Huron Expositor, 2005-11-16, Page 12•.. "".fir: ^sx.rrtY
Poge 12 November 16, 2005 • The Huron Expositor
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Seaforth's Wilson succeeding in firstand only
season with Bluewater Junior Hawks 'AA" team
Jeff Heuchert
In only her third season of playing
competitive hockey, Seaforth's
Randi Wilson is adjusting quite
well.
The 18 -year-old forward joined the
Bluewater Junior Hawks `AA' hock-
ey team of the Provincial Women's
Hockey League (PWHL) this season,
after playing the last two with
Bluewater's 'A' team.
Prior to playing hockey, Wilson
played eight years of ringette split
between Seaforth, Exeter and
Forest.
She decided to switch to hockey
three years ago; mainly because
ringette lacks the opportunity to
advance to a higher level once
you've reached a certain age.
She says the transition was easy
because hockey is a slower sport
than ringette, and she was already
comfortable skating and passing.
Since switching from 'A' hockey to
'AA', Wilson says she has noticed
some differences.
"It's (`AA') a lot faster, everybody
wants to be there and knows hockey
as much as you do," she says.
Wilson has had no problem adjust-
ing to the quicker game, as she is
third on the Hawks in points.
She contributes some of her early
success to her coaches.
"The coaches are really helpful,"
she says "We meet afterwards
where they tell you if you did some-
thing wrong."
She says practices are always
geared towards practising what the
players did wrong during the previ-
ous game.
Clearly this strategy has worked
for the Hawks, who are atop the
PWHL, with a 5-0 record.
When not playing league games,
the Hawks travel down to the U.S,
where they play against U.S college
hockey teams, in exhibition games.
The Hawks have played well
there, compiling a record of 2-1,
with wins against Boston .
University and Quinnipiac
University from Connecticut.
Wilson says their games across
the border are a great experience,
not just because they get to play in
front of a large crowd.
Although she says the bus ride
begins to feel a little long, "it's
where you get to know your team-
mates."
Wins against U.S. teams have
acted as a morale booster to the
Hawks players, says Wilson.
"They (the wins) definitely make
you think you can come back here
(Ontario) and win," she says.
Aside from league games and
those in the U.S., the Hawks also
play in a series of exhibition tourna-
ments in Canada, most recently
over the Nov. 4-6 weekend in
Montreal.
Wilson scored one goal over the
four games, which consisted of three
ties and one lost, and received MVP
honours in the final game.
The Hawks are .9-3 so far in tour-
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Randi Wilson
nament games, making them, along
with Toronto, the team to beat,
according to Wilson.
In total, between their league and
tournament games, the Hawks,
who play their home games in
Strathroy, play 15 different teams.
As for the future, Wilson says she
would like to play hockey during
the four years she plans to attend
Wilfrid Laurier University, begin-
ning next year.
She hopes to study science and
phys ed, in hopes of working in the
sports rehabilitation field, possibly
as a trainer.
As for now, Wilson is enjoying
what is her first and last season
with the Hawks.
"This is my last year with
Bluewater, and it's going to be the
best," she says.
The Hawks will play Burlington
Nov. 18, followed by three exhibi-
tion games over the Nov. 25-27
weekend at Brown University in
Rhode Island.
If you would like any more infor-
mation on the Hawks you can visit
their website at
www.eteamz.active.com/bluewater-
juniorhawks/