02-05-2025
Headrick heads East: Garden River forward commits to UNB Reds
Mya Headrick of Garden River First Nation is taking the next stride in her hockey and academic career—committing to the University of New Brunswick for the 2025-2026 women's hockey season.
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The 20-year-old forward, who spent the past three years playing NCAA Division I hockey at Bemidji State University in Minnesota, is following in the footsteps of her biggest inspiration, her older sister, who spent two seasons at the Fredericton university.
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Mya is currently studying kinesiology, with hopes of going to medical school to become a doctor. She told the Sault Star she thinks that going to UNB will support her aspirations in hockey and academics.
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But, no matter how far Mya's hockey career takes her from Garden River, her ultimate goal is to return to her community.
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'If I do end up getting into med school, I'd want to come back and give back to my community, make it more accessible,' said Mya. Her 'big picture goal' is to open a doctor's office in Garden River.
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Her path has taken her from Northern Ontario to Toronto, the U.S., and now the Maritimes. At just 14, she moved from Sault Ste. Marie to Sudbury to join a travel team and gain more game experience. She later played for the Etobicoke Junior Dolphins, helping them win Ontario's Provincial Women's Hockey League title in 2022, then earned gold with Team Ontario U16 at the 2018 Ontario Summer Games.
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In Grade 11, she committed to Bemidji State University (NCAA Div. 1), where she has played for the last three years.
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This past season, Headrick scored one goal and one assist as the Beavers went 6-30-1 (W-L-T) in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
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The year prior, she served as one of the Beavers' alternate captains and was named to the WCHA's All-Academic Team for a second straight season.
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Mya describes herself on the ice as a power forward who goes to the hard areas and can score goals.
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'I always give my 110%. I'm a very hard worker. I'm very dedicated and passionate. I also think I bring a good, positive attitude, and I'm a pretty good teammate,' said Mya.
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Moving away at a young age was the catalyst to Mya's success, but also her biggest challenge.
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'I had a dream, and that's what had to be done,' said Mya about leaving her friends and family in Garden River and Sault Ste. Marie to pursue hockey at a higher level.
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Now, Mya looks to the East Coast of Canada to see what she can accomplish next.
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'I just felt like UNB was the right fit for me,' she said. 'It's a great academic school. I'm studying kinesiology and I want to go to med school in the future. I think it's a better fit for me to increase my odds of getting in.'
