CORNER BROOK Katie Parsons of Rocky Harbour will wear Newfoundland and Labrador’s colours at the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax.
Parsons, daughter of Rocky Harbour’s Norm and Sue Parsons, will suit up for the provincial Under-18 female Games team when Halifax puts out the welcome mat for the biggest amateur sports spectacle in the country.
The 16-year-old Level 2 student at Gros Morne Academy is one of six blueliners named to the squad by head coach Colin Carroll of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, who was a respected minor hockey benchboss in Corner Brook early in his amateur coaching career.
“It feels really good to be on the team,” the shy teenager told The Western Star after being named to the team.
Parsons isn’t known for her offensive exploits, more comfortable with being defensive-minded to keep the goals-against down.
“I just try to get it out of our own end, so the forwards can take it into theirs,” she said.
By nature, she is a reserved, quiet young woman, but she is all business when she steps on the ice. Actually, the steady defender didn’t really want any fuss made about her selection to the team when contacted by The Western Star and didn’t even want her picture in the newspaper.
However, coach Carroll — who is moving to Corner Brook this winter for a six-month temporary assignment with his provincial government job in the Natural Resources Department — was anything but tight-lipped when asked to assess her selection to the team.
Caroll described the young rearguard as a solid player who is very sound both positionally and defensively.
More importantly, he is impressed with her work ethic and fitness level at this point in development.
“She brings that strength and grit that we’re looking for in defenceman to win battles along the boards and in the corners,” said Caroll.
Playing for a provincial team means getting along with girls from all over the province and being committed to a training regime that requires travel to St. John’s on a consistent basis and participation in a number of tournaments before the trek to Halifax.
It appears coach Carroll doesn’t give a second thought about Parsons’ level of commitment. He said Parsons has fit in nicely and is committed to the family theme that comes with female hockey, and doesn’t shy away from being a leader when it comes to team-building exercises held for the purpose of building chemistry.
Committed to fitness
“She is committed to fitness as well as the off-ice fun to bring our group closer together,”he said.
“Whether it’s doing a team builder ...she’s always at the forefront to participate and certainly enjoys herself as being off the ice and part of the team in the dressing room to keep things lively and fun.”
The 20-player roster includes forwards Nicole Blanche of Dunville, Brittany Carroll of Labrador City, Maria Gehue of St. John’s, Alicia Gillam of Whitbourne, Jillian Grouchy of St. John’s, Natalie Keeping of Bay Roberts, Callie Langmead of Flatrock, Natasha Noel of St. John’s, Megan Normore of Conception Bay South, Sarah Roberts of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Jenelle Rogers of Marystown and Joanna Snelgrove of St. John’s.
Joining Parsons on the defence corps are Taylor Anderson of Harbour Grace, Mackenzie Baird of Goulds, Rebecca Cahill of Dunville, Charlene Duffett of Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Jillian Mason of Conception Harbour.
The goaltending tandem is comprised of Abigail Clarke of Springdale and Ayla Frank of Labrador City.
The coaching staff also includes assistant coaches Linda Massie of Port Saunders and Cyril Morrissey of St. John’s. Tracy Shute of Carbonear is the team manager, while Miriam Lewis of St. John’s is the safety person for the team.
The roster for the Newfoundland and Labrador Under-18 men’s team heading to the Games will be announced next month.