Grande Prairie teen Athena Hauck is one hurdle away from making it to the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer. Hauck has made the shortlist for Team Alberta’s U-18 Women’s team.
She reached the top 46 camp last year but didn’t make it any further. When she got word this year that she made the top 28, she says she was excited.
“It honestly felt great… When I got the email I was at work and I asked to take my break at that time but I might have jumped up and down in front of customers.”
The selection process started with a summer camp that had around 180 girls in attendance. That group was narrowed down to 46 which was then narrowed down to 28. Hauck injured her shoulder at provincials back in March with the Rocky Mountain Raiders in Okotoks and was dealing with the injury when she attended the first two selection camps.
“I think I have a chance but I think it’ll be tough for me just going through an injury,” she says. “I’ve gotta push through that to make it onto the team and prove my spot.”
The players on the shortlist will attend a final camp in Edmonton in September to decide on the 20 players that will go on to compete in the games. Hauck says that her sole focus will be to get stronger and work harder until she attends the final camp.
“Everybody’s gotta remember that nothing ever comes free. You’ve gotta work for it and nothing’s ever in your favour. You’ve just gotta push to be better all the time no matter if you’re the best player or the worst.”
The 2019 Canada Winter Games will run from February 15 to March 3 in Red Deer.