UNITY – Unity native Bree Purcell has shown her worth on the ice and has now signed on with the Medicine Hat Rattlers hockey team for the 2024-25 season.
Purcell has been playing for the Prince Albert Bears U18 AAA hockey team for the past three years, as a forward and a centre. When the chance to play in the AAA league arose, parents Scott and Denise were not going to stand in the way of their daughter’s dreams. Although it has not been easy all the time, Purcell has been able to overcome many challenges.
“She got lots of ice time as a first year and it’s hard because she was up against 17- and 18-year-old girls. Now into her third year, she is getting power plays and penalty kill opportunities,” said her dad Scott.
Purcell has also had to learn how to manage her time along with keeping up her grades. The team needs players to maintain an 80 per cent average, on top of the six days a week practice schedule. Purcell has managed to have a 93 per cent average while in Prince Albert.
Purcell had four other offers to play at schools within the National Collegiate Athletic Association but felt that Medicine Hat College was the best fit for her. She has signed on to play for the next four years.
“She chose Medicine Hat because of the great nursing program, they offer a University of Calgary degree and it is close to home,” added her father.
Seeing their daughter going off to college won’t be as challenging for Scott and Denise. They are proud of all of her accomplishments but is amazed at how hard she worked to get there.
“This was her goal and she achieved it, words can’t say enough. There are a lot of young girls in the West Central region that play this game and now they can see there is a chance for them to play at this level,” added Scott.
