Four Westman standouts are heading to Hamilton to go camping with Hockey Canada.
Cassidy Carels of Bruxelles is among those taking part in the national women’s team strength and conditioning camp, which is the first big step towards the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in South Korea.
Carels has past experience with the program, winning a world under-18 gold medal with our country in 2013.
"You want to make sure that you’re on par with all the other athletes who are there and that you’re working really hard," Carels said on CKLQ’s Monday Sports Talk this week, "Being there with the U18’s, I kind of have an idea of what it might be like. I’m not as nervous as I was the first time around, but I think with the Olympics in mind it’s just another goal that I’m setting out to reach."
The former Pembina Valley Hawks’ star and Esso Cup champion is coming off a productive freshman season with the NCAA Division One Providence College Friars.
Carels collected a team-leading 14 goals and 21 points and was named to her conference’s all-rookie team.
"Our team came together a long way and I think it’s going to be better every year I come on," said Carels, "It’s a great team, a great coaching staff and I think that’s part of the reason why I’m getting this invite too because of the intense training I’ve been doing. It just has helped a lot."
Carels will be joined by Brandon’s Ashleigh Brykaliuk, Glenboro’s Brittni Mowat and Neepawa’s Halli Krzyzaniak at this week’s camp.
Here’s Carels full chat from this week’s Monday Sports Talk…
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