The all-time career-scoring leader for the St. Albert Slash is lighting the lamp as a freshman with the Colgate Raiders in the Eastern College Athletic Association.
Melissa Kueber is tied for the team lead in goals with nine in 18 games and ranks third in points with 14.
Kueber was also named the ECAC rookie of the week after her four-goal performance in an 8-2 win against the Lindenwood Lady Lions on Oct. 15.
“I had trouble burying the puck for the first couple of games, but after I scored four goals in that one game I got some confidence and I just kept building off that,” said the 18-year-old left-winger. “I just have to go out there every game and be consistent and have the confidence that I can play at this level and I can do things.”
Head coach Scott Wiley is impressed with Kueber’s transition from midget AAA to the division one Raiders.
“I’ve been thrilled with her performance so far. She is extremely smart and has really good game sense. She can play in a lot of situations with different people. She plays a regular shift, she kills penalties and plays on one of our two power plays and as a first-year player that probably means 15 to 18 minutes of ice time a game.
“When she is confident and feeling good and feeling like she is contributing, that is when she is really playing at her best,” Wiley said. “She has been everything we have expected and then some. She is very, very good and will continue to improve. She is going to be a fantastic player for us over the next four years.”
At the start of the season Kueber doubted her abilities to play at the collegiate level.
“I didn’t really have a lot of confidence because I’m a freshman but I’m getting more confident with myself, and my teammates too. I’ve never played with any of these girls before so the chemistry is being built now and that feels good,” said the former Slash captain.
Last season Kueber led the Alberta Major Midget Female Hockey League in goals with 31 in 24 games and finished in a three-way tie for top spot in points with 47. Her career totals with the Slash are 85 goals and 66 assists in 100 games. She was also a member of the gold-medal winning U18 provincial team at the 2011 Canada Winter Games
“It’s definitely been a big step up from midget hockey. Everyone is faster, stronger and more competitive and the tempo is higher but I’m getting used to it,” said the three-time midget AAA all-star selection. “You just have to prove yourself at practice, in the games and to your teammates and coaches and that helps you work harder.”
Off the ice has also been an adjustment for the Paul Kane High School graduate.
“With hockey you’re going all the time. You have a morning lift [in the weight room] and then go right into class and then practice and then somehow you have to manage when to get your homework in. It was a little hard, but I think I’m getting used to it all so hopefully this next semester will be better.”
Kueber’s goal for the second half of the season with the 7-10-1 Raiders is continued improvement.
“I’m going to try to be more consistent and hopefully score some more goals and have a good plus/minus.”
