Budding hockey star and Cochrane resident Sarah Wozniewicz has been named to Team Canada's International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Under 18 Women's Hockey Championship roster when the tournament begins on Dec. 26 in Slovakia.
The 16-year-old Wozniewicz said she was honoured when she heard the news she had made the team.
"I'm super excited and honoured to play for Team Canada," the Cochrane native said. "It's been my goal since I started playing hockey."
Wozniewicz, who is currently playing with the Edge Mountaineers just outside of Cochrane where she has 11 goals and 19 points in 10 games, said it was a long and gruelling process to make Team Canada that started back in the spring.
"Hockey Canada selected the top 60 players in May and we had to do regional fitness testing which consisted of the beep test, chin ups and jumps," she said.
"They then invite the top 43 players to a week-long summer camp in Calgary at Winsport. Immediately following the camp, the top 23 players were picked and played against the United States in Lake Placid in a three game series."
"Hockey Canada have been watching (the top 60) play with their club teams since August ... they named the team going to Worlds in Slovakia after U18 nationals took place in November."
Wozniewicz had a solid outing against the U.S.A. in the three game series, registering a goal and an assist in the three games. She said it was huge for her in order to make the national team for the upcoming tournament.
"I think it was a great experience to be able to learn and play at that pace of hockey," Wozniewicz said. "I think this will help me at the tournament because I somewhat know what to expect as I play at this level in the summer."
This will be a new experience for the young Cochranite, as she has never been away from home during Christmas.
"I have never been away from home due to hockey around Christmas time," she said. "I think it will be a lot of fun and an eye-opening experience."
"It will be exciting to play hockey overseas for the first time. My mom is going to make the trip to Slovakia plus my two aunts and four cousins from Scotland are all going to come watch as well. It will be nice having a lot of family to support me."
Canada has never not medalled in this tournament, taking away gold at five tournaments, silver in six and bronze in one. Wozniewicz said she's not sure what to expect from the tournament.
"There is obviously a lot of moving parts to it. It would be nice to win a medal."
