Sienna D'Alessandro went from being a cut, to a clutch scorer for Canada's U-18 team overnight. She's scored for Canada in every game since.

Nothing is guaranteed. It's what Sienna D'Alessandro continues to remind herself after a whirlwind journey from being cut, to playing a clutch role for Team Canada's U-18 Select team.

Following camp, D'Alessandro learned at 6:30am she'd been cut, and was soon thereafter on a flight home. By the time she'd landed, Gina Kingsbury, Hockey Canada's vice president of hockey operations was on the phone telling D'Alessandro Team Canada needed her for their game against Finland and in Lake Placid for the 2023 U-18 Summer Series to face Team USA.

"It was a roller coaster of emotions," said D'Alessandro. "When I got home I got the call back from Gina Kingsbury, it was literally, my whole life changed, hearing I could come back, I could have a second opportunity to prove myself and help this team. It meant so much to me and I'm so grateful for the opportunity I'm getting right now."

D'Alessandro was far from a long shot in camp. She scored two goals and four points in three games, and added two goals against Finland. Through her first two games against Team USA at the Summer Select Series in Lake Placid, D'Alessandro had added to those totals scoring two goals and three points in her first two games. 

The five-foot-seven Pointe-Claire, Quebec product has used turned adversity into action, and turned herself into one of Canada's top performers this summer. As she replays the hurt of being cut, commentators are replaying her goals.

"That day plays and replays in my mind everyday," said D'Alessandro of using the adversity she faced as motivation. "I'm so fortunate and so lucky and so glad to be here. I just keep reminding myself that nothing is guaranteed, and I could be heading back home on a flight any time. I just keep pushing myself and remembering I don't want to go back there."

D'Alessandro played boys' 'AAA' last season for the Lac St-Louis Lions in the LHEQ. It's a league whose alumni includes more than a dozen current NHLers like Pierre-Luc Dubois and Thomas Chabot. Among Lac St-Louis Lions alumni are NHLers Alex Killorn and Daniel Sprong, along with recent QMJHL MVP and leading scorer Jordan Dumais. It's incredible company to keep. 

For now however, D'Alessandro is happy to be keeping the company of her Canadian U-18 teammates and is soaking in the experience.

"It's been an incredible experience," she said. "I've never had so much fun with a team before, the girls are amazing, I've never been happier than being here."