Kentville native Brette Pettet is getting used to spending most of her year far away from her home and family.
The 15-year-old hockey player left Kings County in late August for her third year at Shattuck-St. Mary’s, a highly regarded prep school located in Faribault, Minnesota. Pettet started at Sidney Crosby’s alma mater in the fall of 2012 for Grade 8.
“The summer before I left, I was a little nervous, but excited, too,” she said Aug. 20.
“I adjusted pretty quickly. They keep us fairly busy. I don’t really have time to be homesick.”
Pettet played co-ed hockey in Kings County until she finished peewee AAA where she was usually one of her team’s best forwards. In the next level, there is full on-ice body contact and, at the time, girls’ teams at the bantam level were “just beginning to develop.
“My parents didn’t want me to play boys’ hockey at that level because of the checking,” she said, so John and Debbie Pettet started looking for a place where she could both study and play hockey at a high level.
“Taylor Crosby and Alexis Crossley, two girls I knew from hockey camps, were having the same kinds of problems. Taylor’s brother Sidney had attended Shattuck-St. Mary’s,” Pettet said. “I expect he recommended it to her, and she recommended it to me.”
Goalie Crosby graduated in the spring and is playing D-1 college hockey for Northeastern University. Defenceman Crossley is playing for University of New Hampshire.
Pettet knows she was fortunate to get to attend Shattuck-St. Mary’s.
“They’re only allowed two non-Americans per team, so it’s really competitive getting in,” she said. “I’m glad I went when I did, because there was a spot open. If I had waited a year, I might not have gotten in. I feel really lucky to have had the chance to go there.”
Making an impact
Pettet played at the highest level she could last season, 16-U Tier 1 and practice starts “the second weekend we’re there” and lasts all winter. She also plays lacrosse for the school.
In her first two years at the school, her team was the champion, first in San Jose and then in Boston.
“We made it again, and won again – two national titles in a row,” Pettet said.
The Kentville player hasn’t just been along for the ride. In 2013, Pettet scored the tying and winning goals in the final. Last spring, she again had two goals in the final in a 3-0 Shattuck-St. Mary’s win.
“I’ve had some success, and I’m having fun, too,” she said.
Pettet is looking forward to another year of hockey and trying out for a higher-level team.
“I still have two years of 16-U eligibility left, but I plan to try out for 19-U,” she said. “Both teams are likely to be successful and be in the running for nationals again.”
During the season, Shattuck-St.Mary’s plays mostly club teams, she said.
“Our closest road games are four-and-a-half hours away, and when we get to nationals, most of the other teams tend to be all-star teams.”
Back here at home, Pettet played on the 18-U girls’ Team Atlantic last year, competing at nationals. She and Maggie Burbidge of Falmouth were recently named to the Nova Scotia Canada Games team for the 2015 Games next February in Prince George, B.C., which takes the place of 18-U nationals.
Eyes on the future
The Grade 10 student is also looking ahead to her 2017 graduation and her academic future. This year, she is enrolled in a special Engineering Centre of Excellence program, which will give her university prep credits.
“I’m hoping taking this course this year might help me decide if I want engineering to be part of my future.”
Hockey-wise, she is more certain of her goals.
“I’d like to eventually play D-1 college hockey in the U.S. Hopefully, with my experience and background, I’ll be able to get a full scholarship.”
She plans to visit some colleges during the coming school year.
“College coaches aren’t able to contact me directly yet, but I can contact them, or they can go through my coach,” Pettet said.
Kentville native Brette Pettet is getting used to spending most of her year far away from her home and family.
The 15-year-old hockey player left Kings County in late August for her third year at Shattuck-St. Mary’s, a highly regarded prep school located in Faribault, Minnesota. Pettet started at Sidney Crosby’s alma mater in the fall of 2012 for Grade 8.
“The summer before I left, I was a little nervous, but excited, too,” she said Aug. 20.
“I adjusted pretty quickly. They keep us fairly busy. I don’t really have time to be homesick.”
Pettet played co-ed hockey in Kings County until she finished peewee AAA where she was usually one of her team’s best forwards. In the next level, there is full on-ice body contact and, at the time, girls’ teams at the bantam level were “just beginning to develop.
“My parents didn’t want me to play boys’ hockey at that level because of the checking,” she said, so John and Debbie Pettet started looking for a place where she could both study and play hockey at a high level.
“Taylor Crosby and Alexis Crossley, two girls I knew from hockey camps, were having the same kinds of problems. Taylor’s brother Sidney had attended Shattuck-St. Mary’s,” Pettet said. “I expect he recommended it to her, and she recommended it to me.”
Goalie Crosby graduated in the spring and is playing D-1 college hockey for Northeastern University. Defenceman Crossley is playing for University of New Hampshire.
Pettet knows she was fortunate to get to attend Shattuck-St. Mary’s.
“They’re only allowed two non-Americans per team, so it’s really competitive getting in,” she said. “I’m glad I went when I did, because there was a spot open. If I had waited a year, I might not have gotten in. I feel really lucky to have had the chance to go there.”
Making an impact
Pettet played at the highest level she could last season, 16-U Tier 1 and practice starts “the second weekend we’re there” and lasts all winter. She also plays lacrosse for the school.
In her first two years at the school, her team was the champion, first in San Jose and then in Boston.
“We made it again, and won again – two national titles in a row,” Pettet said.
The Kentville player hasn’t just been along for the ride. In 2013, Pettet scored the tying and winning goals in the final. Last spring, she again had two goals in the final in a 3-0 Shattuck-St. Mary’s win.
“I’ve had some success, and I’m having fun, too,” she said.
Pettet is looking forward to another year of hockey and trying out for a higher-level team.
“I still have two years of 16-U eligibility left, but I plan to try out for 19-U,” she said. “Both teams are likely to be successful and be in the running for nationals again.”
During the season, Shattuck-St.Mary’s plays mostly club teams, she said.
“Our closest road games are four-and-a-half hours away, and when we get to nationals, most of the other teams tend to be all-star teams.”
Back here at home, Pettet played on the 18-U girls’ Team Atlantic last year, competing at nationals. She and Maggie Burbidge of Falmouth were recently named to the Nova Scotia Canada Games team for the 2015 Games next February in Prince George, B.C., which takes the place of 18-U nationals.
Eyes on the future
The Grade 10 student is also looking ahead to her 2017 graduation and her academic future. This year, she is enrolled in a special Engineering Centre of Excellence program, which will give her university prep credits.
“I’m hoping taking this course this year might help me decide if I want engineering to be part of my future.”
Hockey-wise, she is more certain of her goals.
“I’d like to eventually play D-1 college hockey in the U.S. Hopefully, with my experience and background, I’ll be able to get a full scholarship.”
She plans to visit some colleges during the coming school year.
“College coaches aren’t able to contact me directly yet, but I can contact them, or they can go through my coach,” Pettet said.
