Valley girls live and breathe hockey

BY NANCY KELLY

Kings County Register

Two Kingston-based hockey players will spend Thanksgiving weekend bringing their “A game” to the ice as members of team Nova Scotia at the 2008 Atlantic Challenge Cup.

Fourteen-year-old Jill Burton and 16-year-old Sabrina Rancourt were selected for the U15 and U18 teams, respectively, after attending a spring ID camp where they were selected to move onto a Hockey Nova Scotia High Performance Camp in Antigonish during the summer. They were named to the team rosters in August and will be the only female players from the Valley at the tournament, October 10 to 13 in Moncton.

The event, marking its 13th anniversary this year, crowns the Atlantic Branch Championship Teams in male U14, 15 and 16 play and in female U15 and U18 age categories. Presented by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the weekend tournament brings together the best young players from the four Atlantic provinces in an annual best-on-best competition.

This will be Rancourt’s second trip to the event; it’s the first for Burton. Both agree the experience so far has brought them into contact with high level players from around the province.

“These girls are all about hockey - they live and breathe it,” says Burton, playing the sport for the past four years. She says she was drawn to the sport watching her babysitter’s kids play.

“I just wanted to get out there and play, too.”

Besides hockey, Burton also enjoys soccer, badminton and track and field.

Rancourt, who plays in nets, has been on the ice playing hockey for more than 10 years. She comes from a hockey family, with her mom, sister and dad all having played at some point.

“Oh, yeah, hockey is big in my family.”

In Grade 11 at Ecole Rose Des Ventes in Greenwood, Rancourt keeps a full schedule on weekdays and weekends practicing and travelling with a new girls AAA team based out of East Hants. Burton, who plays defence for the AA Valley Vixens and also high school hockey for West Kings is on the ice nearly every night of the week between practices, games and power skating sessions.

Both love the game, for different reasons. As a goalie, Rancourt thrives on the pressure of defending the net.

“I love the puck coming at me and knowing a big part of the game depends on me.”

For Burton, pushing herself in games and practices is a rush.

“I don’t know why, but I love to sweat. And the harder I work, the more I like it.”

Both girls also recognize the sacrifices their families have made to help them advance in the sport. They say their parents are totally supportive and committed to helping them meet their busy schedules.

“They do a lot of driving, that’s for sure,” says Rancourt.

The fact the tournament generates tremendous interest among scouts from schools and various leagues around North America isn’t lost on either of the girls, both of whom would like to play hockey beyond their high school years.

“I guess we’ll just go out there, play our best and enjoy the experience. Who knows what will happen beyond that?” says Burton.