RED DEER – This month’s Alumni Spotlight focuses on Katy Josephs, formerly of the Highwood Raiders.
Katy learned to skate at age three, with her mother thinking she would try figure skating. With her brother playing hockey already, she preferred using hockey skates. After a year of playing ringette, she began playing hockey in U11.
After playing a few years of boy’s hockey, Katy went on to play three years of U18 AAA with the Highwood Raiders (AMMFHL), based out of High River. She earned a scholarship to the University of Wisconsin, where she competed for the Badgers for four seasons, scoring 73 points in her University career. During Katy’s time at the University of Wisconsin, the Badgers made three appearances at the NCAA Women’s Frozen Four National Championship tournament.
“My minor hockey experience allowed me to grow my leadership skills and my skill game. It forced me to continually push myself and allowed me to hone my mental game,” said Katy. “Without the drive that I developed in minor hockey I never would have succeeded further.”
Katy represented Team Alberta on two occasions, including winning a gold medal at the 2011 Canada Winter Games, which she says is one of her favourite hockey memories. She also played for Team Canada at the 2011 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championships in Stockholm, where she won a silver medal.
Hockey has opened many opportunities for Katy in her career. It allowed her to get a top tier education from a highly regarded school in the United States. She says this this set her apart from other candidates and for jobs and in her application and for law school. That experience has brought her to her current position of Associate at Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP.
You can listen to Katy tell her stories and provide her advice during the Team Alberta Panel portion of 2021 Female Hockey Day, taking place on January 30.
“My advice to young players is that hockey is just a game and to enjoy every minute of it. At the same time, it’s hard work and a need for balance putting in the work and still enjoying the sport.”