P.E.I. players selected for final selection process at national field hockey camp

Two Prince Edward Island subject hockey gamers have a possibility they by no means envisioned.

Alexis Wooden and Kali Smith have superior to the following section of a range course of at a nationwide coaching camp.

Wooden, Smith and Lindsey Doiron, all members of the UPEI Panthers, attended a camp for college gamers, which included 5 gamers from the Maritimes, in Toronto in June.

Two groups – East and West – have been then chosen for a four-game collection at UBC in Vancouver, July 27-31. That is the ultimate choice course of, and gamers chosen could have a possibility to maneuver ahead to worldwide tournaments with the under-21 and under-23 groups.

“I’m so lucky for this chance,” stated the 20-year-old Wooden, named the Panthers’ most dear participant for the 2021 season. “That is the very best efficiency stage surroundings I ever performed in alongside a number of the finest athletes in Canada. Nothing can prime this.”

“That is the very best efficiency stage surroundings I ever performed in alongside a number of the finest athletes in Canada. Nothing can prime this.”

Alexis Wooden

The 18-year-old Smith, who will enter her sophomore season with UPEI, admitted she was shocked to obtain an invitation to the Toronto camp.

“I used to be much more shocked after I acquired invited again,” stated Smith, who shared UPEI rookie-of-the-year honours with Doiron final season. “I used to be tremendous comfortable. It is going to be an ideal expertise general.”

“I used to be much more shocked after I acquired invited again. I used to be tremendous comfortable. It is going to be an ideal expertise general.”

Kali Smith

These camps are a part of Discipline Hockey Canada’s Subsequent Technology Program, which Wooden stated Sport Canada created for athletes 5 to eight years from an Olympic or World Cup to develop a pool of athletes for junior, youth and worldwide competitions.

Wooden added it additionally serves as a improvement pipeline for the senior girls’s nationwide program.

“It was truly type of a shock to get the e-mail for the invite again and the four-game collection in Vancouver,” stated Wooden. “We’re representing the Maritimes very proudly.”

Course of

For the Toronto portion of the camp, gamers underwent bodily testing, had two turf coaching periods every day and performed a few video games on the finish of the camp.

The largest distinction for Smith and Wooden in Toronto was the enjoying floor. On P.E.I., the gamers play on what’s known as tire turf, however the fields are water turf in Toronto and Vancouver.

“The ball strikes lots faster; it’s exhausting to run (on); it’s fairly completely different,” stated Smith, a Bluefield Excessive College graduate from Rocky Level.

Wooden, who’s giving again to the game on P.E.I. by teaching at Queen Charlotte, was extra aware of the enjoying circumstances as she resides in Toronto this summer season for a analysis undertaking and has been in a position to prepare on the water turf on the College of Toronto.

Together with the tempo of play, Wooden famous changes have been required in tactical and technical abilities.

“The depth has by no means been lower than most,” stated Wooden, who’s from Cherry Valley and a graduate of Charlottetown Rural Excessive College. “The talent that the camp brings, my improvement has been in a position to speed up, and I believe persevering with to deliver that prime depth to the camp it is going to hold growing.”

The chance for 2 teammates from Canada’s smallest province just isn’t misplaced on Smith and Wooden, who’ve each performed subject hockey since Grade 8. What makes the expertise that rather more particular is the very fact they’re positioned very shut on the sector. Wooden, who the midfield place, performs simply above Smith, who performs defence.

“To have the ability to proceed that chemistry out right here (is particular),” stated Wooden. “They wish to hold us collectively after we are enjoying out right here, and we don’t take a second without any consideration out on the sector.”

As for the following portion of coaching camp, each P.E.I. gamers know quite a lot of exhausting work awaits. Wooden and Smith will play for Workforce East in Vancouver.

“It’s going to be lots tougher,” stated Smith, who can even play with Workforce P.E.I. as an overage participant on the nationwide under-18 championships in Surrey, B.C., July 29 to Aug. 3. “The B.C. ladies are sturdy, and it’s going to be lots more durable competitors.

“I really feel I’m as ready in addition to I may be and really feel good.”

Beneath-18 ID Camp

Discipline Hockey P.E.I. shall be represented by the next gamers in three completely different age class for a nationwide under-18 identification camp on Aug. 6-7, with the gamers’ highschool in parenthesis:

2004 Birthdates

Molly Doyle (Charlottetown Rural), Dalhousie College.

Livi Lawlor (Charlottetown Rural), UPEI.

Grace Larkin (Charlottetown Rural), Acadia.

2005 Birthdates

Kayla Batchilder (Charlottetown Rural).

Brooke Walsh (Charlottetown Rural).

Charlotte Thompson (Bluefield).

Maggie Mullins (Colonel Grey).

2006 Birthdates

Katie Grace Noye (Three Oaks).

Abby Larkin (Mount Academy).

Jason Simmonds is a sports activities editor with the SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island. He may be reached by electronic mail at [email protected] and adopted on Twitter @JpsportsJason.