Courtesy: Bailee Bourassa

By Wray Morrison

Former captain signs in Sweden

Bailee Bourassa continues playing career

Oct 12, 2022 | 6:29 PM

Despite having a solid career path in place, former Huskie captain Bailee Bourassa isn’t quite ready to stop playing hockey just yet. On Wednesday the MODO club team in the SDHL (Swedish Women’s Hockey League) announced that the Weyburn product has signed a one year contract to play in Ornskoldsvik.

“It’s really competitive”, said Bourassa. “There is lots of girls who played USports, NCAA, and lots of girls with the European national teams over there that play in this league.” Prince Albert’s Brooke Hobson, who played at Northeastern University, is one of the players in the SDHL that Bourassa is familiar with.

Bourassa’s dedication to, not only the Huskie women’s hockey program for six seasons, but to academics, is impressive. After obtaining her nursing degree in the spring of 2020, she began working at the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital. Wanting to not only play in her fifth and final season with the Huskies, but continue meaningful studies, Bourassa was accepted in to a two year Masters of Nursing program at the University of Saskatchewan. With the cancellation of the 2020-21 season, due to the pandemic, Bourassa was able to start the program before re-joining the Huskies for the 2021-22 season.

When asked about completing an MN, taking on casual work as an RN, and being the captain of the Huskie women’s hockey team simultaneously Bourassa said “I’ve always thrived off being busy. I’m very passionate about all the things I do.” She admits she was always a strong student. “Yeah, I was kind of a nerd”, joked Bourassa. “I definitely value study and take pride in doing well in school.”

Huskie women’s hockey coach Steve Kook was thrilled to learn about Bourassa’s opportunity in Sweden. “I’m ecstatic and super happy. The best thing about Bailee is her drive to experience new things.” Bourassa’s respect for Kook and the Huskies is mutual. “I can’t thank Huskie Athletics enough.”

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Bourassa capped off her USports career last March with a trip to the 2022 national championships where the Huskies earned a bronze medal in Charlottetown. “I was so grateful to be there”, she said. “I couldn’t have asked for much more. My team allowed me to play the max number of games I could have played. That was pretty special to me.”

It was a great moment for Bailee as her father Ed, mother Yvette, brother Cole and several other family members made the trip to Prince Edward Island. “My dad had 13 siblings”, Bourassa said. “Most of the guys played hockey. It’s been a big part of my family.”

Bourassa does plan make the most of her extensive nursing education. “I’ve looked in to teaching and education”, she said. “Eventually teaching at the university would probably be the end goal. We’ll see where life takes me.”

After a six year career at the U of S, Bourassa says the Huskies, and the university itself, will always be a big part of her future. She’ll no doubt give back. “I’ll always be here to support the girls.”

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wray.morrison@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @wraymorrison