Canadians eye return to podium
Chelsey Minter is the embodiment of the adage good things come to people who wait. The Island rugby player makes her debut on the 28-member Canadian team at age 28, as the 2017 women’s World Cup is set to begin in Ireland.
“I was always touching the edges [of the national team],” said the Westshore RFC forward-pack player.
Minter didn’t get the call to dress among the 23 players for No. 3 Canada’s opener today against No. 23 Hong Kong (9 a.m. PT on TSN) and will watch with the four other Canadian black aces from the press box. But those who know her journey understand what a personal triumph it is for her just to be on the World Cup team roster. It’s been a long-time dream come true since her first camps 15 years ago with legendary local rugby instructor Don Burgess.
“After all those cuts from the national team, and playing for the Maple Leafs [national ‘B’ team], this is overwhelming and exciting,” added Minter, a graduate of Stelly’s Secondary.
“It’s been a lot of hard work, and I have been improving all the time to make myself the best player I can be, with passion and dedication. I had to digest the news when I first heard I was selected.”
Then quickly get time off work.
“I had to get five weeks off, with only two weeks notice,” she said.
I doesn’t hurt that her workplace, the Fish on Fifth restaurant in Sidney, is family owned and operated. In fact, dad Burt and stepmother Amanda are in Ireland to support Chesley in the World Cup.
Minter is among a flotilla of players on the Canadian World Cup team from the Westshore RFC (former Velox) dynasty, which has won the B.C. championship four of the past five years. The Westshore players include Minter, Barbara Mervin, Emily Belchos, Elissa Alarie, Latoya Blackwood, Amanda Thornborough and Brianna Miller.
Joining them on the Canadian World Cup team from other Island clubs are Kelly Russell, Laura Russell and Tyson Beukeboom from Cowichan RFC and Brittany Waters, Julianne Zussman, Olivia DeMerchant and Karen Paquin from the Castaway Wanderers of Oak Bay.
Belchos, Blackwood, Alarie, Paquin and both Russell sisters will start today against Hong Kong with Beukeboom, Waters, Miller, Thornborough and DeMerchant dressing in reserves.
Minter and Miller are among 10 players making their World Cup debuts on a Canadian squad that features 18 returnees from the silver-medallist 2014 World Cup squad. Four players, including the 35-year-old Mervin, are appearing in their third World Cup.
This is an eclectic group. Mervin, a graduate of Victoria’s Pacific Design Academy, sells her own line of rugby apparel branded Aptoella. The 34-year-old Waters, meanwhile, is also head coach of the University of Victoria Vikes women’s rugby team. Kelly Russell, who is captaining today, and Paquin return to XVs after winning bronze with Langford-based Canada in sevens at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
“It’s been a good change,” said Paquin, during a practice at UVic’s Wallace Field, before the national side departed for Ireland.
“I had gotten out of my comfort zone and now I feel back into it in the XVs game.”
The most well-known Canadian XVs player is likely the electric Magali Harvey of Quebec City, who starts today at No. 14.
Whether dressed, or watching among the black aces, this is all a heady mix to be part of for a national team rookie like Minter.
“If we trust in our pace and strengths, in our minds, we believe we can come home with a medal,” she said.
All the Canadian games will be broadcast on TSN. Canada also plays group games Sunday at 8:55 a.m. PT against No. 10 Wales and 3:55 a.m. PT on Aug. 17 against No. 2 New Zealand. The semifinals are Aug. 22 at 8:55 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. PT and the championship game Aug. 26 at 11:30 a.m. PT.