Growing up, fourth-year forward Sheridan Oswald didn't have to look far for hockey inspiration.

Sister Courtlyn, two years her elder, also played the sport while the duo's father Richard was a former university hockey athlete.

"My dad when we were younger would always build an outdoor rink in the backyard and would teach us how to shoot and skate," Sheridan says.

"He was also my coach growing up, but I think he's definitely a lot harder on me so I hold myself accountable and know when I'm not playing my best game. But I also think that's a good thing because I know how to push harder."

As Oswald got older, her offensive prowess continued to rise.

She scored 128 regular season goals during her five-year run with the Central Plains Capitals of the Manitoba Female Midget Hockey League (MFMHL), while also helping her squad to a MFMHL title in 2014-15.

"I think always growing up I had offensive abilities," she noted.

"I think in midget is where it started to take off and I started to feel more comfortable on the ice. I think it really showed in my play and I've just continued to build upon that."

Over the years, Oswald also had the chance to continue her development outside of local programs. Taking in experiences such as the IIHF High Performance Camp in Vierumäki, Finland in 2014, as well as being an assistant captain for Team Manitoba at the 2013 National Women's Under-18 Championship helped her to grow both as a leader and well-rounded hockey player.

With her sister already on the Bisons' roster and a few other factors in mind, Oswald felt staying home was the best fit for her post-secondary experience. She made her debut for Manitoba in 2016-17, recording seven goals, which tied for fourth on the team.

"I think definitely coming in, it's a step up from midget. But I had a really good group of girls my first year to help me feel comfortable on the team. I think I found my stride pretty early and continue to do so."

Sheridan also had the chance, at times, over the next couple of seasons to line up alongside Courtlyn, including in the former's rookie year where the duo was quick to compile points.

"It was really good just coming into the team. [Courtlyn] really helped me out and let me feel comfortable," she noted.

"I think even getting the opportunity to get to play with her at points was really special because we know how to interact on the ice together and how we're going to be."

Arguably the most memorable moment the pair shared during their time together occurred following Manitoba's first-ever national championship victory in 2017-18.

"It was a really good experience just to be able to witness and play against some of the other teams. Being able to do that definitely helps with our play now," Oswald says.

"Playing with Courtlyn at that stage and having my family down for the trip was really special too."

Courtlyn has now graduated from the women's hockey program, however she continues to live in the city with her younger sister as she finishes off her nursing degree. Sheridan noted that the pair maintain a strong bond, despite the fact that they're no longer on the ice together.

"We're in a house. There's five of us. We're all on the team expect for [Courtlyn], but she knows them all because she played with them. We're definitely still close. I don't see her as much because she's finishing her nursing degree and working, but we're definitely really close still."

Now in her fourth year with the program, Sheridan has had the experience of playing in two national tournaments at the U SPORTS level. She also recorded eight goals a year ago, good for a tie for third on the team.

"I think just staying consistent with my play has been key," she says of her progression as a player at the U SPORTS level.

"I think even if the goals aren't going my way, just doing all the little things right and then it eventually comes."

This season, Manitoba welcomed ten new rookies to the program. A significant amount of those recruits came at the forward position, meaning athletes such as Jordy Zacharias and Oswald have been looked upon to provide leadership and poise for a Manitoba team that's currently finding their footing at 2-6.

"Forward is where most of the turnover came, and so that's an area where we're going to have to have a lot of patience, and the leaders are going to have to have some patience with all the players that are developing," Bisons head coach Jon Rempel noted prior to the start of the 2019-20 campaign.

"I told [Zacharias and Oswald] early on that this is their chance to kind of put their own stamp on this program and I think they want that opportunity. They're both wearing letters this year and so they'll have a fair amount of responsibility. I think the girls really trust them. Sheridan is a bit more vocal than Jordy is, Jordy kind of leads by example, so I think they're a good mix there."

While leading on the ice is key, developing bonds off of it is just as valuable for team chemistry.

"Usually when the rookies come in for camp we ask them if they have a nickname. If they don't then we usually assign them one and it kind of goes from there," Oswald says.

"We definitely use nicknames a lot and I think that's another thing that is special about our team and the comfort level we have with each other. We definitely have a big group of rookies coming in, but they're all really great girls."