Former NCAA hockey player Kylie Rossler finds new life on the gridiron

Life after NCAA women’s hockey can lead into various directions; competing with one’s national team, pro hockey in Europe or North America, coaching or simply walking away from the game. Regina native Kylie Rossler adapted an entirely different approach.

After graduating from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania during spring 2011, Rossler was facing her own athletic crossroads. There was no spot for her on the Canadian national team, nor did Regina have its own women’s hockey club team. With a love of sport, Rossler enjoyed the camaraderie and the dynamic of helping a team win.

In four NCAA women’s hockey seasons, she accumualted a lifetime mark of 18 goals and 21 assists for 39 points. She would also claim two College Hockey America regular season and postseason titles. The final point of her career came in a January 8, 2011 contest against Syracuse where she logged an assist. Her last goal actually came in a March 19, 2010, postseason tilt with the Cornell Big Red as she logged two points (one goal, one assist).

The 5’6” blonde haired bombshell decided that she would use her athletic abilities in the growing sport of women’s football. The United States and Canada feature numerous tackle football leagues including the Maritime Women’s Football League, Western Women’s Canadian Football League, the Independent Women’s Football League and the Women’s Football Alliance.

Rossler would end up in another league; the Legends Football League. Having expanded to Canada in 2012, the league established four teams throughout Canada, including two in the football mad province of Saskatchewan; the Regina Rage and the Saskatoon Sirens.

The inaugural season of LFL Canada found Rossler establishing herself as one of the league’s elite competitors. Competing with the Rage, she was joined by another former women’s hockey player, Ashley Richter (who once competed with the Vermont Catamounts).

Sports fans in Regina were familiar with Rossler a teen phenom on the ice. With the Regina Rebels team, she was their team captain for the 2006-07 campaign. With a 43 point season (on the strength of 19 goals and 24 assists), she would average 1.8 points per game. In addition, she was also a member of the Saskatchewan provincial team.

In 2012, Rossler would reinvent herself as a football hero. Playing alongside legendary LFL US quarterback Nikki Johnson, Rossler made an immediate impact with the Rage. Acting as offensive co-ordinator, Johnson showed great ability in Rossler’s talents.

Her 266 rushing yards were second overall on the Rage (and among the top five in LFL Canada); while she helped Regina average an LFL Canada-best 144 rushing yards per game. With the rivalry against the Saskatoon Sirens in 2012 making national news (a fight broke out in the stands during one game), Rossler was a key factor in handing the Sirens their only regular season loss.

With an 89 yard performance, she was named Player of the Game. She would make a significant statement in that victory, giving Regina fans reason to believe that she will be part of a bright future for the team and the league.

After a breakthrough 2012 season in LFL Canada, Kylie Rossler is ready to build on that remarkable momentum for 2013. After missing the postseason by one game last year, Rossler is ready to help the Regina Rage reach the promised land.

Considering that there shall be no LFL US stars in the 2013 LFL Canada season, Rossler will be expected to shoulder the load of the offense. Having played with the likes of elite players and leaders such as Meghan Agosta, Vicki Bendus, Bailey Bram and Pamela Zgoda at Mercyhurst, she has the leadership qualities to make it happen.

Having won several conference championships at the NCAA hockey level, Rossler understands what it takes to win. As she works towards making the Rage’s championship dreams come true, Rossler is not only emerging as a franchise player, but as one of the faces of LFL Canada.