Eagles Fly Together Feat. Brooklyn Palmer
Seven former Pronghorns women’s hockey team members, six rookies, and eight Eagles veterans. This completely reformed Eagles team continues to lead the AJFHL in the first post-COVID season and has put up a remarkable 11-2-1 start to their season. Assistant Captain Brooklyn Palmer met with our Lethbridge Sports team during a break from her studies at UofL to talk to us about the team’s winning formula this season.
“Obviously things are pretty good.” Brooklyn tells us about her new team. “We’ve got a good group of girls. We’ve definitely got skill and we work together really well.” With a roster that is equal parts former Horns, Eagles vets and rookies, we imagined the clashes of egos and play styles that you might see on display in say, The Mighty Ducks 2, for those of you in our reader base old enough to remember that Disney classic. We asked Brooklyn for her perspective on the groups coming together to form an all new Eagles team. “Our first game we played pretty well. With so many changes we weren’t sure about the final roster. After that was set though, it’s gone up from there.” Brooklyn tells us that the team has meshed really well from their first games together and the coaching staff have worked hard to support the talent on the ice.
Looking at the potential of the team through the remaining two thirds of the season, Brooklyn has a clear vision. “Continue pretty much at the top of the league.” She laughs. “We’re going for league championship. That’s all of our goal. It’s definitely achievable. We just keep playing our systems and play a full 60 minutes and I think its definitely doable.” Brooklyn’s confidence is a clear indication of her faith in herself and her teammates at this point of the season.
Brooklyn’s career has largely grown out of Southern Alberta. She grew up in Coaldale and played Coaldale minor hockey until Peewee when hitting was introduced. Her father didn’t want her playing in a league with full contact, so she played in Lethbridge until her second year if midget. “At the time, we only had a AA team here and I wanted to see if there was a AAA team I could play on, so I went to Edmonton and played NAX. I played triples in Lloyd for the Steelers. Then I got drafted into the Prognhons which was nice to be home after 2 years.” Like so many other athletes, Brooklyn had her plans derailed by the abrupt discontinuation of the Horns hockey programs following provincial budget cuts in 2020. Brooklyn wasn’t ready to stop her studies at UofL, but also hoped to keep playing, which brought her to the Eagles. She found it was a good fit with several of her former teammates, and got to play two exhibition games in 2020 before the season was officially cancelled due to COVID. Looking back, Brooklyn credits her parents and family for having really helped her out in her career. “Since I’ve been everywhere it’s been a huge mix of people. All the coaches have taught me lots.“
Joining the Eagles has been “Amazing.” Brooklyn says. “I kind of thought my hockey career was done after Horns got cut. Everyone’s playing for fun and honestly that’s what makes it so enjoyable.” That sentiment has been echoed by many of her teammates, that the team has a culture of fun, and winning 5 of every 6 games doesn’t hurt either.
We will continue to follow the Eagles as their season continues, with the next home game this Saturday at 1:30pm, which is a special memorial tribute and mental health awareness game. Tickets are free and the general public is welcome to come stop by. And if you happen to see our LS team out there, stop by and say hi!