Hannah Reagh was just three years old when she laced up a pair of skates for the first time, with some help thanks to her mom and dad.
From Binscarth, Hannah instantly fell in love with the game, and on many nights, she insisted on her parents taking her to the rink. It just so happened that the Reagh family would have to travel about a dozen minutes multiple nights a week as Hannah grew up playing in Foxwarren.
It was a challenge at times as numbers for the girls' program were very low, but Reagh was fortunate enough to stay busy as she played on the boys' team growing up. While a 12-minute drive is nothing over the top, doing so multiple times a week and for several years adds up and Hannah gives major props to her family for where she is today.
"I can't say enough about my parents, they have been here since day one, and they're my biggest supporters alongside my brother," said Reagh. "I'm so thankful to have them as my family, I wouldn't be where I am today without them, I know that."
Rising up the ranks over the years, Hannah is now in her fifth year with the Yellowhead Chiefs. A member of the eight-team Manitoba U18 AAA Female Hockey League, the Chiefs are joined by five other rural teams and a pair of teams from Winnipeg in the Ice and Avros.
After 13 games, Reagh is a big reason why the team has won eight of their 13 games so far as the 5'4" veteran from Binscarth is fourth in the league scoring with seven goals and 12 assists. Hannah has always had a knack for finding the open player and when the opportunity arises, finding the back of the net herself. Her teammates and coaches call her the 'spitfire' because of her work ethic and ability to take a game over.
With just less than two-thirds of the regular season left, Reagh is well on her way to recording a career-high in points. The Binscarth native had 38 points last year and 40 the previous season.
"I'm proud of myself and I'm proud of my teammates, they are a huge reason why I am achieving these milestones" offered Reagh. "I'm so thankful for my teammates and coaches, we have such a great group here in Yellowhead and I cherish every moment that I get to spend with them."
Hannah recently hit another milestone as she recorded her 100th career point with the U18 Chiefs and it took just 98 games to achieve the feat.
"It felt good to hit the milestone, it's always nice to produce and help the team win games," said Reagh. "With that said, it's all because of my teammates and coaching staff. I couldn't do it without them."
Reagh and the rest of Yellowhead will look to keep their winning ways going this weekend when they host Central Plains in Shoal Lake on Saturday and the Avros on Sunday. The Capitals have lost 12 of their 13 games while the Avros are right near the top of the league with wins in 10 of their 12 games.
West Coast Trip:
Hannah recently suited up for Team Manitoba as Dawson Creek, B.C. played host to the 2023 U-18 National Women's Hockey Championships. Featuring the top age-eligible players from coast to coast, it was the first time that Hannah played at such a prestigious event.
While the team did not win a gold medal, they did wrap up their event by scoring a pair of goals in the third period in a 2-1 nailbiting win against Team Atlantic in the seventh-place game. Now looking back at the week it was representing the province, Hannah will never forget about the experience.
"I was so thankful for that opportunity, who knew Dawson Creek was so beautiful," offered Reagh. "It was an incredible experience. The hockey was amazing as well and I made some lifelong friends, so I couldn't have asked for a better week with some great people and elite athletes."
Alberta Bound:
As Paul Brandt says, Hannah is now 'Alberta Bound'. The all-star forward recently signed her national letter of intent to play with the University of Calgary Dinos. A member of Canada West (USports), Reagh will go from playing her home games in Shoal Lake to playing in front of hundreds of home fans at the Father David Bauer Arena.
Hannah had plenty of interest in programs in the United States, but she ultimately decided staying in Canada and attending Calgary was what she wanted. Off the ice, she will be pursuing a career in the medical laboratory field.
Reagh does admit moving away from her family and leaving the Chiefs program will be a tough pill to swallow, but after years of hard work and dedication, the Binscarth all-star is ready to take the next step in her journey on and off the ice.
"I'm stoked, Calgary is such a beautiful city and I know how great of a program the Dinos' have," ended Reagh. "The coaches were so welcoming to me during the entire recruitment process. I couldn't have asked for a better place to sign and I can't wait to make the move to Calgary."
