The Chronicle Herald (Provincial)
Turnbull wins gold, breaks leg
Stellarton's Blayre Turnbull is coming home with gold around her neck and a cast on her leg.
Tuesday night, the Pictou County native helped end Team Canada's gold medal drought during the 2021 IIHF women's world championship in Calgary which ended with an overtime win thanks to a goal by Marie-philip Poulin.
The excitement was muted a bit by an injury Turnbull suffered in the celebration pileup following the game which resulted in her having to be helped off the ice. Despite the injury, Turnbull came back to receive her medal on a stretcher. Pictures show her smiling joyfully.
Blayre's father, Ron Turnbull, who was in Calgary for the game, said she suffered a broken fibula. Doctors have said for a break above the ankle it's a good break and expects a sixto-eight-week recovery time.
Despite that, Ron Turnbull said it was amazing to watch in person as Canada finally defeated the U.S. in overtime.
“It was awesome. Nervewracking too,” he said. “Everybody is watching so close. Everybody knows one little mistake and it could turn the other way. They're so close.”
While it's not the first time he's seen his daughter compete at that level, he admits it's always a bit surreal.
“It's kind of weird feeling, a bit hard on the head really,” he said.
He was in the stands when Canada lost the championship game in overtime to the Americans at the 2018 Olympics in South Korea. so knows how that feels, which made the celebration all the sweeter.
As a father, he of course had concerns when he saw Blayre had been injured.
“She was in a lot of pain you could tell. A lot of bad things come to your head.”
From watching Blayre, now 28, play over the years, he knew it takes a lot to put her down.
While it's going to take a while for her to recover, he is confident she'll be back on the ice soon to continue her career with Team Canada as they prepare for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
“I think she's just beginning to be honest with you,” he said. “She's probably playing the best I've ever seen.”
Blayre's coaches, including head coach Troy Ryan of Spryfield, have seen that and have been giving her lots of playing time.
“They trust her on faceoffs in their own end and with killing penalties,” Ron said.
He believes Blayre's success is a result of her drive.
“She's very determined to do the best she can do.”
Stellarton Mayor Danny Macgillivray said he and the residents of Stellarton are proud to be able to call Blayre, who is assistant captain of Team Canada, one of their own.
“Today is a good day to be Canadian, and a great day to be a member of the Stellarton and Pictou County communities,” he said.
He, like many, admired Blayre's determination.
“Seeing Blayre being wheeled out for the national anthem was symbolic of the never-say-die attitude that Blayre and the entire team displayed during their thrilling gold medal run.”
Turnbull was joined on Team Canada by teammate Jill Saulnier, assistant coaches Kori Cheverie and Jim Midgley, team physician Dr. Tina Atkinson and strength and conditioning coach Jeremy Steinbach.