PREECEVILLE - Camryn Nelson of Preeceville is part of the increasing movement of all-girl hockey in the local area. Nelson plays with the all-female U15A team, Prairie Ice. The team is based out of Canora and this is Nelson’s second year with the team. Her dad Jesse Nelson helps to coach the team.
She plays the right wing position and her team kicked off its season with a win against Melville. The team newly formed in 2020 season and were only allowed limited ice time due to COVID-19.
“We are all looking forward to a great new season and remain hopeful that we can keep playing games and in tournaments,” said Nelson. “The team formed when numerous girls decided that they wanted the opportunity to play. There was not a team locally based and Prairie Ice formed. It gives girls who would like to play an opportunity to play but without the full body contact,” she said.
Camryn started skating at an early age with the Preeceville Figure Skating Club. She progressed through the years and currently has achieved her Junior Bronze dance in Star Skate and has been teaching younger skaters for the past three years. She was encouraged by her dad Jesse and brother Hudsyn, who played hockey from an early age, to try the sport of hockey. She strapped on a pair of hockey skates at the age of 9 years and has never looked back as she played two years in each division of Atom, Peewee and Bantam.
“It was a real challenge for me to get used to hockey skates since all I had ever skated on were figure skates, which are so very different. Playing on a traditional boys team was fun, I made lots of great life-long friendships and learned great skills and techniques. I could play at the Midget level but at that level it is full contact and it is a little too much for me. That is what made me want to join the all-girl hockey team. It is very different and has made me a better player,” she said.
Female hockey provides the opportunity for girls to engage in a healthy, active lifestyle while developing new friendships that will last after the hockey season ends. Female hockey allows girls to develop as athletes and as citizens of Saskatchewan, learning key life lessons through their participations in Canada’s game. Set goals and work hard to achieve their goals, stated the Saskatchewan Female Hockey League.
