A local Salmon Arm hockey player, sees her dream come true.
Hockey Canada announced on Sunday Aug. 12 that Alexa Ranahan will be playing for Canada’s National Women’s Under 18 team.
Ranahan, 16, had headed to Calgary Aug. 2 in hopes of becoming one of the 22 women chosen to play on Team Canada for the 2013 year.
During the women’s U18 selection camp Ranahan took part in a ten-day event which split 40 girls into teams and had them play against one another.
This, says Ranahan, was this first year the camp used this method, stating that in other years she the women simply conducted drills and used other skill-testing methods to show their abilities.
The national team had over six professionals involved in the selection process including scouts and coaches.
Ranahan will now be staying in Calgary until Aug. 16, to practice with her new team. After which she will be flying to Blaine Minn. to play in a three-game series against the United States’ Women’s Under 18 National Team from Aug. 16 to 19.
“All 40 players who participated in our National Women’s Under 18 Team selection camp should be very proud of the achievements,” said Jim Fetter, head coach in a statement on the B.C. hockey website. “The competition on the ice in Calgary was intense, but we’re confident that the final 22 players chosen to wear the red and white on the ice next week in Blaine will represent Canada well both on and off the ice.”
Playing on Team Canada also means Ranahan has a chance to compete in the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship in Vierumaki, Finland in January.
This, said Ranahan in an interview before heading to Calgary, would be a great Christmas present.
Evaluations will continue throughout the season to determine which players will be making the over seas trip.
While Ranahan had been looking forward to the mere experience of attending the women’s U18 selection camp, solidifying a place on a national team has always been a dream of hers.
