RINK Hockey Academy
Kelowna Blog

By Vinny Gillespie
Photos by Taylor Bradshaw and Dylan Asmundson

Aside from winning 3 straight CSSHL Western Championships, one of RHA Kelowna's biggest accomplishments has been the volume of NCAA Div. 1 female commitments to come out of the program. From the 2023-24 season, 9 student-athletes earn themselves that honour and set the standard for the next wave of female superstars. Through perseverence and hard work, these RHA student-athletes showed NCAA Division 1 programs why they deserve their scholarships by proving themselves at the CSSHL U18 level and for some, on the international stage. Playing in the NCAA is a privelage and is incredibly difficult to earn and we are proud of each and everyone of them.

Chloe Primerano // University of Minnesota 

Chloe Primerano joined the RINK Hockey Academy as the only female ever drafted to the WHL (Western Hockey League) and absolutely dominated right out the gate. In the 2022-23 season with the RINK Hockey Academy U18 female team, the Vancouver Giants prospect, Primerano managed to put up 20 goals and 28 assists for 48 points in 30 games as a blueliner. Primerano was named the CSSHL U18 Women's Most Valuable Player, and won the CSSHL Western Championships. This past 2023-24 season, Primerano continued her generational performances and put up 35 goals and 54 assists in 89 points in 29 games. Primerano was named as the CSSHL U18 Women's MVP and won the CSSHL Western Championships for the second consecutive year. Primerano had the chance to represent Canada at the 2024 IIHF World Women's U18 Championship and got a bronze medal, but individually, she had nothing short of an unforgettable tournament. The list of awards Chloe Primerano won at the IIHF U18 Women's World Championship include :

• U18 World Junior Championship Women's Most Valuable Player

• U18 World Junior Championship Women's Best Defender

• U18 World Junior Championship Women's Most Goals by Defenseman (8)

• U18 World Junior Championship Women's Most Assists by Defenseman (8)

• U18 World Junior Championship Women's Most Points by a Defenseman (16)

• U18 World Junior Championship Women's Most Points (16)

• U18 World Junior Championship Women's Best Plus/Minus (+18)

Since Chloe Primerano would best develop at the NCAA level, she was able to fast-track highschool and is committed to the University of Minnesota for the upcoming 2024-25 season for her 17-year-old season. The University of Minnesota is an NCAA Division 1 program that competes in the WCHA (Western Collegiate Hockey Association). When the young prodigy got drafted to the WHL, she definitely made a name for herself in the hockey world, but once she becomes a superstar in the NCAA, Primerano very well may become the Caitlin Clark of women's hockey. 

Gracie Graham // University of Minnesota

Gracie Graham started her journey with the RINK Hockey Academy U18 Female team during the 2021-22 season where she had an unbelievable start by putting up 4 goals and 15 assists for 19 points in 25 games as a 15-year-old blueliner and went on to win the CSSHL Western Championship. After having a great start to her CSSHL career, Graham was named as the CSSHL U18 Women's Top Freshman Award Co-Winner. The following 2022-23 season with the RHA U18 Female team, Graham had another great year where she put up 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points in 25 games, and went on to win her second CSSHL Western Championship in a row. Wearing the sacred maple leaf jersey is something every hockey player dreams of doing, and luckily for Graham, she had the chance to suit up for team Canada at the 2023 IIHF Women's World U18 Championship and managed to put up 1 goal and 2 assists for 3 points in 5 games and won the gold medal! During this past 2023-24 season with the RHA U18 Female team, Graham had an absolute breakout season from an already very dominant season and put up an outstanding 19 goals and 40 assists for 59 points in 29 games, and went on to win her third straight CSSHL Western Championship. After her final season in the CSSHL, Graham was named as the CSSHL U18 Female Prep Top Defenseman Award Winner. Not only did Graham get to represent her country on the international stage once, she had the opportunity to do it again in the 2024 IIHF Women's World U18 Championship and managed to put up 1 goal and 5 assists for 6 points in 6 games. That year Canada went on to win the bronze medal in dominant 8-1 win over Finland. After proving what she can do at the international stage and in the CSSHL U18 level, Graham decided to commit to University of Minnesota, an NCAA Division 1 program in the WCHA (Western Collegiate Hockey Association).

