Rachel Paul impresses staff
Mar 24, 2009 - 03:33 PM
PICKERING -- The Selects Hockey organization has chosen a top 11-year-old hockey prospect from Pickering for their annual Major Peewee international tryout.
Rachel Paul, a goaltender for the Pickering Panthers, has been invited to join the four-year international program with the East Coast Selects hockey team.
More than 225 invited players from all across North America competed for 51 positions and invited players will be participating in the program's international spring training development camp and tournament in Reykjavik, Iceland, and Stockholm, Sweden, in April.
Paul made a strong statement to the selection committee, consisting of independent hockey evaluators, including Travis Howe, a former head coach of Syracuse Stars EJHL, Kristi Alcorn, former NCAA Division I player and director of Girls Selects Hockey, and Laura Hosier, Team Canada member since 2006.
"Rachel showed she not only has the abilities to be a top hockey prospect but also demonstrated an exceptional focus and passion for the game," commented Alcorn, Selects Hockey Director.
"I learned a lot about handling pressure this year, but I had fun," said Paul, who was the only girl to play on the boys Pickering Panthers Minor Peewee AA team this winter.
The East Coast Selects will be heading to Helsinki, Finland, in May to play elite boys' and girls' teams. The players will then travel to Stockholm and compete against nationally ranked boys' teams. Throughout the experience the 11-12 year old top hockey players will learn a lot about other cultures and international hockey competition.
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