Young hockey players to represent Olds at Alberta Games

Two of Olds’ ambassadors to the 2014 Alberta Winter Games have a combined 18 years of hockey experience behind them.

Alayna Wagstaff, 13, and Paige Grenier, 14, both Grade 8 students at Ecole Deer Meadow School, will play on the Zone 2 girls hockey team during the games, which are being held in Banff and Canmore from February 6 to 9.

The pair tried out for the team in Carstairs in late November, competing with roughly 110 other girls for 20 spots on the squad.

Paige, who skates for the bantam AAA Red Deer Chiefs and has played hockey for eight years, said they learned just hours after the last tryout meet that they had made the cut.

She added many of the girls she competed against for a spot on the team are players she normally sees on the ice when she skates with the Chiefs.

"I was really excited because basically the whole team is made up of a team that I play against regularly, the Rocky Mountain Raiders. They’re a really skilled group, they’re the best in the league and I guess to knock off some of their players is an exciting time."

Alayna, who has played hockey for six years and is currently a member of the Olds Grizzlys midget A girls team, said it was a pleasant surprise when she received a call after the tryout saying she would lace up at the games.

"I was kind of shocked actually. I didn’t think I had a very good tryout. I didn’t think I was going to make it," she said, adding she is looking forward to the experience of intense competition when her team takes to the ice in Banff and Canmore.

"I just want to see what it’s like to be playing at that level. Just the experience I think will be fun."

Paige added she will face many of her Red Deer teammates on the ice during the games and that gives her an advantage.

"In a way it gives me a bit of an edge because I know their tendencies," she said.

The girls were on the ice training with their team at the Olds Sports Complex on Jan. 25.

They said this was their only time to practise as a squad before the games and until the competition begins, Paige said she plans to train hard on her own and then "enjoy every minute of" the games.

The Zone 2 team is guaranteed to play at least five games, Alayna said.

Paige said she hopes her hockey career will allow her to play for a Division 1 university squad in the U.S. and Alayna’s goal is to play for the Red Deer College Queens when she finishes high school.

Roughly 2,500 athletes and coaches will participate in 19 sports at the games.

[email protected]