One hundred and one miles. That’s all that separates Syracuse University from Hill Island, Ontario –the closest piece of foreign soil after a two-hour drive up I-81. It’s all that separates Syracuse from the birthplace of ice hockey, and the homeland of 15 SU ice hockey members.

Seventy-one percent of SU’s current roster calls Canada home. Ranging from the mid-western province of Saskatchewan — home of freshman forward Anna Leschyshyn — to the eastern maritime province of Nova Scotia — freshman defender Mae Batherson, the Orange (3-12-1, 2-1-1 College Hockey America) reflect Canada’s nationwide love for the game.

“It’s ingrained in the players,” said head coach Paul Flanagan, “they take a lot of pride in the way they play. It’s a little bit more physicality.”

All five of Syracuse’s top goal scorers — Jessica DiGirolamo, Savannah Rennie, Victoria Klimek, Kelli Rowswell and Lindsay Eastwood — are Canadian. Flanagan and some members of the Orange insist that Canadians play a different style to their southern neighbors, but others, such as Klimek, refute that idea.

Klimek, a forward, said individuality makes the player, not nationality. If there are differences to the style of play, the American players have already adapted to it; instead of having distinctive American and Canadian styles, Syracuse’s style draws from both sides of the border. Hard-nosed physicality and fast, constantly circling forwards have defined the team’s play.

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Many of the current Canadians have had experience representing their province — or even their country on the international stage — often in International Ice Hockey Federation tournament play. Players such as forward Victoria Klimek represented her home province of Ontario, while others such as Abby Moloughney have played for Canada’s U-18 national team. Flanagan said working with high-caliber athletes, different coaching perspectives and the confidence boost players get when selected to these teams are the largest benefits for the players.

“It was an absolutely amazing experience, being able to do that,” said Moloughney, the sophomore Ottawa native. “You know, it boosts your confidence. Especially coming in as a freshman having that backbone support of people who believed in you.”

Many of the Orange Canadians pursued college hockey in America for the step up to a higher level of play. Canada does have their own version of the NCAA, known as U Sports. However, the level of play is generally considered to be below that of college hockey in the US, Klimek said. For that reason, many players come south to play in the NCAA and get an American education.

“I knew that when I came here, everyone was going to be really high caliber, like really fast, really hard shots just like overall better competition,” said Klimek. “So it was really meaningful to represent my province. I think it helped prepare me for this.”

Although the Canadian players find comfort in playing with their compatriots day after day, some said that their relationship with their American counterparts has also blossomed as a result of the cultural differences, such as holidays or local sayings. A player might get called out depending on if they call it a “water fountain” or “water bubbler.

When the United States and Canada play in international games, like they did for the women’s ice hockey final at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, SU players watch together and get “rowdy,” DiGirolamo said.

The team also comes together with occasional Canadians versus Americans scrimmages. The games are always competitive, but with 14 Canadians to seven Americans, the numbers are lopsided, complicating things in recent years. To make the sides even, some Canadian players have to play with the Americans and Amanda Bäckebo, who’s from Sweden.

But unless they’re rooting against each other during the Olympics or competing in an intrasquad scrimmage, the Syracuse uniform trumps any nationality.

“In terms of like myself as a Canadian and with other teammates, I feel like we get along with the Americans and it’s just like any other relationship,” said Jessica DiGirolamo.

Published on December 4, 2019 at 12:44 am

Contact Will: wrhentsc@syr.edu