Ice Factor life skills program helps youngster Tyra Pix skate onto North Adelaide’s SANFLW list
North Adelaide SANFLW rising star Tyra Pix has an ice hockey program to thank for helping her build up the confidence to trial for the Roosters. The Ice Factor program also helped Gold Coast Suns speedster and No.3 draft pick Izak Rankine.
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Tyra Pix was disengaged at school, had no confidence and little direction two years ago.
But that all changed when Pix became involved with the Ice Factor program.
Now the Valley View High Year 12 is full of confidence, plans to go to university and is also a proud member of North Adelaide’s SANFLW team.
Pix reckons she would never have mustered up the courage to trial with the Roosters if she did not join the Ice Factor program, which taught disadvantaged teens ice hockey and life skills.
“For me, it was hard to stay motivated at school, so I needed an outlet to help,” Pix, 17, says.
“It’s also really helped with my leadership skills because it’s taught me a lot about what a leader actually is.
“I don’t think I would’ve got into North Adelaide without the Ice Factor program because it helped build my confidence up enough to trial and I got in – so that was pretty exciting.”
Pix, of Modbury Heights, began this football season with North’s under-17 team before getting a call-up to the league team for its round nine clash against Central District at home last month.
The midfielder held her spot for North’s last minor round match against Sturt at Unley but was left out for the knockout semi-final win over Glenelg on Friday night.
“I was really excited and shocked to get a game for the league team,” says Pix, who is also co-captain of her school.
“I am still quite a new player but I was trying really hard and that was one of my big goals.
“Everyone was so supportive and being able to play in such a high league was unbelievable.”
Former West Adelaide speedster and Henley High student Izak Rankine, who was selected by the Gold Coast Suns at last year’s AFL national draft, was another success story of the Ice Factor program.
Queen’s Counsel Marie Shaw established the program in 2005 to help at risk students learn life skills and raise their self esteem.
Pix takes part in weekly trainings with the Valley View Vipers ice hockey team as part of her involvement with program and plays in a schools tournament at the end of each term.
She hopes to study film and music at university next year and is also keen to be drafted to an AFLW club in the future.