A South Surrey teen is one of only two players from B.C. to head to the World Ringette Championships in Calgary, to compete Oct. 29-Nov. 4.
Julia Harvie, 17, now in Grade 12 at Earl Marriott Secondary, has been playing ringette since she was five years old, when she saw a poster at Centennial Arena in White Rock advertising a ‘Come Try Ringette’ event that the Surrey White Rock Ringette Association still runs to this day.
Harvie, who is busy with her studies as well as playing on, and practicing with, three different ringette teams, still volunteers when she can with the ‘Come Try Ringette’ functions the association still holds.
“I love to go and help young aspiring players, just kind of give back whenever I can find time in my schedule,” Harvie said.
“This is the first time the U18 program has run (at the world championships), so it’s so exciting to be a part of it.”
Usually, the World Ringette Championships feature only junior (U21) and senior (above 21) teams, but this year, the new U18 development program will feature 34 athletes from across Canada who will compete in two teams: the West Team (White) and the East Team (Black).
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Harvie was thrilled to hear she would be playing with Jemma Sangha, the only other B.C. athlete, who lives in Anmore, on the West Team.
“It’s so incredible to be representing B.C. especially with one of my best friends – it’s incredible to just have this opportunity to go out and show them what B.C. has,” Harvie said.
They leave Oct. 26 for Calgary.
“I’ve been to Calgary many times before… I love Calgary so much, it has a great ringette team and it’s always quite special to be there,” said Harvie.
“I’m mostly just hoping to develop more as an athlete and as a person, and get to know my teammates from around Canada… to just have fun and live in the moment and represent B.C. well.”
Being a goalie can be different than what other players experience, she noted.
“Usually with being a goalie, you can feel a lot of pressure and you can feel like you’re by yourself down in the crease,” she said.
“I’m lucky enough to have good teammates to let me know that I’m not on a team by myself – it’s a team sport for a reason – and everybody always has each other’s backs.”