Airdrie athlete Hailey King, who was the youngest member of the National Para Hockey Team, recently returned from the Para Ice Hockey Women's World Challenge with a medal around her neck. King, was 14 when she was selected to be on the team last winter.
Hailey King's mom, Maureen Feenstra, said that her daughter dyed her hair red in honour of Team Canada's national colours. (Photo provided by Maureen Feenstra)She and her teammates won a silver medal at the Para Ice Hockey Women's World Challenge hosted in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Team Canada would face off against the American team in the gold medal final on Sunday, September 2. Although Team Canada was not able to get a score in, falling to the United States, 2-0, King said that there were many memories made.
"All of the games were super fun and overall, it was just a really fun tournament," she said. "[I got] a lot of gifts from the other teams too! I have pins from Great Britain; I got a lot of new food and snacks from all the different countries that were represented."
This is the second year in a row that Canada has placed second in the tournament. Regardless, King said she played her hardest.
Airdrie athlete Hailey King was the youngest member of Team Canada Women's Paralympic team. (Photo provided by Maureen Feenstra) "The [Americans] are a very fast and physical team, but I also used my speed and hitting a lot of times."
King has played para ice hockey - also known as sledge hockey since she was 10 years old. She now has two medals adorning her wall at home, the silver medal from the world challenge, as well as a bronze medal from a previous tournament in Ottawa. Although King was the youngest member of the National Team, she said that her linemates were close to her in age, which made for great on-ice chemistry and even better camaraderie.
Now back at home and in school at George McDougall High School, King is already looking ahead to the 2024 World Challenge and also planning for 2030; seven years from now she hopes to compete in the 2030 Paralympic Games.
Though King didn't shed any tears when the silver medal was draped on her neck, she said that there were intense emotions in the locker room and plenty of hugging afterwards.
"The silver medal, I was just so happy when I got it. It was my first-ever international medal. At the medal ceremony, I got to see all the other teams all grouped together - really fun."
Alicia Souveny from Red Deer and Alanna Mah from Edmonton were King's two other Alberta teammates.
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Sat, Jul 27, 1:00 PM
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