Woolwich will still have reason to cheer after the Olympics finish up next week, as two girls from Bantam AA hockey will compete in the 2010 Ontario Winter Games to be held Mar. 4-7 in the Muskoka region.
Kaitlin Doering and Emma Davidson were among the more than 450 hockey players, ages 13 and 14, who vied for the opportunity at one of six tryout camps last fall. The camps involved a series of on-land challenges, as well as practices and games which were all observed by judges who would make the final decision as to who to accept onto the prestigious teams.
Davidson, a Guelph Thunder player, and Doering, who skates for the Waterloo Ravens and the EDSS Lancers, will represent Woolwich on one of the Ontario tournament teams at the biannual event, which showcases the skills of amateur athletes between the ages of 10 and 22.
More than 3,500 athletes, coaches and officials will take part in the multi-sport event. Some 25 sports will be contested, including women’s hockey, which will showcase some of the best Bantam-age players in the province in an eight-team tournament format.
Davidson, a Grade 8 student at Park Manor Public School, said she is already experiencing some butterflies.
“I am pretty nervous about going. I think the girls will be really good, and there will probably be some tough competition, but I am looking forward to it.”
The winner at the Ontario games will move on to a national championship. For Davidson, who has played hockey since she was six years old, such competitions provide great thrills.
“The best moment for me in hockey was last year at the provincial game. I was playing for the Waterloo team and I scored one of the goals during the game,” she said. “Playing in the winter games will be huge for me too.”
The girls leave for Muskoka on Tuesday to participate in ‘hockey camp’ before the actual competition. Despite the current nervousness, Davidson thinks they’ll be fine once playing begins.
“When I get on the ice, it feels like home.”
