Local girls compete in hockey challenge

Times Reporter 

 

Six young ladies with Strathmore ties competed in the ATB Financial Alberta Challenge this past weekend in Medicine Hat. The top 60 bantam girls from Southern Alberta were divided into three teams; likewise for the top 60 in the North. A core development program for women’s hockey, this gave all 120 players involved a chance to showcase their skills, but also provided an opportunity to experiment with new linemates from all across the province. Sarah Lecavalier, Korrie Stewart, Hailey McCallum, Paige Russell, Jane Jacobs, and Kierra Scollo of Drumheller all competed in the Challenge.

“As a team, we just got along really well together,” says Paige Russell, who scored three goals in five games over the tournament. She liked the idea of experimenting, and playing with different teammates. It was her first tournament of such size – a big step in attaining her dream of playing AAA midget next year, after AAA bantam this past season.

Russell’s teammate in the Alberta Major Bantam Female Hockey League, Jane Jacobs, fractured her wrist attempting to block a shot in the tournament. This was a big loss for the South Lightning in the Challenge; Jacobs had 29 points in 27 games this season for the Rocky Mountain Raiders. 

“It was a sudden shock. I was skating across the net to block that shot and didn’t really have time to react. Then I dropped instantly,” Jacobs said. Once healed, she intends to play AAA midget next season as well.

Jacobs wasn’t the only one to be injured. Hailey McCallum, Jane’s teammate in the tournament, remarked that players on her team were so often hurt that healthy girls had to step up with multiple shifts. 

“In the finals there were over 10 pretty severe ones, like five concussions. It was bad,” McCallum said. Her idol, hockey star Hailey Wickenheiser, attended the tournament, and took the time to speak with some of the girls. Like Wickenheiser, McCallum plays lots of fastball in the summers, but is looking forward to her next season in bantam AAA.

Kierra Scollo had one goal in the tournament, while Korrie Stewart had one assist. Both forwards played for the South Flyers with Sarah Lecavalier, who had a stellar tournament.

The North Red Wings won the tournament, going undefeated all weekend, while the South Coyotes and Lightning each had six points. The South Flyers finished with one point less.