Posted by Sudbury Northern Life Sabrina Byrnes
Sudbury will be well-represented at the 2009 IIHF Women's World
Championships in Finland, as Team Canada has added local hockey
stars Tessa Bonhomme and Rebecca Johnston to its roster.
With the news that the girls were going to take the ice at the
World Championships, came the added excitement of being
selected to the Team Canada centralization camp, where they
will compete for a chance to represent Canada at the 2010
Olympics.
The girls received the news last week.
"I was so happy, I kind of didn't really say anything," said
Johnston, laughing.
"I was just so thrilled and excited to get the opportunity."
The 19-year-old has experienced two World Championships.
However, the first year she was an alternate.
"I was a little nervous going in because it was my first Worlds
and everything ... I think it's a little better now that I know
what to expect," she said.
The young hockey player has been on the ice since she was four
years old.
"Basically everyone in my family plays, so I was just kind of
born into it," Johnston said.
"I grew up just loving the sport. I'd always go out and play
pond hockey and stuff with my family."
Johnston is currently attending Cornell University, but will
take a year off school for centralization camp, which begins in
August.
She said she's had the dream of competing in the Olympics since
she was a young girl.
"Ever since I was little, I dreamed about being there, so ...
hopefully I'll get a chance," she said.
Twenty-six girls will be vying for a spot on the Olympic roster
but five will be cut from the national team.
Johnston said it's exciting that two Sudbury girls will be
representing the city at the World Championships.
Bonhomme shared the same excitement.
"(Johnston) likes to work hard and she's got the drive to win.
I think that's what our program's been missing. So to get a
young girl in the program as talented as she is with that
competitive drive is great," said Bonhomme.
The 23-year-old was equally excited when she received the call
announcing she made the roster.
Bonhomme experienced the Worlds in 2007, which she said has
made her more prepared going in this time around.
"I think I have a lot more experience under my belt and
understanding how the game works, and have gotten to know the
other teams a little bit better, as well. Definitely confidence
helps a lot."
Bonhomme currently lives in Calgary and plays for the Oval
Extreme. She practices daily, as hockey is her main priority.
"It's pretty much my number one focus. I'm done school now, so
it's just been eat, sleep, hockey."
The young hockey player has also been playing since the age of
four. She said it was her babysitter who introduced her to the
sport. When Bonhomme saw her sitter's children playing hockey
outside one day, her sitter asked if she would like to play.
Her parents weren't too fond of the idea at first.
"At first my dad said 'no,' because I was his little girl," she
chuckled. She said the neighbour across the street offered to
give her some equipment and eventually her parents let her
play.
She joined the outdoor league, moved onto a Copper Cliff novice
team and eventually played for the Lady Wolves.
She said she's always had a natural love for the game.
"I like that every game there's something different. I enjoy
camaraderie ... belonging to a team is something special
... and you make a lot of friends as you go along," Bonhomme
said.
Bonhomme also has the dream of making it the Olympics and said
all the girls at centralization camp are in the exact same
boat.
"I would say everyone pretty much starts at ground zero and you
work your way up the ranking, but I'm definitely ready to put
all that work in and to get started," she said.
"Physically and mentally I think I'm ready and I just can't
wait to get going."
Team Canada opens the World Championships on April 4 against
China and faces Sweden on April 6 in the preliminary rounds.
The Olympic centralization camp begins Aug. 1 in Calgary.
