Maureen Ulrich is the author of the Jessie Mac Hockey Series – Power Plays, Face Off, Breakaway and Shoot Out.
Maureen was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan but grew up in Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta. She started writing horse stories when she was eleven and historical fiction during her high school years. In 1976, she returned to Saskatoon to attend university and graduated in 1980 with an education degree. Her first teaching assignment was in Lampman, Saskatchewan, and she has pretty much lived there ever since.
Maureen has been writing plays for young people since 1997. Two titles – Sam Spud: Private Eye (2007) and The Banes of Darkwood (2010) are available through www.samuelfrench.com. Maureen has also written and produced several professional adult productions – Snowbirds (2015), Diamond Girls (2016-2018), and Lords of Sceptre (2018-2019). Souris Valley Theatre in Estevan SK produced her full-length musical Pirate Heart (2018), scored by the incomparable Ben Redant.
In her free time – of which there is not a great deal – Maureen loves to read and write, travel, knit, hang out at rinks and ball diamonds, golf, ski, and ride her motorcycle. Please visit her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or maureenulrich.ca
Praise for Shootout
Maureen Ulrich’s Shootout is an ambitious teen novel that reaches far beyond the scope of an action-packed hockey story. The parallel, dual narratives of sisters Courtney (14) and Jessie (19) McIntyre are presented in alternating chapters, each perspective portrayed in a convincing and compassionate manner as the plot develops.
One of the things I quite enjoyed in this novel was the complexity of the interpersonal connections among the characters in each of the sisters’ worlds, which reach far beyond sibling and peer dynamics. The characters’ personalities are very well developed, with a raw honesty – not only the teens themselves, but the adults as well. We see their struggles portrayed clearly through very real, and changing, lenses. In Courtney, for example, we see a burgeoning growth of her leadership skills, and her mature decision-making, as she struggles against bullying as the only girl playing on her boys’ U15 team, the Moose. Courtney’s and Jessie’s mother “isn’t her usual self” as the story progresses, and only later do we learn that she’s been trying to cope with high anxiety. The character Michael (a hateful, manipulative bully) often angered me in his scenes…as did his deeply-flawed parents.
We see both sisters’ worlds developed in a convincing manner – whether in terms of their goals; their maturing sense of self; their connections with peers (and adults); and many issues faced by today’s teens. These range from the dynamics of friendships and families (some more stable than others); teamwork; bullying, hazing and peer pressure; to maintaining a sensible balance of activities (whether in a university or high school setting). Courtney must face the multiple challenges of having to prove herself as “one of the guys”. For each sister, there are bits of romance, with the sometimes-puzzling and hurtful challenges that can arise. First Nations culture plays a significant role. Substance abuse is addressed, along with issues faced by immigrants and by a transgender player; and, ultimately, learning when it’s time to let go.
This intriguing and intelligent novel unfurls with authenticity as it explores and portrays the world of today’s teens, and teen hockey in particular. I found the hockey glossary helpful in explaining terminology I didn’t always understand. An excellent read! Alison Lohans (Award-winning author of many books including Canine Cupid; and for young adults and children: The 1-Dogpower Garden Team (to be released October 2021); Timefall; Don’t Think Twice; Leaving Mr. Humphries, and many others
Praise for Power Plays
Ulrich demonstrates that there are many ways to succeed in relationships without resorting to any sort of bullying. She stresses the importance of accepting and celebrating the differences between people rather than using them as an excuse for malicious behaviour. This is an excellent novel which provides lots of action, a little romance, and a great deal to think about.— CM Magazine
Maureen Ulrich has grasped many of the key issues young teens are dealing with today and rolled them into one to create a fast-paced novel, like the game of hockey. If in need for a humorous uplifting read, Power Plays is definitely the right choice.— What If? Magazine
Each teammate has a unique personality, and even the meanest characters turn out to be likable. Readers will relate to Jessie: she chats with her friends on the computer, dates, and has struggles with her parents. Some lessons are imparted along the way, mainly about teamwork, forgiveness, and bullying.— School Library Journal Review
The author has also managed to insert into the book, without seeming high-handed, a number of other topics, including racism, peer pressure, parental pressure, sexism, and drug and alcohol abuse. I highly recommend this book. With all the underlying themes and topics included in the book, I believe it would be a good one for junior high teachers to include in class discussions.— Prairie Fire Review of Books
Praise for Face Off
Ulrich gives young readers a superb novel with something to pique every interest. Undercurrents of sex and alcohol run through the book along with adolescents learning both about themselves and about their relationships with their peers. Teenage girls will enjoy the sports action of the novel as well as the personal intrigues and will quite likely meet themselves or their friends in its pages. — CM Magazine
So much can be weighed on one wrong moment. While everything seems to go the young hockey player’s way in most aspects, she soon finds that one wrong move can shatter her pristine life. Face Off is a charming tale that will relate with many teens. — Midwest Book Review
Teen girls who enjoy hockey will like this book. The author includes many other themes of interest to middle teens: teenage problems with alcohol, including binge drinking; self-mutilation (cutting); internet and school bullying; overcontrolling parents; teen violence; and having a parent who is gay. — Prairie Fire Review
This well-paced and detailed book appeals to the reluctant reader. Canadian venues and language make this book appropriate for newer Canadians as well as solid pleasure reading. The author’s straightforward character development and theme exploration would support a fun novel study. — Resources Links Review
Praise for Breakaway
Breakaway steers clear of every cliché minefield and offers no simple resolutions. This is a story about a girl growing up, and while dating is a part of it, like friends and like hockey, it isn’t central, and nothing ever works out storybook perfect. Jessie’s hockey successes are satisfying and allow us to hope for her future, but again there is never a defying-all-odds miraculous victory. They win and they lose, and their tangled lives and friendships are part of the game they play. There are some great one-liners, and a lot of wonderful locker-room scenes. — Catherine Egan, author of The Witch’s Child series
Jessie faces uncharted situations with her teammates, coaches and guys with her usual blend of impulsivity, kindness and soul searching, and Ulrich does a good job of bringing together story events that force Jessie to confront reality and make difficult decisions. Teen readers will recognize many of Jessie’s struggles and find encouragement to face their own with honesty and courage. — Sharon Plumb, author of Kraamlok
Breakaway has a gritty and realistic tension which will appeal to a variety of young adult female readers. There is hockey action, interpersonal drama, and romance. Jessie Mac not only steps up to lead her team but steps up in her own life to deal with personal issues and set her future course. Like its predecessors, Breakaway has all of the attributes of a prize winner and is a “must have” for the shelves of any classroom or library catering to readers in the intermediate young adult age group. — CM Magazine
Ulrich understands the sub-culture of small-town hockey and how it keeps prairie communities alive and connected during the long, cold, winter months. Her many references to familiar Saskatchewan landmarks add a personal touch that make it easy for many readers to connect with the characters and locales described in the book. Breakaway is a fast moving, action packed novel that teenage girls will relate to at many different levels. The author’s observations on how teens cope in today’s contemporary society is refreshing and realistic. — SaskBooks
Nominated for:
Saskatchewan Book Award
High Plains Book Award