A local hockey player got to hit the ice wearing a Team Canada jersey during a three game series in Blaine, Minn.
“It was an amazing experience,” said Taryn Baumgardt, a 17-year-old defence player.
Baumgardt was on the ice playing defence for Team Canada during the first and third games of the series. She was off the ice for Game 2 because of an injury caused during a collision in game one.
“It was a huge honour,” she said of getting to play for her country. Baumgardt was selected for the 22 player U18 squad that took on and beat Team USA after a selection camp that was held Aug. 3-11 in Calgary.
Jim Fetter, the head coach of the women's U18 team, said Baumgardt was selected for the team for her poise on the ice.
“Her patience on the ice,” he said. “Reading and reacting to what's given to her.”
Of her play against the States, he said she continued to show that poise and good decision making.
“(She) keeps it nice and simple,” Fetter said of her efforts in the first and third games.
Fetter said Baumgardt, like the other Canadian players, had to adjust in the first period of the first game to the speed at which Team USA was playing.
Baumgardt agreed with Fetter in his analysis.
“It took us a bit to adjust but by the end we were coming out strong,” Baumgardt said. Team Canada beat Team USA 3-2 on Aug. 16, lost 1-3 on Aug. 17 and won the third to take the series on Aug. 19, 5-4.
“I thought I held my own,” she said of her play. “The players around me made my job easy.”
Playing for Team Canada in this series doesn't guarantee Baumgardt will be putting on the jersey for the IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship in Finland next year.
“It's going to be tough to make the lineup, but I'm just hoping to make the best of it,” Baumgardt said.
Fetter said the players would be observed until the national competition in Dawson Creek this November, after which Team Canada will announce its team.
Baumgardt is currently trying to win a place to represent Alberta in Dawson Creek and is heading back to another Team Alberta selection camp in Edmonton starting Aug. 27. She made the top 27 players after a selection camp in July.
In the meantime, she is moving to Warner, Alta. to go to the hockey school and play for the Warner Warriors.
“It's the junior women's hockey league,” she said. “It's midget-aged but we play teams from the States (and Canada).”
Her new season starts in September with some exhibition games.
“I'm really excited about what's ahead of me,” she said.
