Midget AAA Storm Host Team Canada
By LOGAN CLOW
Daily Herald-Tribune
Olympic medalists and hopefuls will be hitting the ice on Friday at Revolution Place.
Team Canada’s women’s Olympic hockey team is making a stop in town to play the Ernie’s Sports Experts Midget AAA Storm.
The game is part of the Esso Series, which serves as an Olympic Winter Games tune-up. Up until Jan. 21, 2018, Team Canada will be playing 25 games against Alberta Midget Hockey League teams ahead of the Olympics in PyeongChang.
Friday’s game is more than just a friendly competition, though. The game is considered a regular season game for the Storm, which means two points are on the line.
“I think it’s obviously a unique situation, a unique game. I think for me, and kind of the coaches, I think we’re trying to make it as normal as possible (for the players) just because it is a league game and we want them to go out and play like any other game,” said Storm head coach Chris Schmidt.
Another unique perspective is the game will be played using International Ice Hockey Federation rules. “With face-offs and icings and that stuff, (the rules are) small,” noted Schmidt.
“I’m not too concerned about that. There’s contact. You watch Canada and the U.S. girls play against each other, they lean on each other pretty good. There’s body contact, but there’s no open ice big hits, so players have to be cognizant of that. And, when you go in the corner, you’re going to have to lean on these girls because they’re strong. It’ll probably take a few minutes and a couple shifts to feel it out.”
The Storm’s season is already underway following a 2-2 tie and 5-2 loss last weekend on the road.
Team Canada’s already started the Esso Series too. They won 9-1 over the Airdrie Bisons on Tuesday night in Calgary.
It’s not the first time the midget AAA Storm have hosted Team Canada. In 2009, the national team won 4-1. Then, in 2013, the two teams tied 4-4.
Team Canada defenceman Laura Fortino suited for the Team Canada in the 2013 game. A few months later at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Fortino assisted on Marie-Philip Poulin’s overtime winner that gave Canada its fourth straight gold medal in women’s hockey.
Fortino, who has also captured three consecutive silver medals at the world championships with Team Canada, said Friday’s game is taken seriously.
“We take every game like we want to win,” she said.
‘We take pride in playing the midget boys. They’re so skilled and they’re so fast. We’ve already played 6-8 (icebreaker) games here (in Calgary) and we’ve just seen the talent they have and it just pushes us to another level. The games are so intense, so fast, and it’s really going to help us be successful in the end, and help us.
“If we’re able to perform against (midget AAA teams) we know that when we get to the Olympics we’ll be at our best.”
Some of Team Canada’s notable players suiting up during the Esso Series include Meghan Agosta, Mélodie Daoust, Natalie Spooner, Marie-Philip Poulin, Shannon Szabados and Meaghan Mikkelson.
Mikkelson is married to Grande Prairie’s Scott Reid. Reid, who was with the Grande Prairie Storm in the early 1990’s but never played, did play alongside midget AAA Storm coach Chris Schmidt in the WHL.
Reid is also cousins with GPAC president Tyler Stojan.
“The game matters. Not only does it matter for the women’s Olympic team, but it counts in the standings for points for our midget AAA boys. The girls prepare for this game like it’s an Olympic game, like it’s a gold medal game, so the intensity will be there,” said Stojan.
“It’s fantastic. It’s not only a huge opportunity for the girls to come and get some good practice, but it’s an opportunity for our midget AAA boys to have a hand in helping those girls prepare for the Olympics and find some success in the Olympics.”
Stojan said Friday’s game is also a good opportunity for local female hockey players to catch a glimpse of some of the best women’s players in the world.
Friday’s game starts at 7 p.m. at Revolution Place.
Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, and $5 for those 12 and under.
