Published: Tuesday, 21 December 2021 11:55
Written by David Zammit

A member of the Swift Current Innovation Credit Union U18 Female AAA Wildcats leadership group will be off to school in Alberta in late 2022 to pursue the next chapter in her hockey career.

Earlier this month the AAA club announced defenceman Jessica Bouffard had committed to Red Deer Polytechnic for the 2022-23 season.

“The coach really did a very good job contacting me and giving me a tour,” the Kincaid product said was part of the deciding factor in picking to join the Queen’s program over other possibilities. Another reason Bouffard selected Red Deer was the smaller school and the lower enrollment numbers.

Talks between the Wildcats assistant captain and Queen’s Head Coach Kelly Coulter began via email after the Chinook Classic in Calgary in mid-October.

“[After exchanging emails,] I called him and then went for a tour of the school and the rink and then I signed after that,” the third-year Wildcat said.

Aside from the hockey aspect, the 17-year-old will be enrolling in Kinesiology and Sports Studies with ambitions of becoming a trainer.

“I can go for two [years] and then I can continue on and go for four [years if I’d like],” she said.

Bouffard has suited up in 54 regular-season games with Swift Current since 2019 posting two goals and adding 11 assists.