NEWS RELEASE
BARRIE WOMEN'S HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
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Two members of the Barrie Jr. Sharks won gold at 2024 U18 Canadian Women’s National Hockey Championships, held Nov. 3 to 9 in Quispamsis, N.B.
Sonia Mehta and Amelia Wilkinson were members of the championship-winning Team Ontario Red, which defeated Team Quebec by a score of 1-0 in the final game on Saturday, Nov. 9.
Ted Ontario Red went undefeated at the national championship tournament, picking up wins over Team Alberta, Team Saskatchewan and Team Atlantic in the preliminary rounds, topping Team British Columbia in the semifinals, and winning the championship match over Team Quebec.
Mehta played in all six games for Team Ontario Red, picking up an assist in a preliminary win over Team Saskatchewan.
Wilkinson allowed only three goals in four games in net, included a 35-shot shutout performance in the championship game.
The Barrie Sharks were well represented at the national championships with players Avah Sedore, Mae Severn and Kate Stuart all playing for Team Ontario Blue, and Ella Loyd competing for Team Alberta at the U18 Canadian Women’s National Hockey Championships.
“This is the strongest participation we’ve ever had at the U18 national championships, with six players selected to participate in this year,” said Rob Emerson, president of the Barrie Women’s Hockey Association.
Barrie Jr. Sharks coach Duane Eldridge said the opportunity to play in the national championships is a result of the hard work these players have put in this season, and for many years.
“Amelia, Avah, Ella, Kate, Mae and Sonia are all amazingly hard workers, and great representatives of the strong female hockey talent we have in Barrie," he said.
The Barrie Jr. Sharks are currently in fifth place in the Ontario Women’s Hockey U22 Elite League. The team plays and practises at the East Bayfield Community Centre, with their next home game coming on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024 at 8 p.m. verus the Ontario Hockey Academy.
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