Renna Trembecky makes historic start in AJHL preseason

Northeastern commit Renna Trembecky dons the Bonnyville Pontiacs camp jersey. Two females, Shannon Szabados and Emerance Maschmeyer, have played in the AJHL. 

This year’s annual training camp for the Bonnyville Pontiacs featured a unique player, Renna Trembecky.

The 16-year-old female goaltender earned an invite to main camp, following an impressive showing at the Yaks spring camp back in April.

That led to her getting the opportunity to start Bonnyville’s first preseason game at the Lloydminster Bobcats, joining the likes of Shannon Szabados, who famously played for the Pontiacs two decades ago.

“It was unbelievable,” Trembecky told Lakeland Connect. “Honestly, just the opportunity to play against guys of such a high level, and even 20-year-olds who are three years older than me, just to be able to do that is a pretty big thing for me, I think.

“I really appreciated the chance to be able to do that from the coaching staff, to just the players and just the community of Bonnyville as well, just everyone was welcoming. And definitely kind of made me feel as if I was home there well.” 

The 30 minutes she played, she was tested.

The Bobcats were bolstered with a lineup of a dozen returning veterans, while the Pontiacs iced a younger and greener squad. Trembecky made 28 of 30 saves — not bad for any goaltender, veteran or rookie, under the circumstances.

“She’s a stellar goaltender,” said Pontiacs head coach Ayrton Nikkel.

“There’s no other way to put it. As a 16-year-old still, she’s very square to the puck, she doesn’t give up a lot of rebounds and she helps our d-men out with some breakouts, stopping the puck behind the net, and making some clean plays.” 

Her play forced the Pontiacs brass to have to make “very difficult decisions” about what to do between the pipes.

This year’s edition of the team is bereft of some of the household names from a year ago, particularly in the net. After three seasons with the Pontiacs, Bodee Weiss left to play with the Langley Rivermen of the BCHL.

Having played the third most games for a goalie in franchise history, four netminders entered camp, including St. Paul’s Jedd Stybel.

Cody Butikis and Connor Knorr each seem to have the inside track on making the club, but those that watched camp, recognized the talent that Trembecky exudes.

Growing up

Playing against the boys is not a new thing for Trembecky, who said she’s never played a full season with the girls.

Starting hockey at a very young age, she credits her older brother who wanted someone to shoot on as the first impetus to go between the pipes.

And while Teydon plays with the Victoria Royals in the Western Hockey League, Renna will prepare now for the upcoming U18AAA season in Sherwood Park, after being released from Pontiacs camp days ago.

In an age focused on big goaltenders, she stands all but 5’4″, but her lateral movement and technical expertise has made her an exciting prospect for the NCAA.

“Till about the age of 13, I was a high level competitive gymnast, which honestly helped me so much, especially with being a goalie and making those lateral saves,” she said. 

“I’ve kind of been with the boys my whole life, and I think I just kind of had to adapt to their shooting styles, pace of play, and everything. As time went on, everyone gets older, the game becomes faster, but I think another big help would be my goaltending coach, Ian Gordon, who’s been with me since I was super young. He has definitely assisted me in getting to where I am today, and the ability to be able to make those saves against these older boys.”

Through programs like Hockey Super League and the JPHL, Trembecky split time in the crease with Bonnyville’s Hayden Rinas on the Sherwood Park U17AAA Squires team.

That club was impressive, earning bronze at Provincials, with Trembecky boasting a 1.90 goals against average and .939 save percentage.

Northeastern

In fact, among all the players at Pontiacs’ training camp, Trembecky was the lone NCAA committed player. She will later be a Northeastern Husky in the Big East conference in the NCAA.

They reached out to her last summer about her interest.

“I believe it was October when I went on a visit to Northeastern, saw campus, saw the rink and everything. Met some of the team, all the coaching staff, and then in the beginning of November, I did end up committing.” 

It’s an exciting moment for women’s hockey with the formation of the Professional Women’s Hockey League, there is serious momentum. It also allows players like Trembecky a path to one day make hockey a career, like the boys.

“It really gives something for younger generations of female players like a goal to strive for.

“When you have the NHL for the guys, every young kid’s dream is to play in the NHL. Having the PWHL is definitely a big stepping stone for women’s hockey, not only at that high of a level, but just to continue to build from U18 down to enhance the game on the female side.

 I’d love to thank my parents, as well as my brother and grandparents, even the individuals that I stayed with in Bonnyville, they were very welcoming to me and opened their home for me to stay there for the couple weeks. I appreciate everyone, from coaches to trainers to everyone who helped me along the way get to where I am today.”