Natasha Steblin – Grad 2011

When and for how long did you play with the Ravens/RGIH?

I started playing at the age of 10 and was in second year Atom. I played for 8 years for Richmond, all the way until graduation.

Why did you start playing?

I started playing hockey because I was given a flyer at elementary school. I decided to go to the open skate to give it a try and ended up loving it, and turned out I was decent as well.

What’s your best memory/highlight from being with the Ravens/RGIH?

My favourite memories are when we went to provincials, multiple years in a row. We got to compete while also being able to hang out and goof around, building relationships and memories. Though 3 years in a row we got silver, they were still amazing trips that I will never forget.

What are you up to now/what have you been up to since graduating from the Ravens/RGIH?

After graduating from RGIH, I moved to Red Deer and played for Red Deer College. I was there for 2 years before moving to Edmonton to play for the University of Alberta. I played 3 years there where I finished my degree in Sociology. After graduating from university, I moved to Gothenburg, Sweden to play Division 2 hockey for the Gothenburg Cougars. Since my return to Canada, I have been working as a correctional officer, and one day look forward to starting my career as a police officer. I have continued playing hockey in the SCWHL and I have also continued to be a part of the Ravens through helping coach the Midget A program.

Why would you recommend girls sign up to play hockey?

Girls should sign up to play girls hockey because you develop so many life skills through playing in a team environment. You learn to work as a team and develop lasting relationships, not to mention the memories you will not only create, but the memories you will have for a lifetime. You can decide if you wanna play non-competitively and just focus on having fun, or you can challenge yourself and play competitively and always be working to better yourself in a skill.

What prompted your interest in coaching and what advice would you have for girls interested in coaching?

I had amazing coaches throughout my hockey career and that is what inspired me to become a coach. I learned so much and was able to excel in hockey only because of the coaches I had. My goal is to help develop girls so that they can advance and better themselves in hockey. Seeing girls develop in hockey and them recognizing their improvement is a feeling that drives me as a coach. Not only do I strive to develop hockey skills, but I also try to be a role model for young girls as they grow up and navigate through their lives.