A local hockey player will be donning the Team Canada jersey and playing for her country at the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey U-18 Women's World Championship.
Taryn Baumgardt recently finished playing for Team Alberta during the 2012 National Women's Under-18 Championship held in Dawson Creek Nov. 7-11. Alberta placed seventh.
Still, Baumgardt, 17, was announced Nov. 30 as one of three U-18 female hockey players who will be suiting up in Finland for the IIHF competition Dec. 29-Jan.5.
“I was kind of in shock. I was pretty excited and honoured,” she said of her appointment to Team Canada.
She said the assistant coach called her a few weeks ago to let her know. Baumgardt played for Canada this summer in a three-game series against Team U.S.A. after attending the national selection camp.
Still, the defence player wasn't confident she'd make the final cut to go to Finland.
“I wasn't sure. I obviously was hoping I would,” she said, adding there are lots of talented hockey players in Alberta.
The team is leaving for Finland Dec. 23, where they'll have time to prepare for the competition. Baumgardt said she's familiar with many of her teammates.
“We've played against each other and with each other,” she said.
Jim Fetter, head coach for the U-18 women's team, said Hockey Canada's been keeping an eye on her since August.
“She obviously performed well in the summer,” he said. She “proved to us she belongs,” he said.
“She showed us right from day one she deserves to be there. She's been consistent,” he said.
One of Baumgardt's strengths is that coaches feel comfortable with her on the ice.
“She keeps it simple … makes good decisions with the puck,” she said.
Coaching staff expect the selected players to keep training, and Baumgardt is doing that by continuing her season with the Warriors at Warner Hockey School.
“It's been going good,” Baumgardt said of her season so far. She noted the team had won three games and tied the other on the weekend of Dec. 3.
“We've been doing all right,” she said. “It's a really cool opportunity.”
In addition to playing for Team Alberta in November and getting named to Team Canada, Baumgardt's also signed a letter of intent to play for Quinnipiac University in Connecticut next year.
“I'm pretty excited,” she said of signing on.
After all these years of playing hockey, all this recognition for her skill isn't going to her head.
“It's very humbling,” she said. “Hopefully I can continue to improve.”
