One former and one current member of the Battlefords Sharks are gearing up for top-notch competition this winter.
Mallory Roy, a forward on the team, has been chosen to represent Saskatchewan at the Under 18 National Women's Hockey Championship next month in Calgary, Alta. Jenna Smith, who last played for the Sharks in 2008, will represent Canada at the Winter Universiade Games in December in Trentino, Italy.
Roy is in her third and final season with the Sharks and is making it a memorable one. Her four goals are tied for the league lead, despite playing fewer games than the other players. And, not only was she named as one of the top players in the province, Roy also committed to go to the University of Regina next year to play for the women's hockey team and study education.
"It's unbelievable … it's hard to explain," Roy said. "It was a big relief knowing that I finally made the team. It took me three years, though."
Roy's coach on the Sharks, Ashley Gauthier, wasn't surprised to hear Roy made the club.
"She is a very talented player. She has both the skill and hockey smarts, which makes her the player that she is today. She gives it 120 per cent both on and off the ice and dedicates her whole life to the game of hockey. She is one of our top forwards, she's on our power play, she's on our penalty kill, she is just a great overall player," Gauthier said in an email. "I know she will be a great player on Team Sask and I myself, as well as our other coaching staff, Larissa and Ashley, are very proud of Mallory and can't wait to see what else she has to offer for us."
The tournament begins for Roy Nov. 6 and runs until the 10th.
Smith has to wait longer for the Universiade Games, which begin in December. The 10-day competition is the Olympics of university sports, with athletes representing their respective countries in a variety of sports.
Smith's impressive play for the Dinos hockey team at the University of Calgary earned her a spot on the team. Last season, only Olympic gold medallist and teammate Hayley Wickenheiser beat Smith in Canada West scoring.
While Smith is from Swift Current, she played two seasons for the Battlefords Sharks, where her career got started.
"We had a wonderful experience up there and I just find it's just wonderful. When she goes up she still talks to half the girls that were on the team that year," said Wendy Smith, Jenna's mother.
Jenna's ties to the area are evident. As she worked to raise money for the trip to Italy in December, her billet family from five years ago came through to pitch in.
Edwin Smockum, along with his wife Rena, gave Smith $1,000 towards the trip through his business, Over the Edge Lawn Care.
"Jenna's kind of like family to me now … She's kind of grown on us, right, become part of the family. I'm very very proud of her, of her accomplishments and stuff," said Edwin. "I could tell from the first time I met her that she would be something special."
Smith still visits the Smockums every summer and remembers her time in the Battlefords fondly.
