The Bison women's hockey team got a huge boost two weeks ago when fifth-year alternate captain Alanna Sharman returned to the ice from a lower body injury suffered in the pre-season.

"The puck got shot in front of me and I was just skating hard to go get it and the defenceman stepped up and we collided. It was her body on my knee," Sharman recalls. "I had this injury about six years ago, so I knew it would be a long battle back, but I'm almost there and feeling good."

Sharman says the support system she has at the university played a big factor in getting back to 100 percent in a timely manner.

"The first time I did it, I was in grade 11, so I was very hesitant rehabbing and I didn't have the resources I have now with our athletic trainer Mandy [Los], our student trainers and [strength and conditioning coach] Matt [Asmundson].

[Asmundson] has been amazing through this road back. He's the one who really pushed my legs to get back to where they needed to be."

The forward was able to start skating again at the end of October but wasn't medically cleared for contact until after the first half was over. Despite having to wait it out, she maintained a high morale among her teammates.

"I just tried to be the same person that I am in the dressing room and not look sad or upset. It was hard at times, but for the most part we had a lot of fun in the gym with Matt or in the athletic therapy room."

It didn't take long for Sharman to re-integrate herself on the ice. She tallied an assist in her first game back against Alberta on Jan. 4 and was a scoring threat all weekend at Wayne Fleming Arena, both on the power play and five-on-five.

Then, last Saturday she potted two goals, including the game-winner, against Mount Royal. In the process, she passed goaltender Lauren Taraschuk in points, as the second-year netminder had recorded her first career U SPORTS assist in the first half of the season against Saskatchewan.

"I was happy to tie [Taraschuk], but when I passed her I made sure she knew," Sharman says with a chuckle. "In the dressing room after the game on Saturday I announced to everyone that I had more points than Chucky. It was just a little friendly competition between us two."

Sharman's return couldn't have come at a better time. The No. 3 ranked Bisons sit just two points behind No. 2 Alberta for first place in the conference with a month left in the regular season; having a player who's recorded 104 points in their U SPORTS career will be a definite asset down the stretch.

"We had a really strong team last year and I think we're getting there again this year," she says. "We're pretty tight-knit and everybody is so supportive of each other. It's going to be another good one."