Niagara team makes the cut
Alexa Vasko honoured to suit up for Team Canada
Alexa Vasko fulfilled a lifelong dream recently when she suited up for the Canadian Women’s National under-18 team.
Vasko, a 17-year-old St.Catharines native, made the cut following a week-long camp in Calgary.
“It was crazy. Going to the camp was such an honour and then to be able to put on the jersey – to wear the Maple Leaf – and then to be the first females to wear the new jerseys was unbelievable,” Vasko said.
Vasko attended Canada’s National Women’s Program strength and conditioning camp in Hamilton in May and then was selected to attend the camp in Calgary. From there, the roster was pared down even further to make up the team.
Looking back, Vasko said waiting for word on the final roster was excruciating.
“It was early in the morning and they bring you into the coach’s room, and it’s either congratulations or you go to the airport,” she said. “Fortunately, I didn’t have to do that (go to the airport).”
“It was very nerve-wracking, but it was also amazing.”
Vasko said she was hit with a flood of emotions and memories when told she had made the final roster.
“It was crazy. From a young age it’s always been my dream to wear the Canadian jersey and standing outside the coach’s room it made me realize all my hard work came down to that moment,” she said.
After that, it was time to inform friends and family.
“My phone was going crazy. I called my parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles and people were contacting me as well, so it was nuts,” she said.
On the ice, Team Canada lost 2-1 in the series to the United States.
“They used me the same as my club team (Stoney Creek Sabres) and I also got special teams time on the penalty kill,” said Vasko, a 5-foot-3, 134-pound winger. “I was fortunate enough to get a lot of minutes on the penalty kill as well as time with my regular line as well.”
Vasko, whose uncle Elmer (Moose) Vasko played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota North Stars, was blown away with the calibre of play.
“It is much more physical and faster than my club team but also we learned it’s more of a mental game as well,” she said. “It has a lot of do with self confidence and how you prepare yourself so you don’t dwell on your mistakes and dwell on the present moment.”
Vasko will now concentrate on her club team in Stoney Creek while hoping to be selected to participate for Canada at the World Championships in the Czech Republic.
“They watch you with club team and in tournaments,” she said. “The team they made this summer is kind of what they base it off. They will make a few changes, add or cut and replace, so you have to keep your game up the whole year.”
It was crazy. From a young age it’s always been my dream to wear the Canadian jersey and standing outside the coach’s room it made me realize all my hard work came down to that moment.” Alexa Vasco