Jefferson Hagen / MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Sometimes all a player needs is an opportunity.
Raylene Emerson has been buried on the depth chart of the MacEwan Griffins women's hockey team for much of her time since coming into the program in the fall of 2016.
But in the wake of recent injuries, the Edmontonian has taken on extra minutes and run with them.
She has two goals and two assists in her past four games and is coming off a game where she played hero, scoring the game-winner in a 2-0 triumph over Red Deer College last Saturday.
"I honestly don't know," said Emerson on what's behind her recent breakout. "I'm very happy about it, that's for sure. It's something I've been waiting for for a while. It definitely helps me stay in the lineup.
"I've struggled a little bit with a lack of confidence and this definitely is helping me out, so it's good."
Emerson is aiming to keep her hot streak going as she leads MacEwan (13-2-3) into a weekend series against cross-town rival NAIT (12-2-1) on Friday (7 p.m., NAIT Arena) and Saturday (6 p.m., Downtown Community Arena).
Head coach Lindsay McAlpine certainly has confidence that the second-year forward can keep rolling.
"She had a bit of a rough rookie season – in and out of the lineup – and I think she's been opportunistic this year is the best way I could describe it," she said. "We've had some holes in our lineup as of late and she's been one of the players that's risen to the challenge, stepped up and played critical roles for us in these last two or three weekends."
That's a testament to MacEwan's depth.
"It's always nice when you see players like that capitalize," said McAlpine. "I think Raylene's always had it in her to be able to put the puck in the net. I think she didn't get a ton of chances last year to do so and she's taken the opportunities this year. When she has the puck on her stick in that slot area, she doesn't usually make a mistake on it."
Perhaps more than anyone out there, McAlpine is keenly aware of who Emerson is as a player, considering she's coached her since she was four years old.
"Of all the players I have on my team, I've known Raylene the longest," said McAlpine, who also owns High Tempo Hockey and has had Emerson as a pupil there from a young age. "She's been a player I've been able to closely follow. I also taught her at Vimy Ridge Academy when I was a teacher there."
If McAlpine closes her eyes, she can still picture a much younger version of Emerson, which makes it all the more remarkable how far she's come.
"It's crazy to see her … from four years old, I can picture her exactly," she said. "To see her be a 19-year-old young woman coming and getting her university degree and being on our team is really exciting. She's got a great family behind her. She's a great kid off the ice as well."
Emerson has two older sisters who played the game, but she's the only one to land on a university roster, which is a great source of pride for her family.
"It's definitely a big thing," she said. "Even when I'm not playing, my parents come watch. My dad's very proud of me to get this far.
"It's exciting for them to see me be successful in games."
The games this weekend mean even more than most as first place in the ACAC women's hockey table will be on the line. NAIT trails MacEwan by four points for that spot but have three games in hand.
"I would say this is the battle for first right here," said McAlpine. "It's something we need to be excited about. I think it just really changes the route that we take to get to the final this year, for sure.
"I think there's a little bit more of a gap in our league between that third and fourth-place spot (third-place Red Deer leads fourth-place Olds by 10 points).
"Again, we're up for the challenge if we end up in that position to fight in the second and third-place series, but it would be a nice momentum-continuance for us if we end up beating NAIT."
