B.C. sisters make Canadian history
Amy and Sarah Potomak first siblings to play together on senior women’s team
To hear Amy Potomak tell it, Melody Davidson has a gift for patiently building up a story. Davidson is the general manager of national women’s teams for Hockey Canada. Amy, 17, an Aldergrove native, is one of this country’s top young forwards.
Davidson pulled Amy aside last month in Regina after she helped B.C. to a bronze medal at the women’s under-18 national championship, copping tournament most valuable player honours in the process. Davidson talked to Amy about how she had done, about her training for the coming few months and other odds and ends.
Then came the kicker. Davidson finished up by telling Amy she would make her senior national team debut as part of a two-game exhibition series against the U.S. later this month. Older sister Sarah, a forward who turns 19 later this month and is currently starring as a sophomore with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, had found out she was part of that team via email earlier.
“I didn’t say a whole lot and I’m pretty sure whatever I said didn’t make a lot of sense,” recalled Amy. “It’s great to have the chance to put on the Canada jersey, but to be able to do it with my sister takes it to a whole other level.
“We haven’t played together in a while. We’ve never played together in Canada jerseys. It’s beyond cool.”
Sarah added: “This has been our goal since we were little kids.”
The Potomaks, whose four older brothers played competitively growing up, are the first sisters to line up together for this country’s top side. Sarah became the second B.C. player ever to suit up for the senior women when she took part in the 2015 Four Nations Cup in Sweden. Goaltender Danielle Dube had been the initial one, her run coming to an end in 2002.
Sarah was one of the last cuts from the Canadian team that took part in the worlds last spring in Kamloops.
You’d think a strong showing on Dec. 17 in Plymouth, Mich., and Dec. 19 in Sarnia, Ont., would help the sisters in their bid to be part of the 2017 worlds or even the 2018 Olympic Games.
They’re joined on the Canadian team for the two-game series by a third B.C. product, Micah Hart, 19, a rearguard from Saanichton who’s playing at Cornell University.
Hart is a product of the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton. The Potomaks played for the rival Pursuit of Excellence in Kelowna. They were linemates there on occasion. They also suited up together on other teams like B.C.’s entry at the 2015 Canada Winter Games.
Sarah, who’s listed at 5-foot-5 and 140 pounds, is a fancy, slick type. Amy, who comes in at 5-foot-8 and 148 pounds, is more powerful. They like to explain that by saying they try to play like Canadian veterans Marie-Philip Poulin and Natalie Spooner, respectively.
Oddly enough, they will be teammates later this month. “I’ll be taking notes,” Amy said. Considering their chemistry, you could easily fathom Canadian coach Laura Schuler giving the Potomaks a chance to be linemates against the U.S. They could be part of the same forward trio next fall with Minnesota, too, since Amy is slated to play her freshman season there.
“We’ve been dreaming about this for a really long time,” said Amy. “It started when we were playing ball hockey together, just the two of us. Now we could be getting a chance to use the plays we made up then.”
Sarah, the NCAA rookie of the year last season, scored the winner in a 3-2 overtime triumph over the Wisconsin Badgers in the national semifinal in March, then had a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win over the Boston College Eagles in the final. She was later named NCAA Frozen Four most outstanding player.
She had 15 goals and 39 assists in 38 games last season with Minnesota. Through 18 games this season, she had 11 goals and 16 assists.