Nicole Pederson and Samantha Bedry didn't show up for their school indoor track meet on Friday (Nov. 19), but they had a good reason.
The duo had a chance to participate in the inaugural Wickenheiser International Women's Hockey Friday through Sunday (Nov. 19 to 21) at Burnaby 8 Rinks.
"This was the best weekend of my life," said Pederson, 14. "I got to meet Hayley Wickenheiser and we won the tournament."
The girls, who are both Don Ross Secondary students, play for the North Shore Avalanche, which means travelling into Vancouver for all their practices and games. They both spent a number of years playing for the Squamish Minor Hockey Association (SMHA) before deciding to jump to an all-girls' team in their Bantam year.
In the opening game of the tournament on Friday (Nov. 19), the Avalanche took on the South Delta Storm and won 6-1. Bedry helped the team's cause, scoring a goal in the win. Later on that day, the team took on Tri-Cities and won 14-1. Pederson picked up a hat trick in the win, with Bedry notching two assists.
The tournament continued on Saturday (Nov. 20) and the Avalanche continued their winning ways, defeating the Burnaby Wildcats 4-1. Pederson picked up a helper to lead her team to victory.
On Sunday (Nov. 21), the Avalanche took on the North Shore Winter Club and played to a 2-2 tie. It was then determined that the two teams would have to meet again later that evening to determine the champion for the Bantam Tier 2 division. The two teams again tied 1-1 after regulation and the game was sent to shootout. Pederson shot third for her team and she scored, clinching the win and the tournament for the Avalanche.
Not only did the girls miss their track meet, but they both also play for the Squamish U15 travel soccer team. Both decided the chance to meet Wickenheiser and play high-level hockey was worth missing out on two other notable sporting events.
Wickenheiser was at the final game and was at the rink throughout the weekend. Both girls got to personally meet Wickenheiser, which was likely well worth being absent from their other events.
The tournament featured more than 900 players on 54 teams from all across North America, as well as one team from the Czech Republic. The festival provided tournaments for Novice, Atom, Pee Wee, Bantam and Midget players and also had a number of off-ice clinic and information sessions for the players. Topics at the off-ice sessions included nutrition, strength and conditioning and how to prepare for college and university hockey.
"The festival was everything I wanted it to be and more thanks to our sponsors who saw the value of investing in the empowerment of these young women both on and off the ice," Wickenheiser in a statement after the event. "My hope is that they have all left here with a sense of, 'Why not me?' And that they can do anything they set their minds to."
The event is expected to return next year and become an annual event. For more information on the tournament, visit www.wickhockey.com.
