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The Times Advocate, 2005-10-26, Page 12Crossroads 12 Wednesday, Oct 26, 2004 Exeter Times Advocate Local female athletes shine on national stage By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — A local hockey player will rep- resent Ontario on the national stage next month at the National Women's Under -18 Hockey Championship. Katie Stewart, 16, a student at South Huron District High School has been selected for the Ontario Red Team to compete at the tourna- ment which will be held in Salmon Arm British Columbia Nov. 9-13. Stewart plays on the Bluewater Junior Hawks, a regional team based in Strathroy. She also plays on the SHDHS girls hockey team. Stewart, a ring winger, has been play- ing hockey for 11 years and says her game is shooting and passing. She earned a spot at the tryout camp in September in Toronto with a recommendation from her coach. Although she said she had a good camp, she was surprised and thrilled when she was told last week she made the team. "It will be a great experience," Stewart said. Although the bulk of the players are from Toronto, others are from around the province, including some who she has played with and against in her career. Two other members of her Bluewater team will also be at for university hockey. Stewart said the num- ber of players and skill level in women's hockey is "growing hugely," Ontario Red won the nationals last year and has around five players returning to help defend the title this year. Quebec will be the main competition according to Stewart, with western teams also strong. Competing at the tour- nament other than Ontario are teams for the tourna- British Columbia, ment. Alberta, Saskatchewan, Due to the Manitoba, Quebec and large number Team Atlantic. of female Ontario Red will have hockey players a weekend of bonding in the province, and practice, possibly at the Teen Ranch outside Toronto the weekend before the tournament before heading west. Stewart thanks Hensall Minor Hockey and Exeter Ringette which she played with and said gave her a good start. For more information on the tournament, check www.hockeycana- da.ca/e/champi- onships/u18/2005nc/ind ex. html. Ontario is sending two teams to the tourna- ment. Mallory Deluce will be alongside Stewart on the Red team while Carolyn Prevost will be playing on the Blue team. Stewart has been with the Hawks for nine years and the team won the Stoney Creek tour- nament in September which she said is a showcase tournament Local hockey player Katie Stewart will represent Ontario at the National Women's Under -18 Hockey Championship in British Columbia in November. (photo/submit- ted) Soccer players earn silver medal in Newfoundland NEWFOUNDLAND — Two local soccer play- ers came home from Newfoundland with sil- ver medals after play- ing in the Youth 16 Championship in Mount Pearl, NfldOct. 5-10. Melissa Smith of Exeter and Karlie Kennedy of Grand Bend are members of the Forest United soccer team. The team qualified for the championship tour- nament after winning their second straight Ontario Cup Sept. 11. It is the second year on the team for Smith who started in the mid- field but moved up to forward during the sea- son and scored twice as many goals this season as last, notching 15. The team played four games during the tour- nament defeating Prince Edward Island 9-0, Newfoundland 7-1, and British Columbia 4- 3 before losing 3-0 to Quebec in the final. The third game against British Columbia was the toughest according to Smith. Although the team was down 3-0 at the half, Forest came back to win. But after the come- back, Smith said they were still tired and did- n't have enough left to defeat Quebec. Karlie Kennedy of Grand Bend (above) and Melissa Smith of Exeter helped their Forest United soccer team to a silver medal at the Youth 16 Championship in Newfoundland recently. (photo above/submitted/photoright/Pat Bolen)