BY SCOTT
HADDOW
Most teams in the SDSSAA senior girls' Division I hockey league
thought they were going to get a small break this season when
Notre-Dame star Manon Davis switched from forward to
defence.
They were wrong.
Despite the move, Davis has excelled in the new position and
exceeded all expectations.
As a defender, Davis is one of the top scorers in the highly
competitive league, which is usually reserved for high octane
forwards.
In her first 10 games, Davis torched the opposition for 28
goals and 35 points, placing first among the top scorers in the
league.
It's a familiar sight to see Davis deftly scoop up a loose
puck, race down the ice in a blur and fire a laser beam shot
past a hapless goaltender.
And her goals are big. Davis scored the game-winning goal in
Notre-Dame's first five games.
She is undoubtedly one of the big reasons the Alouettes girls'
hockey team is sitting firmly in first place and was undefeated
in their first eight games.
"I love to be on the ice playing hockey...I can't imagine a
better feeling," said the 18-year-old. "I have a lot of passion
for the sport. The feeling I get when I am on the ice with my
teammates is just awesome. I love to compete...I even like to
go to practice. I try to improve myself everyday and every
chance I get."
Even though her squad is steam-rolling the competition, David
knows it all matters about winning when it counts the most: in
the playoffs.
"We're doing well...we have a strong team with a lot of good
players who want to win," said the Grade 12 student.
"We want to win the city championship and then go to NOSAA...hopefully OFSAA. We can do it...we come together each game and always play strong hockey, so we just have to keep that up. We're not a bunch of individual players. We work hard as a team to win."
Davis makes a positive impact on the club.
"Manon is a team player first and foremost," said head coach
Jean-Claude Davis, who is Manon's father as well.
"She's not a one-man show. She is our star and we depend on
her to spark the team. She can really stick handle and knows
how to score goals. The girls on the team look up to her. When
she goes, the whole team goes."
The switch has further enhanced Davis' skills.
"It made me realize how hard defence has to work," said the
sniper. "It's not an easy position. I've got a much different
view of the game...it's really improved my skills overall. I
adapted well...I have more room to skate and make moves."
The father-daughter relationship takes a back seat when it
comes to hockey and the coach-player relationship.
"I try to let her do her own thing on the ice...she's knows
what she's doing," said the bench boss. "I will point things
out to her though...things she needs to work on. It's a good
relationship."
As the season wears away, and the hockey gets tougher, the
Alouettes expect Davis to keep blasting goals at a torrid
pace.
"I think Manon will get better...she seems to step up her level
of play against the best teams and when it matters most," said
the coach.
Hockey has helped mould Davis into who she is today.
"It's taught me to be a better leader," said Davis. "Being in
sports has helped me develop and grow as a person...discover
who I am."
