It’s all fun and games

Oceane Asham is a complete player.

At the rink, the 17-year-old left-winger from Portage has displayed a ton of skill. Off the ice, her infectious personality is almost impossible to resist.

"That kid lights up a room," said Sarah Zacharias, director of hockey and head coach at Balmoral Hall where Asham recently completed her Grade 12 season. "She’s genuinely one of the funniest people that I know. She was a leader on our team, both on and off the ice in how she carries herself. She’s mature well beyond her years.

"And on ice, man, she’s fun to watch. The kid has incredible hands, incredible shot and a really, really high-level hockey IQ. But I think my favourite thing to watch is that kid celebrating goals — there’s nobody that cellys a goal quite like her."

Asham has comes by her reputation honestly.

Her mom, Nicki Rossi, and her dad, former NHLer Arron Asham, encouraged participation in a wide range of sports from an early age.

Last December, Oceane sorted through nine college scholarship offers before accepting an NCAA Division I bid from Minnesota State at Mankato. This week, she’s one of 40 players and the lone Manitoban attending Hockey Canada’s U18 national team tryout in Calgary.

"She’s a very strong skater and has a really good head for the game," said Arron Asham from his home in Point Lookout, N.Y., on Thursday. "She reads the play well. She knows when to go, when not to go. I think her work ethic is probably one of her stronger traits. She’s constantly working. She’s constantly in the battle. She has good offensive instincts and has a good shot. I think all around she’s a very solid hockey player."

By Sunday, Oceane will know if she’s made the cut to travel with Team Canada to Madison, Wis., for the world under-18 women’s hockey championship, June 6-13.

Asham, who stands 5-7, is asked if her playing style mirrors her dad, a rugged forward who played 15 seasons and 789 games for six teams in the NHL.

"I think on the aggressive side, yes," said Oceane. "And maybe the play making. He’s pretty big out there and he’s somebody you didn’t want to run into or he’d show you what’s up. But he’s a playmaker, too. He liked to pass the puck as much as he can. So, I think that’s where I get that from."

"I can definitely see a little bit of my game in her," said Arron, who coaches minor hockey teams and runs learn-to-play programs as part of a community outreach for the NHL’s Islanders. "She definitely has that edge. She’s not afraid to mix it up or go in the corners. She definitely plays a physical game."

Oceane’s mom said her daughter’s personality enables her to be a team-first player.

"She’s really personable and she loves people," said Rossi. "Anywhere she goes she makes friends. She’s out there meeting people, talking to people. She’s not shy by any means and she’s got a tremendous work ethic. Anything that she does, whether it’s school or sports, she’s always 110 per cent into everything she does."

Oceane’s parents have been supportive influences on her development but she’s looked to other role models as well.

Brigette Lacquette, the first First Nations woman to play for Canada at the Olympics, has been an idol since childhood. In fact, Lacquette made an inspirational visit to the family home in Portage when Oceane was 13, and the mentoring relationship has grown since then.

Earlier this month, Oceane, who has Métis heritage, went to Saskatoon at the invitation of Lacquette and joined the Mistawasis Sagestrong team as women’s hockey debuted at the Fred Sasakamoose (Chief Thunderstick) National Hockey Championship.

Sagestrong, which also included Lacquette and national team members Jocelyne Larocque and Victoria Bach, won the tournament championship by beating the Cross Lake Lady Islanders 4-3 in the final.

Earning a spot on Team Canada has become Oceane’s primary focus. Her dad was a member of the national under-18 men’s team at the 1996 Pacific Cup (a precursor to the Gretzky-Hlinka Cup) in Japan when Team Canada advanced to the final before losing to Russia.

"These past couple of days been really good," said Oceane. "I think the way the program represents himself and sets it up for all of us is huge. I know that a lot of girls con’t get to experience this so I’m really trying to soak up as much as I can and meet new people and obviously represent Manitoba as well since I’m the only Manitoban here."

Her parents are expecting her to challenge hard for a roster spot.

"When she left (for Calgary) on Tuesday I told her, ‘I don’t want to see you for three weeks now but in a good way, because that means after Calgary you’re on your way to Wisconsin,’" said Rossi.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14