Small towns and big dreams.
We’ve all likely heard that saying a time or two either from the popular country song by Paul Brandt or from someone we know.
In the case of Vanderhoof hockey products Ella Boon and Linden Makow their on-ice dreams are being realized.
Makow, is enjoying a breakout season with the BCHL’s Prince George Spruce Kings registering 15 points in 22 games.
The road through the Junior A ranks hasn’t been the smoothest for the 18-year-old who registered one goal and one assist in 29 games last season after posting five points in 14 contests during the 2020-21 pod season.
When asked what the magic bullet has been for the offensive surge, Makow pointed to his skating as the biggest difference.
“80% of the stuff I did over the summer was power skating orientated. Last year, that was a big thing that I wasn’t super good with was my skating. I really took that to the next level over the summer.”
Makow has also earned an expanded role just by earning the trust of head coach Alex Evin, playing on the power-play and penalty kill.
“I have been put out in positions where its been like a test and I have been striving for the challenge. It’s been really good, the guys I have been playing with have been really good and my confidence is through the roof right now. It really helps.”
“I know all of our systems inside and out and I know what’s expected of me. I felt like I needed to step up my game a little bit for sure.”
Makow has fond memories of his minor hockey days in Vanderhoof even though there may have been some humble beginnings.
“It was tier four until my second year of pee wee. I still remember playing in the old arena in Vanderhoof in provincials. It was special as the whole town would come and watch the teams play and yeah, Vanderhoof really functions around hockey there. It’s got a special place in my heart.”
“I remember we played Prince Rupert in zones to go to provincials and it was a 1-1 game but we had to win the game. If we tied, we couldn’t go, just based on how the tournament format went. We ended up losing but the next week at practice we found out a team backed out and we were the next team up and got to go to provincials. That was probably one of the biggest memories of my minor hockey.”
The Spruce Kings are 13-7-1-1 in the BCHL’s Interior Conference.
Boon on the other hand is thriving on the blueline with the Trinity Western Spartans of the Canada West Conference.
The 18-year-old made her down to the Langley-based university via the Northern Capital Female U-18 AAA program, where she spent three memorable years.
Last year was Boon’s best as she tallied 18 points in 31 games (nine goals and nine assists) while also captaining a team that had fellow star players in Brooklyn Hutchings, Maria Ayre, Hailey Armstrong, Keagan Goulet, and Karsyn Niven.
In fact, Boon, Niven, and Hutchings all committed to the Spartans last winter, which has made the transition to post-secondary life that much smoother.
“Yeah it made it a lot easier for sure. We are all rooming together in dorms so that’s also helpful and it’s just nice to come to a new place with familiar people as it helps with the adjustment and everything.”
Population aside, Boon actually sees a lot of similarities between Prince George, where she played with the Caps, and Langley.
“It kind of has the same feel almost because Langley is not like a lot of the other cities in the Lower Mainland – it’s a little bit smaller and has more of a community feel to it. Especially when you are on campus at Trinity Western – it has a really big community feel and I really enjoy that part of it.”
“I always thought I wanted to go to the big city and the big school but after coming to Trinity and walking on campus and experiencing the feel I am happy with my decision and is the right place for me to go.”
Boon was thrust into a large role immediately by Spartans head coach Jean Laforest – this culminated in scoring her first goal on October 8th against the Mount Royal Cougars.
“It’s definitely not what I expected but it’s been a great opportunity for me and it’s been nice to get used to the speed of the game. Again, not what I expected but I am very grateful for the chance to play every game.”
“I didn’t think I would be playing this much when I got here – we are a young team so it’s not that I didn’t expect to play at all. The coaches have been really happy with me so far.”
Another highlight for Boon was the chance to come back to Vanderhoof on two occasions and play in front of friends and family as a member of the Caps.
She was also a part of history as the Caps and Greater Vancouver Comets played the first-ever women’s outdoor game at the Ernie Sam Memorial Arena in Fort Saint James.
“It meant a lot to go back home and see all the people that supported me through the years and just let them know that their support meant a lot to me. I would not have gotten to where I am without the support from the people of Vanderhoof that I am close too.”
“It was such a cool experience just to show small-town girls that there is an opportunity for them to make it big and achieve their dreams. This was my dream when I was younger to make it to a university team and now I am here.”
The Spartans are 9-7-0-0 in the Canada West Conference and welcome the Mount Royal Cougars to the Langley Events Centre this weekend.
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