SABRE STRENGTH
The summer was smokin’ hot for a trio of local young women who suited up for Team Canada. No. Not on the soccer pitch or the softball pitch. On the ice.
A salute to Stoney Creek Sabres defencemen Kendall Cooper (Aldershot High School, Burlington), Megan Carter (Craig Kielburger SS, Milton) and goaltender Amanda Rampado (Blessed Trinity CSS, Grimsby) selected to Canada’s U18 team.
This is a teen’s dream come true: playing in a Team Canada uniform in a best of three summer series in Calgary against Team USA, the defending IIHF U18 World Champions. big down and get to sleep at a decent time.”
Imagine the joy when they woke up, rubbed their eyes and learned they had been selected to Team Canada.
And what about that magic moment? The moment they pulled that jersey on and stepped onto the ice?
“I couldn’t stop smiling,” said Carter. “It has been a dream of mine since I was 11 years old.”
“Unforgettable,” said Rampado. “It’s the moment you dream about as a little girl.”
And Cooper? “I thought I was dreaming. Walking into the dressing room and seeing my stall with the Canada jersey hanging was crazy.”
Howie Draper, coach of Canada’s U18 team, had high praise for the talented trio.
“Megan and Kendall are big strong defencemen that possess a strong sense of position, two qualities that add a formidable presence in our defensive zone. They make good decisions away from and with the puck, which is key when playing at a higher tempo.”
And, “Amanda battles hard to stop every shot,” said Draper.
“Oftentimes when young players are the stars on their respective club teams, they have to change their game to fit within a team of stars when they come to Hockey Canada camp.
“I feel like these three epitomized the humility necessary to contribute to the greater good of the team.”
And contribute they did. Team Canada won the best of three series, two games to one.
A tip of the hockey helmet to the Stoney Creek Sabres organization, which continues to produce winners on and off the ice.
Olympians Laura Fortino, Brianne Jenner (2014 gold and 2018 silver medallists) and Sarah Nurse (2018 silver medallist) are also graduates of the Stoney Creek club.
“We are definitely proud of our Sabres and Sabres alumni who have worked so hard for the chance to play for Canada,” said coach Stacey Marnoch.
Hockey Canada will continue to assess the players throughout their 2018-2019 club season to determine the personnel that will represent Canada at the IIHF U18 World Championships (Obihiro, Japan, Jan. 6 –13, 2019). The announcement is expected in early December.
You can bet that Kendall Cooper, Megan Carter and Amanda Rampado hope Santa comes early this year.
Cecelia Carter Smith is a former four-time Canadian champion and world indoor record holder in track and a member of the Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame and Hamilton Gallery of Distinction.