Senior Girls’ Hockey Team is a First for CDS
The sky’s the limit when a group of motivated girls set their minds to doing something. After 13 years of fielding only Boys’ or Co-ed hockey teams at CDS, a fun turn of events happened this year. Buoyed by the enthusiasm of two new Grade 10 students and two returning students in Grades 10 and 12, who spent weeks lobbying teachers and coaches and making persuasive announcements at assemblies, the girls at CDS were given the green light for a Senior Girls’ Hockey team.
Long time friends from Nobleton, Tara McKendry and Sydney James began campaigning for a team shortly upon their arrival in September. Classmate Karsen Roy, a rep hockey player from Aurora, overheard them early on and enthusiastically lent her name to the cause. She and this year’s captain of the Senior Girls’ Soccer team, Grade 12 student Claire Gallagher, had also broached the topic during this past soccer season.
Early on, the girls convinced CDS Director of Athletics, John Andersen, to post a sign up sheet to gauge the interest level. The momentum continued to build among female athletes, from Grade 11 student Teagan Grant who plays for the Toronto Junior Aeros and a few rep level players, including Tara and Karsen, to keen house leaguers and even girls who can skate, but never played hockey before.
“We have a wide range of talent but no shortage of enthusiasm,” explained Karsen. This eager group have already demonstrated an impressive level of commitment, with all 14 players across Grades 9-12 showing up 30 minutes early for their 7:00 am practices, a few of them travelling from as far as Caledon.
According to John Andersen, CDS attempted to field a Girls’ Hockey team in 2008-2009, but after one tournament and a few practices, the girls lost interest and returned to playing volleyball. Other intrepid girls played on the Senior Boys’ team, including Paula Voorheis ’13 who played four years as goalie at Cornell University.
“This is an amazing group of girls who have been persistent and determined to get this team started,” said Andersen. “The girls who spearheaded the initiative this year should be proud of what they have accomplished. Despite having a wide range of talent (from beginners to elite players), I can already see the support and camaraderie building on this team. I look forward to seeing this group of girls develop over the next few years. I think they are planning to keep this program running for years to come.”
At the eleventh hour the team was able to finagle their way into the CISAA schedule and will play close to 10 games this season, depending how far they go in the playoffs.
“Now that the team is official, girls are still asking if they can be part of it,” said Karsen. The girls have no idea how they will do against their competition, but win or lose, it’s amply evident that this group of players just want to play school hockey for the love of the game.
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Land Acknowledgment
The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.
School Information
13415 Dufferin Street King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
