With the high school season over Kafka turns her attention to bigger tournaments. This is the third season Kafka has played for Team South Dakota and this year she will be playing on both the 16U and 19U teams.  

“We only had about six or seven girls try out for the 19U team this year,” she said. “We have quite a few girls that are playing both 16U and 19U. Sometimes with the older girls their heart just isn’t into hockey anymore.”

Kafka has no problems keeping her heart in hockey, or finding time to practice. 

“With team training my high school team is constantly working on skills on dry land and stick handling,” she said. “I have my own net in the garage and am constantly working on those skills.” 

Hockey isn’t something that flows naturally through the Kafka family. Brylee’s father Kyle was a wrestler while her mother Jeannie was a basketball player. 

Younger brother Barron is following in his sisters footsteps playing pee-wee hockey as a sixth grader. Kafka hopes to be one of the athletes that helps bring girls hockey in South Dakota forward. 

“South Dakota hockey doesn’t have a lot of recognition,” she said. “When we go to Minnesota or play in these national tournaments people overlook us and think our skill level is not there.” 

Team South Dakota dropped their opening game Thursday and will play games on both Friday and Saturday in pool play. Following pool play teams will be assigned to different divisions and play in tournament action Sunday and Monday. 

“We love coming to these national tournaments to see teams that we’ve never seen,” Kafka said. “It is fun to play in front of bigger crowds and in the back of your mind you know there are tons of college coaches watching.”