Bantam Flyer to soar to Alberta Winter Games

INNISFAIL – The team captain of the Innisfail Bantam A Fourlane Flyers has been selected to play hockey in the Alberta Winter Games.

Callie Cocke, a forward for the Flyers and the team’s only female player, will be playing for the female Zone 2 team during the Alberta Winter Games this February in Fort McMurray.

"I’m extremely excited,” said the 14-year-old Cocke, who lives in Bowden. She also made the Alberta Winter Games in 2016 and said that was a great experience.

The left-winger was somewhat surprised to get the call after what she described as a less-than-ideal tryout.

"I had a rough tryout, to be honest,” she said.

She’ll have to adjust her playing style, as she’s used to playing contact hockey on the boys’ team versus non-contact with the girls.

Flyers coach Stephen Bates said Cocke is a real speedster on the ice.

"Callie, she’s very fast,” he said. "Not too many kids can keep up with her.”

Bates said when the Flyers go to play a team for a second time in the season, he can often hear the opposing team’s coaches reminding their players to "watch out for the girl.”

Cocke is a leader on his team, he said, a fact reflected in her captaincy. He’s not shocked at all that she made the cut for the Alberta Winter Games.

"I’m not surprised she made the team. She’s playing Tier 1 bantam hockey on the boys’ team,” he said, noting that her speed helps her compete against the size advantage some of the male players have.

He first had Cocke on one of his rosters about four years ago, coaching her at the peewee level.

Cocke said she’s looking forward to experiencing the provincial winter games again after playing two years ago.

While she liked that experience, she said it was a bit hard for the team to come together right away, since most of the players didn’t know each other and the team hadn’t had much of a chance to practise as a unit.

That will still somewhat be the case this year, with regards to practice, but this time round group chats and projects have been implemented that will let the team members get to know each other ahead of time.

"I’m very proud and honoured to have been selected to play at the 2018 winter games,” Cocke said, adding she wanted to thank her coaches, teammates, friends and family who have helped her along the way.