Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Soon she will play against UBC in Canada West action, but when incoming MacEwan Griffins women's hockey recruit Brooke Norkus went against the Thunderbirds in exhibition action as a member of Delta Hockey Academy the past two preseasons, Chris Leeming came away impressed.
"I think Brooke's got a really high offensive IQ," said the Griffins head coach of the mobile defenceman. "She's really poised with the puck. Watching some of her games – Delta played UBC the last couple years – and she stood out in those games when she was playing at that level."
That's saying something considering Delta is a U18 Prep team in the CSSHL and the Thunderbirds won a U SPORTS bronze medal in 2022-23.
"Brooke adds a little bit of size to our defence," said Leeming of the 5-foot-8 Prince George, B.C. product. "She's a mobile, offensively-minded defenceman that just has good hockey IQ.
"I'm praising the offensive side, but she defends well, she understands the game, she makes good reads and we're excited to add that to the back end."
A product of the Northern Capitals where she was a teammate of fellow Griffins' 2023 recruit Maria Ayre, Norkus spent the past three seasons at Delta Hockey Academy, helping them finished third in the CSSHL this season and second in 2021-22. She has recorded 26 points in 54 games over the past two years, including netting 13 points in 30 games last season – third amongst Delta blueliners.
Norkus was also a member of the bronze-medal winning Team B.C. roster for the 2022 National Aboriginal Championship, where she served as an assistant captain, scoring eight points in eight games.
"I think she has the capacity to run (the powerplay)," said Leeming. "She gets pucks through, she shoots the puck well, but also just sees the ice well. She can make plays and distribute the puck on the powerplay with the man advantage.
"Coming off a season where we struggled to generate offence, it's been the priority to add pieces to help supplement that for us next year."
