Article content Northumberland Regional High School Nighthawk players share a laugh with a CEC player, who would also be a former Fundy Highlands teammate, during a recent game at the Colchester Legion Stadium. Photo by Richard MacKenzie /The NewsArticle contentArticle contentOther girls travel to play a high caliber women’s hockey. Goaltender Amy Field, Ella Grinton, Myla Martin, Bria Tanner and Layla Burris journey to Pictou County to play for the Northern Subway Selects, a U18 AAA team. Article contentA glance at some of the local women who have excelled in hockey over the years include Truro’s Sue Kaye, who came along in the 1980sand made the national under 22 team in 1998-99. Kaye later played five years with Concordia Stingers; enjoying a national university championship and being named all-Canadian on two occasions. Article contentDenise (Caughey) Sondjo became the first girl to play with the CEC boys’ hockey team in 1999. The Truro athlete would later enjoy many thrills through women’s hockey. Maddie (Clark) Baker, University of PEI, Julia (Scammell) McIsaac, University of New Hampshire, Elizabeth MacArthur and Miranda McMillan, Dalhousie University, and Natilie MacKay, St. Thomas University, are among other top women hockey players developed in Colchester County. Article contentArticle contentAnitra Whidden, a grandmother with eight grandchildren, has an inspiring women’s hockey story. Article content“When I was seven, my family and I sat around a black and white television watching Hockey Night in Canada,” Whidden, 67, of Brookfield, said. “I loved to watch Jacque Plante of Montreal Canadiens in nets; I hoped that one day I’d play nets too. Back in my youth, girls weren’t given much of a chance to play hockey, but I remained determined to, someday, be a goaltender.” Article contentIn 2007 the Sportsplex in Brookfield was to start a women’s hockey league. Article content“They needed goaltenders, that was my big chance,” Whidden said. “I decided, at 49 years-of-age, to learn the skills necessary to be a goaltender. At that time, Guy Gallant was giving goaltender instruction at the Colchester Legion Stadium. As I hadn’t been on skates for almost 40 years, I held onto the boards to stand up. I kept saying to myself, I can’t do this, I can’t do this.” Article contentArticle contentBut with a fighting spirit and encouraged by Gallant, Whidden stuck in there. She became a goaltender with Hurricane Heidi’s Café in 2007, in the CWRHL. With 18 seasons behind her, Whidden was asked about highlights. Article content“Winning a silver medal in Nova Scotia 55 Plus Hockey in 2011 was a great experience,” Whidden said. “It was awesome playing for Nova Scotia in the Canada Games in 2014 in Strathcona, Alberta. We won the silver medal in 55 Plus Hockey. In September of this year, I played for Polar Ice, a team from Bridgewater. We won four games in a South Shore tournament to win the gold medal. We had two shutouts, and I was in goal. Article content“I have had an absolute blast as a goaltender. I love hockey, it has been awesome to get to play for a number of teams. There’s been much progress made in women’s hockey, there are now many opportunities for girls and women to play the game. As for me, I’m looking forward to the new season.” Article contentWith a lot of help from former and present-day players, it was an enjoyment to take a look at changes and progress in local women’s hockey. And a salute to Rachel deVries., Anita Fisher, and David Clark for their research and help. Article content The Pictou County U18 AAA Subway Selects, made up of players from Antigonish, Pictou, and Colchester counties, getting instruction from coach Criag Clarke during a practice earlier this season. Photo by File /The NewsArticle content . Article content
Womens hockey has taken great strides
