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RODE: RDP Queens blueliner honoured to wear the 'C'

The RDP Queens have found their new leader
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Danny Rode is a former Red Deer Advocate sports reporter.

As captain Avery Lajeunesse’s leadership for the RDP Queens hockey team was second to none. 

Now that she’s graduated, it was up to head coach Kelly Coulter and the coaching staff to fill her shoes. 

There’s no doubt they’ve done just that in selecting third-year defenceman Kaedence Mollin for the position. 

Mollin has all the ingredients needed to be a leader. 

The 20-year-old from Kelowna has the on-ice skill, but maybe even more important is her personality, ability and desire to work with her teammates off the ice, her passion for the game and her willingness to set the standard of what it means to be a great teammate. 

Mollin is quick to point out she watched and learned from Lajeunesse. 

“She was the best captain I’ve ever had,” she said. “I’m still in contact with her. We talk a lot about what it means to be captain and the things she did for the team. Hopefully I can bring that into the team. 

Kaedence admits she was a bit surprised when she was named captain. 

“I’m still young, just in my third year,” she said. “This is the first time I’ve worn the “C” and it’s pretty exciting. 

“It means so much to me. It means the coaching staff, along with the girls, believe in me and have trust in me. Hopefully I can keep that respect and trust from all of them and be a good leader. 

Coulter has that trust. 

“She checks all the boxes,” he said. “Looking at her on-ice play, she’s an impactful player. In the dressing room, she’s good at getting the girls in check with our routine and supporting her teammates. Academically, she’s excellent. She’s a role model that hits all those boxes for us. 

“As for her fitness testing, she came in this year and crushed it. She’s a standout for us, and with her growth we’ve seen in Kaed’s game alone, it’s pretty easy to see how strong she is in her third year … so we knew she was a good choice for us.” 

Coulter took some time to look back over the past couple of seasons with Lajeunesse as captain. 

“We were blessed to have her … she was as good a captain as we’ve had over the past nine years I’ve been here,” he said. “Winning a championship with her, watching her grow and the adversity she went through with her broken ankle and being able to come back from that you couldn’t ask for more. 

“Avery did a great job working with those who would be taking over from her. She made sure the legacy she and the ones before built would continue. We couldn’t have asked for anyone better.” 

Mollin was part of the Queens 2022-23 championship team. 

“There’s no words to describe it, it was an amazing experience,” she said. “I want to feel that again and bring it to my teammates. We talk about the standards and commitments needed to get there and I think we have a group that understands that and I’m excited to lead the girls there.” 

Mollin is just one of three veteran rearguards on the Queens, joining all-star Kyla Hansel and third-year Sarah Raymond. 

“We’ve relatively young with four rookies,” Mollin said. “So I’m trying to take the girls under my wing and teach them all that I know and what I’ve learned from Kelly, Kyla and Avery and all my past “D” partners. It will take some time but we’ve already learned a lot.” 

Kaedence has learned a lot herself over the past two seasons as she works on the offensive side of her game. She’s one of the pure skaters in the ACAC with an excellent shot, although she’s always concentrated on defence first. 

“I’m trying to move more into the offensive game, getting my shots off and on the net, looking for those tips. I like to rush the puck too so hopefully you’ll see more of that especially with the confidence of being a third year and getting used to the league.” 

Coulter agrees. 

“We’ve always stressed defence first, taking care of their own end and then those with offensive instincts can use more of those.” 

Kaedence is in nursing, which makes time commitment tough at times. 

“I have clinics three times a week, so I miss some practices,” she said. “There’s time commitment and time management but Kelly helps a lot and my instructors have been great.” 

The Queens lost in last year’s semifinal to NAIT, who went on to beat Lakeland in the final. Lakeland is expected to tough again this season. 

The Queens will get an opportunity to see them this weekend as they travel to Lloydminster Friday and host the Rustlers Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Gary W Harris Canada Games Centre. 

Danny Rode is a retired Advocate reporter and member of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame who can be reached at danrode@shaw.ca