Girls hockey seeing growth in Gananoque, Ont.
Girls hockey is taking off in Gananoque, Ont.
In the last year the town has seen an uptick in the amount of girls of all ages signing up to hit the ice.
From skating to stickhandling, when it comes to hockey, 11-year-old Jude Campbell loves it all.
“I personally like shooting at the net and getting goals,” she says.
The centre for the under 13 Gananoque Royals team is one of a growing group of young girls in the town hitting the ice this season.
“If I have the puck and I’m skating I just feel like I’m on top of the mountains or something,” she explains.
This season, the Gananoque Royals have teams in the U9, U13, U15 and U18 divisions.
Before the pandemic, house league organizers say they saw a large drop in the number of kids signing up of all ages and struggled to fill teams, but this season saw more than a dozen new faces lace up, from ages of 7 to 18.
Samantha Kelly, the president of the Gananoque Girls Hockey Association, says a big part is the pandemic and people wanting to try out the sport.
“We were able to have a U9 team which we haven’t had in a few years. We were able to have two U18 teams which is fantastic. Our U13 team was massive,” she explains.
Ruby Campbell, who plays centre for the U15 Royals, says for her getting to know her teammates in her own hometown was the best part.
“This year, our team has like, a really strong bond,” she explains.
Campbell says having local female teams at all levels is important to inspire younger female players, and those who may be thinking of giving it a try.
“Looking to the U18 players seeing them successful seasons year-after-year and going, ‘Oh I want to do that.’ I want to be that successful,” she says.
Kayden Moorehead plays for the Under 18 team, and says she loves it.
“I feel empowered almost, because you can change the game by making a certain play or communication with your team,” she says. “It just makes me feel powerful.”
With more players set to sign up next year, the town’s league continues to grow, and the 16 year old hopes to keep the momentum going.
“It’s a really fun game,” she says.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
NEW For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
OPINION No reunion between Prince Harry and the King signifies a setback for royal unity
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
Israel says it reopened a key Gaza crossing after a rocket attack but the UN says no aid has entered
The Israeli military said Wednesday that it has reopened the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza, a key terminal for the entry of humanitarian aid that was closed over the weekend after a Hamas rocket attack killed four Israeli soldiers nearby.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.