Creating a home-away-from-home for hockey players

ager and game-day operations for the Lloydminster Junior A Bobcats.

“I set up the rink prior to the game and I make sure all of our volunteers are in the right positions for game days,” she humbly said.

If you ask Bobcats head coach and GM Nigel Dube what Oleshko’s job entails, he’ll be a little more descriptive.

“The Bobcats pride themselves on being in the community, whether it be reading at school, Trick or Trunk, wrapping Christmas presents, shovelling snow, or on the ice with minor hockey, it wouldn’t be possible without the commitment Mallory shows in the hours she puts in organizing and finding events for our players to be a part of,” he said.

Prior to working with the Bob - cats, Oleshko was a stay-at-home mom and daycare provider in Estevan. young hockey players aren’t at home, so we try to create a home atmosphere for them when they come in.

“I got involved with the team after we started billeting here, just to get more involved in the community, and Nigel approached me about working two days in the office, and that turned into a full-time position.”

Oleshko explained she loves being a part of the community and her role with the Bobcats helped her get to know more people throughout Lloyd.

As a junior hockey team, the Bobcats have always played an important role in the community, but there’s a lot of work being done behind the scenes many might not know about, including baking fresh cookies for the players on cold winter days.

“I guess that comes down to the fact these young hockey players aren’t at home, so we try to create a home atmosphere for them when they come in,” she said.

Oleshko also touched on the importance of volunteerism both in and out of the rink.

“If we didn’t have our volunteers there would be no one there to help out with the games.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

“We rely on volunteers for the box office, the frisbee table, our 50/50 people, the bar people, they’re all volunteers and help game days run smoothly for us,” she said.

For Oleshko, the best part of her day is the fact no day is ever the same.

“I don’t come in and work on a computer all day,” she said. “I could be going down to the rink to get merchandise for people, during COVID we were driving around and surprising kids with our mascot Bob The Cat for birthdays and stuff ... so it’s always different, which I love.”

As a mother of two herself, Oleshko also has a love for kids, which makes the job that much better.

Oleshko also explained she and her family have found Lloydminster to be very friendly and welcoming since moving here.

“Everyone’s super friendly.”

To Oleshko, an inspiring woman is someone who has a drive to be better as well as make our community better as a whole.

“I find someone who’s a driven hard worker and just wants to do better for themselves and the community is inspiring to me,” she said.

“I think the fact the team gives back to the community as much as they do is so important and I hope people see just how giving this community is.”

Coming from the smaller community of Estevan, Oleshko said she thought she’d lose that sense of community in a bigger centre, but she was wrong.

“I was blown away at how giving this community is and how everyone jumps at the opportunity to help out whenever and wherever they can,” she said. “I also never thought I’d be working in a role like this, but I wouldn’t change any of it.”

After spending over two decades as the Learning Resource Coordinator with the Lloydminster Catholic School Division, Cheryl Sikora started a new chapter of her life in September 2022 when she was appointed director of the Lloydminster Public Library.

Sikora has always had a love for