Bell rejects offers to play south of the border
Saints grad Lauren Bell was pursued by American schools for lacrosse, hockey but chose to focus on hockey and has signed to play for the Waterloo Warriors
Ongoing events in the United States reassure Lauren Bell she made the right decision to pursue university hockey in Canada.
The Peterborough native will join the Waterloo Warriors hockey program in the fall after graduating this month from St. Peter Secondary School.
Bell, 18, daughter of Blaine and Jenn Bell, was pursued by American schools for lacrosse and hockey. She narrowed her focus to the ice last year when she joined the Provincial Women’s Hockey League’s Central York Panthers.
She quit playing for the Kawartha Lacrosse Club last summer to focus on hockey.
“I made the decision to play junior in Aurora because Peterborough doesn’t have a junior team,” Bell said.
“We were training a lot throughout the summer and I didn’t have time to play lacrosse. It was tough at the time but after a few weeks I knew it was the best decision.”
Bell grew up in the Peterborough Girls Hockey Association’s Ice Kats program.
“I was getting discouraged sometimes because I didn’t know if I’d get the opportunity to play junior,” she said.
“I was super excited when the opportunity arose. It was a big accomplishment.”
It was a big step up from midget AA.
“It was very fun. Definitely a lot more physical and competitive. The puck moved a lot faster which I liked. It was a very high tempo,” Bell said.
“It got cut short due to COVID-19. We were preparing for provincials but, unfortunately, never got to go.”
Prior to giving up lacrosse, Bell explored options to play NCAA field lacrosse and was courted by some prestigious programs.
“I realized it wasn’t for me. As time progressed I realized I did enjoy hockey a lot more,” she said.
“I started looking at schools in Ontario for hockey. I was looking at NCAA schools, too, but I knew I wanted to stay closer to home.”
The most significant NCAA scholarship offers were in lacrosse. The scholarships were partial, the highest being 70 per cent, and even with the scholarship money the cost was considerably higher than Canadian schools.
“The cost was a big factor and how far away most of the schools were from home,” she said. “I just knew I wanted to stay in Canada. Being close to my friends and family and I like Canada a lot better.”
Current social and political unrest in the U.S. has affirmed her decision.
“My dad has been making comments lately how he’s definitely glad we didn’t decide to do that now,” she said.
“It was always in the back of my mind but it wasn’t a huge factor. If I were looking at them now, it definitely would be a big factor.”
She looked at Western, Guelph and McGill universities before choosing Waterloo.
“I loved the campus and I definitely connected with the coaches right away. They were awesome. The (health studies) program they offer I knew would be good for me because my long-term goal is to become a dermatologist,” Bell said.
“It will be a big step up from even junior but I think I’m ready for it.”
She’d like to play pro hockey one day if a women’s league is revived.
“By that time, if the league has developed my goal would be to play in that,” she said.
Bell said she wouldn’t be where she is without the support of Ice Kats coaches like Chad Campbell, Bob Buckton, Teresa Hutchinson, Bond Bjorgan, Mark McArthur and Dave Roche, St. Peter Saints coaches Wayne Clark and Chad Delaplante and lacrosse mentors Fred Blowes, Bobby Keast, Kerri Hardill, Cassie Raglan and Kelly Roberts.
Her parents were also influential.
“They’ve always pushed me to be the best I can and play in the highest leagues I can. They’ve been huge role models,” she said.