PICTOU – This weekend the Pictou County atom Subway Selects team is looking to repeat as provincial champions, hosting the event Friday to Sunday at the Hector Arena.
Although they won last year they have a completely different team this season with a significant number of first year players. That said, they have only lost five games against atom teams all season with three of those losses coming in overtime.
“There are a lot of first year girls on the team this year, but we work really hard and really well together,” said Alyssa Fitt, a first year player with the team. “It’s really exciting that we made provincials because with a lot of new players we had to learn a lot.”
This will be the first provincial championship for a number of players including Fitt and Taylor Long. Both players are excited provincials is in their hometown.
“I’m excited because there will be so many people to watch us here because we’re home,” said Long. “The coaches said this weekend we need to work hard, settle down, play our game and focus.”
This is also the first year either of them has played on an all-girls team.
“I’ve made a lot more friends and like playing with the girls a lot more than the boys,” said Long.
“I think it’s a lot better playing on an all-girls team because there are more chances for scoring and they’re easier to get along with than the boys,” said Fitt.
Throughout the season they said they learned a lot about hockey like back checking, passing and systems. Fitt said they also learned how important teamwork is and communicating on the ice.
The Selects open the tournament at 11 a.m. on Friday morning against Antigonish.
