By Ethan Ready

Grad Caps

All four graduating Northern Capitals moving on to next level

Mar 19, 2021 | 6:05 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Captain Kiera Mulder, forwards Brett Kerley and Pyper Alexander, as well as goalie Tessa Sturgeon; four grads from the Northern Capitals Triple-A team, and all four moving on to the next level of hockey, and the next chapter of their hockey careers.

“Every girl or guy’s dream, especially in Grade 12, is to have a chance to win that provincial title and a chance to compete for something special,” said Hayden Berra, Assistant Coach with the Capitals. “At the same time, when you don’t have a season, it’s almost more cause to celebrate commitments like this because it just goes to show that regardless that we didn’t have games, their time on the ice still paid off.”

It was announced in early February that Captain Kiera Mulder had signed with the Red Deer College Queens. The Terrace, BC product says her and her fellow teammates moving on is a sign of their dedication.

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“Especially with COVID, it definitely put a big halt on my process, Tessa’s process, and Pyper’s process, so I think knowing we’re all moving forward, it’s prideful for us to know we actually got through and it’s a big step for us,” said Mulder.

Headed to Calgary to become a Dino and compete in the USports ranks at one of the top programs in Canadian University Hockey, Brette Kerley is looking forward to the heightened level of competition.

“All four of us have definitely put the work in these past three years playing major midget hockey,” explained Kerley. “I think it all shows how much we’ve put indefinitely comes with a positive outcome for sure.”

Meanwhile, the Caps’ most recent commitments will be continuing to be teammates when they head off to be SAIT Saints. Both Tessa Sturgeon and Pyper Alexander feel more comfortable moving on knowing there will be a familiar face along for the journey.

“It definitely makes it a lot easier friend-wise and will definitely make me more comfortable on the ice,” says Sturgeon.

“I think it helps because going to a higher level is nerve-racking, and it’s a big step,” said Alexander on her teammate joining her.

With four of their players moving on, Coach Berra believes they’ll still be a strong group when next season rolls around.

“The leadership from our Grade 11’s this year before moving into their Grade 12 year next year is going to be very crucial for our success. I think there’s a lot of gratitude to go around, especially as we move hopefully to the end of this pandemic, and I think our grade 11’s are going to be perfectly situated to lead this group next year to hopefully what turns out to be a Provincial title.”