WINNIPEG – Hockey scouts from across North America are in Winnipeg this week for the Female World Sport School Challenge.
Each year, the tournament gives top Canadian hockey talent international exposure, often resulting in scholarship offers.
“We won this tournament last year, so I think all the scouts… were out for the championship game and we got a great opportunity to be seen by all the NCAA and CIS scouts,” said Shaftesbury Titans player Savannah Rennie.
The third annual tournament started Thursday at the MTS Centre with seven different sport schools and one AAA team. All are competing for a spot in the gold medal game on Sunday.
“We look for the three S’s, size speed and skill,” said Bill Bowes, a scout for the University of New Hampshire. “There are a lot of players here that have all those attributes that we’re looking for to be successful college athletes.”
And this year, Hockey Canada permanently awarded the Female World Sport School Challenge to St. Mary’s Academy in Winnipeg. Meaning going forward, scouts from across North America will be coming here for the tournament.
The agreement coincides with significant growth in female hockey in Manitoba, currently outpacing the growth of male hockey.
“I think a lot of it has to do with the number of strong role models we have at the national level,” said executive director of Hockey Manitoba Peter Woods. “That’s certainly contributed to the growth of our particular programs.”
Role models like Jocelyne Larocque, one of four Manitobans selected to represent Canada at the upcoming IIHF Women’s World Championship in Sweden.
A dream that players at the Sport School Challenge hope to make a reality.
“It just makes you realize that you can be there too,” said Shaftesbury Titans player Kayla Mee.
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