Hockey grinder hits links
Bison Sarah Stebeleski qualifies for junior golf nationals
Amanda Laing, Staff
Photo courtesy of Sarah Stebeleski.
As Sarah Stebeleski enters the Bison women’s hockey dressing room carrying an equipment bag that is bigger than she is, it becomes quite clear that she is not a skilled athlete because of her size. Upon talking to her, one might assume that the first question she hears from a perspective interviewer is always about her height. “I’m five-foot-two,” she says with a huge grin. “Well . . . I’m almost five-one.”
Stature aside, Stebeleski is no doubt a skilled athlete. Coming off a bronze-medal rookie season with the Bison women’s hockey team, she is now focused on the upcoming Junior National Golf Championships to be held in Victoria, B.C. from Aug. 1 to 4. Stebeleski qualifi ed for the national tournament by finishing second at the recent Manitoba Junior Golf Championships, held at John Blumberg and South Interlake golf courses, with scores of 85, 80, and 77.
Despite qualifying for nationals, she admits that she was disappointed with her performance. Although this is her third year qualifying for the national tournament, she was unable to clinch a junior provincial title.
“One day it might be your driving and irons, and then the next day it’ll be your mental game, or your putting. It never seems that all things are working at the same time,” Stebeleski points out, citing inconsistency as her weakness.
While she notes that being able to relax is the key to a successful round of golf for her, on the ice it is a diff erent story. “I’m aggressive because I’m so short, I guess. I’ve got to get people mad and do my thing.”
Assistant Bison Hockey Coach, Jennifer Everard would agree: “She is a fearless player. Her size is so deceiving. She is small, but tough, and definitely a valuable player.”
Ironically enough, Stebeleski finds that her shooting accuracy is her biggest weakness in the game of hockey, while her ability to “put a little white ball into a hole,” has brought her much success out on the golf course.
When asked what qualities make her successful in both sports, Stebeleski answers without hesitation, “My competitiveness . . . in both sports I just want to win, all the time.”
She has also noticed that the cross-over between the two has helped her immensely. “Playing two diff erent sports gives you diff erent aspects of what you need [from each] for the other.”
Derek Ingram, Stebeleski’s golf coach, has been able to use her hockey experience to help her with her golf swing. She often finds him pointing out the similarities to a hockey slap shot and helping her to adjust her swing from there. However, Stebeleski does find diff erences between the two sports that force her to adjust her focus.
“As an individual sport, golf is more mental and you have to be ready right then and there for your tee time. As for hockey, for the first few shifts I feel like I’m just starting to get into it.”
Coming off of her rookie hockey season with the Bisons, Stebeleski is looking to improve on all the little things and elevate her overall game. Everard comments that, “She will be a go-to player for us next year. We can count on her to step up and we will be able to rely on her when we need her. We are excited to have her back next season for sure.”
As for her future, Stebeleski plans on getting the most out of her university career as both an athlete and a student as she prepares to enter the faculty of physical education. She plans to continue playing amateur golf and a stint with the Bison golf team is not out of the question. When asked which sport she would pick if she were forced to choose, however, she replies, “I’d probably pick hockey. Golf is just too stressful. They say it’s relaxing, but it’s not.”
