Abbotsford’s Sophie Schmidt is among the nominees for the 2012 Canadian Soccer Association female player of the year award.
Schmidt, a midfielder, helped the Canadian senior women’s team tie a national record with 14 victories in 2012, highlighted by a run to the Olympic bronze medal at the London Games.
Burnaby superstar striker Christine Sinclair leads the list of nominees, which also includes Diana Matheson, Erin McLeod, Carmelina Moscato, Desiree Scott, Melissa Tancredi and Rhian Wilkinson. The winner will be announced in mid-December.
VIRTANEN, REVEL MAKE THE CUT
Abbotsford hockey players Jake Virtanen and Matt Revel have been picked to play in the World Junior Under 17 Hockey Challenge next month in in Victoriaville/Drummondville, Que.
The two forwards were named to the Team Pacific roster, which is comprised of 11 B.C. and 11 Alberta players. The U17 Challenge brings together the top players in the world born 1996 or later, and features five Canadian regional teams along with entries from Sweden, Finland, Russia, Slovakia and the United States.
Team Pacific opens against defending gold medallist Russia on Dec. 29. The gold medal game is Jan. 4 at 3:30 p.m. Pacific, and will be broadcast on TSN.
THEODORE TURNING HEADS
Shea Theodore, a product of the hockey academy at Yale Secondary, has earned a lofty spot in the Central Scouting preliminary rankings for the 2013 NHL draft.
Theodore, a defenceman from Aldergrove, was the No. 4-ranked skater among Western Hockey Leaguers. He’s amassed 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in 24 games with the Seattle Thunderbirds.
WALL OF FAME HONOURS TOP YOUTH ATHLETES
The nomination deadline for the Abbotsford Sports Hall of Fame’s annual Wall of Fame inductions is Dec. 31.
The Wall honours young athletes between the ages of 14 and 25 for an outstanding performance in 2012 at the provincial, national or international level. Inductees will have a plaque displayed at the Hall of Fame, located in the Legacy Building, for one year.
Nomination forms are available at www.abbysportshalloffame.ca, or by contacting the Sports Hall of Fame Society at Box 10, Abbotsford B.C., V2T 6Z4.
