Best in the game

By Mark Squibb | Vol. 32 No. 42 (Jan. 23, 2020)

Sixteen young women from across the province will represent Canada and HockeyNL in the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) 2020 Global Girls Game.

The game will be a continuous game played across the globe, with over forty countries participating.

As the game wraps up in country, it will be picked up another. Hence a continuous game running for a full fifty hours.

In Canada, the game is scheduled for Feb. 8, 2020 in St. John’s, and over forty U15 players from across the country will be travelling to St. Johns for the weekend.

Lilly Smith, 14, plays defense, and she’s been playing for five years with the Conception Bay Renegades Minor Hockey Association (CBRMHA).

She’s one of the girls selected for the team.

“It feels good, I feel accomplished,” Smith said, who plays for the CBRMHA U15 house league, CBRMHA U15 AllStar team, Eastern Ice Breakers Bantam AAA team (as an alternate player) and the Villanova Junior High Female Hockey team.

“It’s very social,” Smith said. “I’m made so many friends from it. And, it’s exciting.”

Morgan Foss, 13, is a left-winger with the Paradise Minor Hockey Association and will also be playing on the Global Girls Team.

“I was really excited” Foss said. “I really feel honoured to represent the Town of Paradise, and my province, in being chosen to take part.”

She’s played with the Association for about three years, and currently playing Paradise U15. She also plays for the Villanova Junior High Female Hockey team, and is an alternate for the Eastern Ice Breakers Bantam AAA team.

“I enjoy all the friendships I’ve made, and working as a team. It’s a lot of fun, and it’s really great exercise. And I also like getting to travel to different parts of the province that I’ve never ben before.”

Results from the game will be posted on the IIHF website.