Emms-Finnsson Joins Sister On Ice

Kylee Emms-Finnsson has committed to the Cougars Women’s Hockey Team for the 2023-2024 season.

Emms-Finnsson is joining her older sister, Keely on the Cougars roster. The duo, just one year apart, clearly share a passion for the game and look forward to being on ice together. Emms-Finnsson is currently playing for the U18 Interlake Lightening.

“We have a lot of chemistry on the ice and she has a lot to bring to the team,” said current Cougar and older sister, Keely. “I can’t wait to see what the next couple of years have for Kylee, especially since I can be right beside her the whole time.”

Emms-Finnsson had an active upbringing, growing up on a farm in Arborg, Manitoba and playing all kinds of sports; hockey, volleyball, basketball, badminton, softball, swimming, soccer, dance and track and field. She started playing mixed hockey for the Arborg Falcons before changing over to girls hockey and playing for the Stonewall Blues. This meant her family would drive 5-6 hours a week for her to get to and from practices and games but Emms-Finsson says it was worth every second. In 2016, the U13 A1 Blues were crowned Winnipeg City Champions. She was selected a Hockey Winnipeg All-Star on both her U13 and U15 teams (2017, 2020). She received the U15 AAA Interlake Lightening Top Defence Award and was an alternate captain for the Lightening in 2019-2020 and 2022-2023. She’s also got a plethora of awards for various school sports and was selected Arborg Early Middle School Female Athlete of the Year in 2019 and the Arborg Collegiate Institute Female Athlete of the Year in 2021.

“Kylee is a strong defender, her strong wide skating style gives her the ability to transition to carry the puck through the zones looking for different options,” said Cougars coach Tony Bertone. “She has a high IQ for the game and has an accurate hart shot from the point.”

“I’m a driven player, I take advantage of my speed and win races to the puck,” said Emms-Finnsson. “I’m positionally solid and am able to use my strength to win battles. I am eager and willing to learn on and off the ice and always looking for ways to improve my play.”

Emms-Finnsson also performs in the classroom. She’s maintained honour roll with distinction from 2016-2023, where she will graduate in June from Arborg Collegiate Institute. She received the Evergreen School Division Outstanding Achievement Award in both 2016 and 2019 and served as part of the schools leadership group from 2015-2019 and again in 2021-2023, including student council vice president in 2018-19. She is currently serving as head of her class and charged with organizing grad events.

She’s involved in her community and part of the schools A.C.T.I.O.N club doing various volunteer roles around the town. She’s given back to the sport helping coach her former team, the Arborg Falcons and has participated in the local Terry Fox run and the Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life.

Emms-Finnsson will be taking Agribusiness at the college in the fall.