South Colchester showcases a number of talented female hockey players
In the mid-1970s, during the early years of the Sportsplex in Brookfield, Chris (Matheson) Bernard is recalled as the first girl to play minor hockey. The registrar of the South Colchester Minor Hockey Association, Angela Reid, smiled recently when I asked her about the number of females involved in hockey these days.
“We can really celebrate the number of females playing out of our association, thirty girls,” Reid, of Brookfield, said enthusiastically. “For an association that has 185 players in total, I think this is fantastic. It shows the support female players feel they are getting as they come out and play with us. It’s wonderful to have such a high number of girls playing minor hockey this year.”
Talking with two players from the Brookfield Elks U9 Intermediate team coached by Roddie Maclean, the young girls were outstanding in sharing their hockey outlooks.
Eight-year-old Abby
Verboom of Shubenacadie East is a Grade 3 student at Winding River Consolidated School.
“I’ve been playing hockey for four years now. My brothers played hockey, so I decided that I wanted to play the game as well. I mostly like skating a lot, skating is a lot of fun. I’ve also made a lot of friends through hockey. For me, I’m having fun playing hockey, I’ll probably keep playing for the next few years.”
Leah Miller, age 8, of Stewiacke, is also a Grade 3 student at Winding River Consolidate School.
“This is my second year playing at the Sportsplex. I
like watching my brother (Owen) play hockey and I was a pretty good skater, so I decided to play too. I really like the skating part because I really like to skate. I might play again next year and then I’ll see what the future brings. I’ve probably made seven new friends through playing hockey, that has been a good thing.”
I also talked with three players from the Brookfield Elks U13 Black team, coached by Lonny Gelinas.
Norah Mcphee, age 13, of Stewiacke East, in Grade 7 at South Colchester Academy.
“This is my third year playing hockey at the Sportsplex. I got interested in hockey because my brother played, I did a hockey program called First Shift and this also helped my interest. I joined up the next year, its been great, hockey gives me something to do during the winter. I especially enjoy playing with my friends and it’s an enjoyment to go to different arenas to play.”
Kaylee Green is 11 and lives in Brookfield. She goes to Brookfield Elementary School, where she is in Grade 6.
“I started playing hockey when I was four. I had gone to Brookfield Pre School, and I began skating there. I really didn’t want to lose my skating, so my parents signed me up for minor hockey. This is my seventh year playing at the Sportsplex. I like making new friends and playing the game gets me out of the house and involved in activities. Hockey is a great game, it’s fast and a lot of fun.”
Hannah Gelinas, age 13, of Hilden, is a Grade 7 student at the South Colchester Academy.
“I would have been nine when I started in hockey. I watched hockey a lot on television and my dad (Lonny Gelinas) played hockey, this helped my interest. I’ve been playing for about four years now; I enjoy pretty well everything about hockey. I like being part of a team, I like the competition and I make friendships through hockey. I’ll probably keep playing hockey for sure, it’s a lot of fun.”
Josh Boulton, a former Junior A hockey star with Truro Bearcats, has been president of the SCMHA for several years. He also coaches a minor team with a roster that includes four female players: Meah Sutherland, Delaylah-dawn Roy, Berverleigh Macdonald and his daughter Rory Boulton.
“I’ve always loved coaching girls,” Boulton told me. “There are elements of fun you don’t always get. There are little things that girls do, they approach the game in a different way. It is tremendous the number of girls we now have playing in the association, and it’s incredible just how many girls in total now play hockey around the province.”
When you stop and reflect back on what has taken place during the past 40 to 45 years – it is wonderful how the local association has grown to showcase such a high number of girls. Volunteers, coaches, supporters, and parents – we salute you.