“Life-changing” is how Meadow Carman describes her experience with the Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy in Kelowna, B.C., where the Digby County native has excelled both on and off the ice.
Playing in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League’s female U19 prep division, Carman – an 18-year-old from Barton – not only was on a championship-winning team this season, but she also received the league’s female humanitarian of the year award.
“It was definitely an honour to receive the award,” she said. “As much as hockey is important, I think it’s so important to get involved with the community.”
An act of heroism
While on her way home for Christmas, Meadow Carman was in Toronto for a connecting flight. As she was hurrying to catch her plane, she was running next to a stranger who dropped in front of her eyes. Carman stopped, pulled out the mini-first aid kit she carries in her back pack and began performing CPR on the man.
She proceeded to complete eight compressions until medical staff arrived, took over and insisted she catch her flight.
Carman later learned that the man was resuscitated and began breathing on his way out of the airport into emergency care. West Jet and the man’s family reached out to Carman, thanking her for her efforts in saving the man’s life.
Among other things, Carman was part of a Pursuit of Excellence (POE) group that travelled to San Quintin, Mexico, spending a week there to help people.
“We built two homes last year,” she said. “It was an incredible experience. I think there was about 40 of us (a mixture of male and female players).”
She also has volunteered as a camp counsellor and has been involved in 4H and the ME to WE program.
Jessica Campbell, lead skating instructor and POE female prep assistant coach, wrote the letter nominating Carman for the humanitarian award.
“Our school and hockey program place a lot of demands on our players, but Meadow has found the time to help those around her whatever way she could,” Campbell wrote. “She is a true role model for young kids in our community and has a huge heart.”
This is the second year in Kelowna for Carman, who did her Grade 11 there and who now is in her last year of high school. In the fall she will attend Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, on a hockey scholarship. She’s interested in pursuing a career in medicine.
In an interview from B.C., Carman said a typical day at the hockey academy she attends is quite busy.
“It’s like four hours of training every day and then school on top of that, so it’s pretty intense,” she said.
The team’s training facility and the school she goes to – George Elliot Secondary – are about 10 minutes apart, she said.
Her team recently captured its second straight league title. It was another season with plenty of travel, not just for league games against opponents in Western Canada but also to the United States for tournaments.
“We had a really strong group of girls this year,” said Carman, who plays defence.
Kris Hogg, her head coach on the Pursuit of Excellence team, said Carman has been a “great ambassador” for the academy and for the league, adding she brings “a culture to our program that fosters growth, teamwork and being your best every day.”
Carman makes everyone around her better, he said.
“It’s been an absolute honour being able to coach her, mentor her and help her grow into the awesome person she is today.”
Carman, who recalls being five years old or so when she started playing hockey, says a longtime dream of hers has been to play for Team Canada.
She knows making that dream come true will take a lot of work, “but I’m willing to do anything and go the extra mile to get there and that’s why I moved to the other side of the country. I made it my goal when I was in Grade 9 to play NCAA Division 1 hockey and so this year was amazing. I was so happy to commit to Brown University. It feels so good when hard work pays off.”
She admits she was homesick when she moved to B.C. but says she her billet family welcomed her like one of their own.
Carman says she also is in frequent contact with her parents – Emily and Paul – in Barton.
The youngest of three children – all of whom played high-level sports – Carman recalls her parents driving them “up and down the valley” for games and tournaments.
“My parents have been nothing but great,” she said. “They’ve dedicated so much of their time and effort and energy. I wouldn’t be here without my parents. I’m just so blessed and so grateful. They’re incredible.”
