Young Athlete Mya McDonald Embraces New Challenge in College Sports

Mya McDonald, a promising young athlete from Strathclair, has committed to join the Dakota College at Bottineau Lumberjacks women’s hockey and softball teams in the upcoming fall. The 17-year-old, who has excelled in various sports throughout her high school years, is excited to tackle the dual challenge of athletics and academics as she pursues an associate of Arts degree.

“I’m excited for the challenge,” McDonald expressed. “I think it will still be fun. I’ve managed all these sports in high school, how hard could it be in another one?”

McDonald attends Strathclair Community School, where she is involved in multiple sports, including curling, softball, basketball, volleyball, badminton, track and field, and cross country. Her dedication extends to summer softball, where she played as a catcher and outfielder for teams in Hamiota and the AA Westman Heat.

As an athlete, McDonald believes that participating in various sports enhances her performance. “The physical aspect and the mental aspect of every game will help other games,” she noted. For instance, she credits her hockey training with improving her endurance for basketball, saying, “Not only is the endurance of hockey helping me running up and down the court, but also the mental aspect.”

A native of the Strathclair area, McDonald began skating at the age of three and started playing hockey shortly thereafter. Initially switching between centre and defense, she ultimately found her place as a blue-liner. “I like to be offensive but also defensive,” she stated. “I only make an offensive rush if it’s a smart move.”

Family support plays a vital role in her athletic journey. McDonald acknowledges her parents, Travis and Briana, for their unwavering encouragement and assistance. “They’ve really been my support system all along,” she said. “They drive me to all places and funded me the year I played AAA.”

Last season, McDonald played with the under-15 AAA Chiefs and is now a standout player in the Rural Manitoba Female Hockey League with the U18 A Hamiota Huskies. The team currently leads the league with a record of 13 wins and just two losses, boasting a league-high of 63 goals scored and only 22 against.

Reflecting on the season, McDonald remarked, “We’ve done very well actually. We were undefeated for quite a while and fell off a little bit, but we’ve only lost two games.” In her 15 games, she has achieved six goals and 11 assists, including two game-winning goals. As team captain, she embraces her leadership role, aiming to inspire and uplift her teammates.

“It means a lot to me that the girls voted for me to be captain,” she stated. “I want to try my best to be a good leader for them.”

McDonald began contemplating the possibility of playing at the university level during her U15 years. Her interest was piqued at a job fair in Brandon, where she discovered opportunities to play hockey and softball at Dakota College. “It always felt like I wanted to play hockey forever, but I realized, ‘Wait, I can play after school at a school?’” she recalled.

When she visited the Dakota College campus in September, McDonald was accompanied by her teammates Brooke Facey and Alyshia McKinnon, both of whom are also committed to the college next fall. “I liked how friendly everybody was,” she said. “It’s small and it felt like a nice little community.”

The support of her friends played a significant role in her decision. “It’s going to be very nice to have people I know down there with me going through the same thing as me,” McDonald said. “It will bring a little bit of home down there.”

As McDonald prepares for this new chapter, she is also focused on graduating high school. Neil Franklin, head scout for Dakota College at Bottineau, is enthusiastic about McDonald joining the program. He praised her skills, saying, “She’s a very mobile defenceman. She can move the puck up ice by a good first pass or she can rush it the length of the ice if the situation presents itself.”

Looking ahead, McDonald is filled with anticipation for her future. “I’m so excited,” she said. “I can’t wait to see where it takes me and where my life is going to go with it.”