BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
Hockey star Tessa Bonhomme feels ahead of her
time, but she's ready for the next biggest challenge of her
young life.
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Tessa Bonhomme, 19, is heading to
Calgary in August to Team Canada's Olympic tryout
camp. |
Earlier this week, Bonhomme, 19, was one of
27 elite female players to be invited to Team Canada's
preparation camp in Calgary.
Out of the 27 players, 20 will be selected to
represent Canada at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin,
Italy, from Feb. 10-26.
Bonhomme was one of eight defence players
named to the camp team - only six will be selected.
Bonhomme will join the other players on Aug.
1.
The players will be put through a series of
rigorous training exercises and 21 pre-Olympic games over the
next seven months.
Even though she will be only 20 in July,
Bonhomme is eager to grab hold of her Olympic
aspirations.
"This is definitely what I want," said
Bonhomme. "I didn't expect to get this shot this year. I was
shooting for 2010. This is basically a try-out for the Olympic
team. I am a step ahead of myself, but I am enjoying it and
this is where I want to be at."
Because it's an Olympic try-out, battles for
roster spots are expected to be intense, especially for defence
positions.
"It's going to be a tough experience," said
Bonhomme. "They have four returning defenceman, who have been
with the Olympic program for a long
time. I have to beat out a few people, but it
should be fun. Hockey Canada says if you can be sent home at
any time if you're not holding up your end of the bargain, so I
have to go all out. "
Bonhomme is confident her game is up to the
standards of the Canadian program, which is considered to be
the best in the world, but she won't take
it easy through the process.
"If I play to my potential and do all I can
do, I feel I can take one of the spots," said Bonhomme. "I am
not at the top of my game yet, but with this camp, it will
allow me to improve. Working with the coaches will improve my
technique."
Bonhomme has been in the position before,
having to battle against the best players in the world to prove
herself, and made national teams.
She loves the challenge of squaring off
against the best.
"My toughest challenges are Caroline
Ouellette and Hayley Wickenheiser," said Bonhomme. "They are
big powerhouses. I don't mind going against
them because they mimic what the U.S. team
brings to us."
Bonhomme was an alternate for the womens'
national club that won silver at the 2005 World Hockey
Championship. She managed to play some exhibition games, but no
tournament games. Still, the experience served Bonhomme
well.
"Watching in the stands, I had the
opportunity to see where we need improvement," said Bonhomme.
"I found it just helped me better prepare myself for these
elite camps. Now I know how to handle myself better."
Bonhomme feels little pressure to become the
first female hockey player from Sudbury to make the national
Olympic team.
"I don't feel pressure, I feel support" said
Bonhomme. "My family is a rock for me and support me. My
friends are also there for support. It helps relieve the
pressure."
Bonhomme will take a leave of absence from
her studies at Ohio State, where she also plays NCAA Division I
hockey.
Womens' head coach, Melody Davidson, sees a
great package in Bonhomme.
"Tessa's a good character person," said
Davidson. "She doesn't cut corners and stays true to what she
has to do. This is the next step for her to see how she can do
against the best in the world. Tessa plays with a lot of poise
and she's confident, not cocky. She's skilled and brings a lot
to the table. She's just a great person, and when you put it
all together, you have a great player."
She will resume her studies in the spring of
2006.
Bonhomme holds the Olympics in the highest
regards.
"Women don't necessarily have a national
women's hockey league that's as hyped up as the NHL," said
Bonhomme. "The Olympics are the NHL for women."
Despite the eventual outcome, good or bad,
Bonhomme will relish every moment with the national team
because it will be a valuable learning tool for her to use for
the 2010 Olympics, which will be held in Vancouver, when she
will be 24 and in her absolute prime.
"It's good to get a feel of how they do it,"
said Bonhomme. "Hopefully, I will take a lot away from it. I
expect to improve. If I come back not improved
then I didn't do it right. Making the team is
an added bonus. Now I want to improve my game as much as
possible for 2010 as well."
