Munroe brings pro experience to camp
Yarmouth, N.S., native vying for spot on blue-line
HALIFAX – Allie Munroe celebrated her 24th birthday discreetly on Tuesday without celebration nor fanfare.
Such is life in a bubble with the Canadian national women’s hockey team.
Team Canada is in Halifax this week for its selection camp ahead of next month’s IIHF Women’s World Championship in Nova Scotia. The camp is being held in a
secured environment. When players and staff aren’t at their daily practice or scrimmage at Scotiabank Centre, they are isolated in their hotel rooms.
“It’ll definitely be an odd birthday,” said Munroe, a five-foot-six blue-liner from Yarmouth who has joined her Canadian counterparts for a last chance to turn heads before the national team coaches finalize the roster by week’s end.
“Everyone who has had a birthday the past year has probably been through the same thing.
“The camp is obviously not as fun because you want to be hanging out with everyone. But it is what it is. You have to do it and take the right measures. But any time you get invited to something like this, it’s obviously a special feeling.”
The past month has mostly been in isolation for Munroe since she’s been on Canadian soil.
After returning to Canada from Stockholm, where she just finished her second professional season, Munroe spent two weeks quarantining in Ontario before making her way to Halifax.
That meant no ice time and the effects showed during her first practice with Team Canada.
“It was tough getting back on the ice here for the first time in three or four weeks,” Munroe recalled.
“The legs were a little slow, but with each practice they’re getting better and better. They’re a little sore right now, but that’ll go away soon enough.
“I’m just trying to get a feel for the ice again. I obviously haven’t been around the girls so much this year so trying to reconnect with them, too. To finally get to my first camp this year, I’m really excited.”
Munroe has twice taken part in the Team Canada selection camp process in the past, so she has experience on her side.
Having it held in her home province – as well as the world championship – gives her an extra incentive.
“It’s obviously more special being in Nova Scotia,” Munroe said. “I’m a little bit older, so there are more expectations for myself.
“Right now, I’m bringing more of a defensive game. I try to make myself hard to play against and that’s what I always try to do. Whenever the good players are coming down at me, I want to make it
hard on them. That’s what my game plan here is and then try to contribute on the offence as much as I can.
“Sure, there’s some extra pressure being from Nova Scotia, but pressure is good. I try not to look into it too much. I do my best out there and whatever happens, happens. I will leave it all out there and see where it takes me.”
Munroe is one of three Nova Scotian players at the camp, joining national team veteran forwards Jill Saulnier of Halifax and Blayre Turnbull of Stellarton.
Spryfield’s Troy Ryan is the head coach, and New Glasgow’s Kori Cheverie is an assistant coach.
Ryan coached Munroe when she was the captain of the Nova Scotia team at the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George, B.C. In 2012, Cheverie was her coach with the provincial under-16 squad.
“It’s amazing to see so many Nova Scotians on the roster and competing,” Munroe said. “I looked up to Blayre and Jill growing up and got to train with them and have seen how hard they work and what they have accomplished. It’s really special being next to them.
“And I was coached by both Troy and Kori. I’m super excited for them and proud of everyone to be in this stage. It’s awesome that they’re here.”
After a stellar four-year NCAA Division 1 career with Syracuse University, where she was twice named the College Hockey America Conference top defenceman and was the team’s co-captain during her senior season, Munroe turned pro in 2019 and landed a spot with Djurgardens IF in the Svenska damhockeyligan, the top women’s hockey league in Sweden.
Based in Stockholm, Munroe said Djurgardens gives her “the best path” in her continued development as a player while experiencing a different culture in one of Europe’s stylish and sophisticated capitals.
Djurgardens finished third in the league during the 202021 season but lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Lulea/MSSK.
Former St. Francis Xavier X-Women star Sarah Bujold, who also finished her second season with Djurgardens, was the team’s second-leading scorer.
“It’s been great so far,” said Munroe, who notched a goal and eight points in 36 games this past season. “I think I have evolved a lot.
“The league is great; they treat you very professionally. I’ve had a great experience. I couldn’t ask for a better organization.
“Being in Europe and experiencing different cultures and a different style of hockey has been great for me. Maybe I can take what I’ve learned playing in Europe and hopefully use it over here.”
After the selection camp concludes on Thursday, Munroe will head home to Yarmouth for the first time in nearly a year.
“I haven’t been back in 10 months so I’m pretty excited for that,” she said.