACAC defending champions. While some players score, others win faceoffs, others play defence and others make saves, you also need those willing to put in the elbow grease.
"I think the biggest thing for her – she was always a hard worker – but I think it's now the consistency in what she brings every day, both in practice and in games where she's a very reliable defensive forward," said McAlpine. "She's sound in all aspects of the D zone, as well as turning the puck over and being on forecheck in the offensive zone."
Bell grew up in Swift Current, Sask. and was scouted by McAlpine during a Notre Dame tournament.
"I'd never actually heard of MacEwan before that," said Bell with a chuckle. "It was never on my radar, but I'm glad she came to talk to me. It's been a good choice."
Bell and the Griffins are off to a 2-0 start in their defending champion season. Next up is NAIT, a team that finished ahead of them in the ACAC standings last season but was upset in the first round by SAIT and had to watch the Griffins hoist the trophy.
"We have a very storied history with NAIT," said McAlpine. "It's always more exciting when you're in the same city in such close proximity.
"I think we've got some retribution (on our minds) after our preseason game against them where we came out really flat and unprepared to play. It wasn't the Griffins style we're accustomed to playing over the years."
That was a 3-1 loss to NAIT on Sept. 17, a result that flattered the Griffins.
"One of our big foundational pieces is our work ethic and I think when we play that game against NAIT and both teams come out intense and emotionally invested, I think it will set up for a great series," said McAlpine.
