Presley Ellis has always excelled in an array of sports, but her heart has always been in hockey.
Ellis, who will begin the next chapter of her life with Liberty University as both an athlete and student, recalled her start in hockey.
“I initially started in St. George, playing in a little tyke’s league when I was younger, and then as I got a little bit older, I transitioned to girl’s hockey [and] then went on to play my first year of AA girls’ hockey in Burlington,” recalled Ellis. “When I first started playing, I was doing it for fun [and] really enjoying it. And then as soon as I hit the age of 13, I started to really take hockey seriously [and] getting into deeper training.”
However, even at an early age, Ellis understood the importance of leveraging other sports including track and field and golfing, in order to help elevate her hockey skills.
“I remember going to a hockey camp, and a coach specifically telling me [that] they can teach [players] anything, but they can never teach speed. That’s when something clicked for me, [that] I needed to start running. I joined the Brantford Track and Field Club and I was coached by Marqus Daniel,” stated Ellis. “I have to give so much credit to coach Daniel [because] he helped me with my running and my form…track was more of a stepping stone for me towards hockey.”
Ellis would do some track and field during high school when she attended St John’s College, even winning a conference championship in the 800-meter run, however, she would also play golf there too.
“Golf was something my parents and I did over the summer of 2022 for fun. And then my school needed players for the girl’s golf team. A couple of friends and I went out to practice, and ended up making [the team],” she said. “Hockey and golf kind of go hand-in-hand in a way that you have to actually have the correct form [to do well.]”
Along with track and field and golf, Ellis maintains how chess has deeply influenced her hockey game.
“I started playing chess back in Grade 1 [and] I learned the game from one of the teachers there… and I have loved it ever since. I always liked the mental aspect of the game, and I think that deeply connects with hockey as well. Hockey is not just a physical game, it’s also a mental game…[because you are] always thinking ahead [and] planning your next move,” she explained. “Chess has also [taught] me to stay calm and poised, even if you’re not winning…[which] has helped influence me on how I play hockey.”
Nevertheless, things started to really come together on the ice for Ellis when she played for the Cambridge U-22 Rivulettes of the OWHL (Ontario Women’s Hockey League U22 Elite), learning a lot from the team’s coach.
“I played my first junior year for the Stoney Creek Sabres, and then I ended up transferring to Cambridge who were coached by Geoff Haddaway. My success there was based on coach Haddaway really pushing me [and] always expecting more from [the team] which really helped me excel on ice. He emphasized the hockey IQ-side of things, and the idea of looking for the pass first…so playing with the team pushed me to be the best version of myself [and] helped me get ready before coming to Liberty University,” said Ellis.
As well, the last two-years has been filled with on-ice successes for Ellis, who detailed some highlights.
“My Cambridge team ended up being a brass finalist at the Stony Creek Showcase, which is an international [event] that’s held every year in September. There were over 60 teams there and we really pulled through, especially against the top five teams in Ontario…we beat one of them to make it to one of those finals. We were also silver-medal finalists in the OWHL…which was a huge success for our team, considering we were underdogs,” Ellis explained. “Another highlight was when I went to play at the Andrew’s International Showcase in P.E.I. [where] I was the tournament MVP after getting nine points in five games and my team going on to win the tournament.”
Ellis, is now focused on taking her best step forward, starting as freshman at Liberty University which is based in Lynchburg, Virginia, and is revered for its champion-caliber women’s hockey program.
“I was set on going to a Canadian school…until one of the scouts for Liberty University noticed me during a showcase. After the game, he came to meet me…[and] eventually I had a call with the head coach, Chris Lowes, who talked to me about the program [which] really interested me. And then they took me down for a tour [and I got to see the school], and I just loved the team environment [and the] whole atmosphere there,” said Ellis.
However, Ellis is looking to mesh with the program’s winning ways.
“We have a big freshman class coming in this year, so it’s focusing on building chemistry with my teammates, and getting into our systems, which we’ve been working on at practice,” said Ellis. “The Liberty team has won six national championships [in the last seven years]…and [now it’s] getting back that national championship, winning league finals, and maintaining the legacy of Liberty University hockey program.”