Makayla Watson // Quinnipiac University

In her time with the RINK Hockey Academy U18 Female team, Makayla Watson had an extremely dominant 2023-24 season and put up an outstanding 10 goals and 41 assists for 51 points in 29 games, and went on to win the CSSHL Western Championship. Watson had the opportunity to represent her country on the international stage in the 2024 IIHF Women's World U18 Championship and managed to put up 3 assists in 6 games. That year Canada went on to win the bronze medal in dominant 8-1 win over Finland. After proving what she can do at the international stage and in the CSSHL U18 level, Watson decided to commit to Quinnipiac University, an NCAA Division 1 program in the ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference)

Madison Bowtell // Lindenwood University

Madison Bowtell started her journey off with the RINK Hockey Academy's U18 Female team in the 2021-22 season where she had an absolutely unbelievable start and put up a .933 SV% and 1.13 GAA in 13 games and went on to win the CSSHL Western Championship. The following 2022-23 season with the RHA U18 Female team, Bowtell put up a .921 SV% and 1.39 GAA in 15 games and went on to win her second straight CSSHL Western Championship. This past 2023-24 season with the RHA U18 Female team, Bowtell kept up her unbelievable performances and put up a .932 SV% and 0.93 GAA in 20 games. After proving what she can do at the CSSHL U18 level, Bowtell announced her commitment to Lindenwood University.

Kyly Laybolt // Arizona State University

Kyly Laybolt started her journey in the 2022-23 season where with the RINK Hockey Academy U18 Female team where she put up 7 goals and 8 assists for 15 points in 30 games, and went on to win the CSSHL Western Championship. The following 2023-24 season back with the RHA U18 Female team, Laybolt upped her offensive production and put up 4 goals and 16 assists for 20 points in 29 games, and went on to win the CSSHL Western Championship. After proving what she can do at the CSSHL U18 level, Laybolt announced her commitment to Arizona State University.

Sage Babey // Merrimack College

In her time with the RINK Hockey Academy U18 Female team, Sage Babey managed to put up an incredible 22 goals and 36 assists in 58 games in the 2023-24 season, and even went on to win the CSSHL Western Championship. After proving what she can do at the CSSHL U18 level, Babey announced her commitment to Merrimack College.

Raedyn Spademan // Clarkson University

Raedyn Spademan started her journey in the 2022-23 season where with the RINK Hockey Academy U18 Female team where she put up 12 goals and 8 assists for 20 points in 29 games, and went on to win the CSSHL Western Championship. The following 2023-24 season back with the RHA U18 Female team, Spademan had a breakout season and managed to put up 20 goals and 27 assists for 47 points in 30 games, and went on to win the CSSHL Western Championship. After proving what she can do at the CSSHL U18 level, Spademan announced her commitment to Clarkson University.

Farah Walker // Colgate/Lindenwood University

In her time with the RINK Hockey Academy U18 Female team, Farah Walker managed to put up an incredible .953 SV% and a 0.76 GAA in 11 games played in the 2023-24 season, and even went on to win the CSSHL Western Championship. After proving what she can do at the CSSHL U18 level, Walker announced her commitment to Colgate/Lindenwood University.

Taya MacDonald // Penn State University

In her time with the RINK Hockey Academy U18 Female team, Taya MacDonald had an impressive 2023-24 season and put up a 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points in 30 games, and went on to win the CSSHL Western Championship. After proving what she can do at the CSSHL U18 level, MacDonald decided to commit to Penn State University, an NCAA Division 1 program in the CCWHA (Central Collegiate Women's Hockey Association).