BLADES & BLOODLINES
By MARIO ANNICCHIARICO
Mentors can leave a very lasting impression on a young athlete’s life, initially comforting them through the trials and tribulations of challenges faced throughout the process.
“I'm very excited, especially as a big sister, being able to experience this with her,” offered Kennedy Sisson.
“I think I have a lot to learn from Kennedy and it's going to be great to be there together because she's going to be able to support me and comfort me the whole time,” added Kinley Sisson, who plays defence while older sibling, Kennedy, lines up at forward.
The same sentiment goes for Sophia Block-Makokis, who also plays defence, while older sister Tiani Makokis will skate up front on Team BC.
“Honestly, it felt amazing just to have this opportunity to play with my sister and to represent my provincial team,” said Block-Makokis, who wasn’t sure where she stood going into Provincial Camp. “I was just thinking it could go either way. I was just trying to be calm and collective going throughout that whole tryout.”
That’s where the older sibling can come in so handy.
“I know last year she got them (the nerves),” Tiani Makokis said of Sophia’s previous attempt to make Team BC. “She got cut and she hit some adversity, but she took it personally and she bounced back.
“She was in the gym every day getting better and wanted to get better - like one percent every single day. She knew how to handle the adversity and the way that she took it is not something that a lot of other people can do, especially at her age. She's very mature. I was so confident in her.”
Of course, one can only be a little nervous for your younger sibling.
“Now and then I do worry about her, because she is my little sister. But we have a little bit of that sweet spot, where I can give her some feedback and she can give me some feedback,” said Tiani Makokis. “She knows that everything I do say to her is feedback and that I made it out of the kindness of my heart and to just help her get better. But I have no worries for her because I know that she can handle it.”
Like Sophia Block-Makokis, young Kinley Sisson was attempting to make Team BC against older athletes.
“Obviously, I was going in to make the team, but I knew I was a younger player,” the 14-year-old said of her expectations. “I just needed to prove myself more because there were some girls where it was going to be their last chance at making the team. They were older, so I just felt like I had to go in with a bit of an edge.”
Older sister Kennedy Sisson admitted to being nervous for Kinley.
“I mean, I for sure, but I knew that if she just stuck to who she was as a player that she would have a good chance,” she said. “But, obviously, she had to work really hard for that considering - like what she said – there were a lot of older players there. So, I'm very proud of her and very excited to be able to play on Team BC with her.”
And she looks forward to taking on the role of mentor.
“Yeah, for sure. I'll be able to show her what it's like and help her out through the ups and downs throughout the tournament, because of my experience there.”
This will be Kennedy Sisson’s third time at the national tournament, so it’s become old hat for her.
“Yeah, my third year, which is an honour every time I get to wear a Team BC jersey and represent them - so I'm just very excited to be able to do that again.”
This time she would love to win gold to add to the bronze from last season.
“It was amazing to be able to share that experience with all the girls on the team and to especially come out of that high-level tournament with a bronze. We were all so excited and it's just like a great atmosphere being there,” said Kennedy Sisson. “It was great to be able to come out of there with the medal and be able to experience that with the other amazing hockey players that wanted the same thing that I did.”
Now Kinley Sisson will have that same experience.
“Just knowing that I have her (Kennedy) there ... it will just lighten it up and just make it an even better experience,” said Kinley Sisson.