(by Cindy Chant)
For one West Prince athlete, curling is not just a sport, it is a challenge.
Emily Gray, 16 year old student at Westisle Composite High school, plays second on the Amanda MacLean team from the Maple Leaf Curling Club in O’Leary. As one of PEI’s Canada Games women’s representatives, this year in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Ms Gray may have found her groove.
The busy teenager has recently learned, she along with three other curlers from across Canada and a coach will be making the long trip to Innsbruck, Austria. The Canadian Curling Association (CCA) has selected a team to participate in the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games, January 13 – 22, 2012.
“It still hasn’t sunk in yet.” said Ms Gray, who recently returned to PEI after a weekend trip to Regina, Saskatchewan, where she met the rest of her chosen teammates. “The team clicked from the moment they all met.” said Emily’s mother, Shelley Gray.
The team was formally announced Apr 8 during the 5th end break at the Men’s World Curling Championship, Canada VS Scotland game, held at the Brandt Centre, in Regina. Each member of the team was presented with Team Canada jackets on the ice, in front of an enthusiastic crowd. “I do not remember hearing my name called, just the sound of the crowd.” said Emily.
After the grand recognition, the team received a tour of the The Sports Network’s (TSN) control room along with the commentators. Some of the highlights Ms Gray took away from the trip were being invited to sit in the skybox to observe Amber Holland and her team, who represented Canada at the Women’s Worlds Curling Championship, while the team practiced. They also had a chance to meet team Canada’s, Jeff Stoughton during the weekend long event.