The wait is finally over for Kiah Vail. She can play varsity womenSA国际影视传媒檚 hockey again.
The 20-year-old native of Fort Smith, who plays defence, returned to the ice with the University of OttawaSA国际影视传媒檚 womenSA国际影视传媒檚 squad on Oct. 29 as they opened up the regular season on the road in Montreal against the Concordia Stingers, which ended in a 2-1 double-overtime win for the good guys.
It was the first game for Vail since February 2020 and while she played most of the game, she left in the third period with an upper-body injury, which forced her to miss the bonus hockey.
She wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 a fan of that because she doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 like watching games from the bench.
SA国际影视传媒淭hat was painful to watch,SA国际影视传媒� she said the day after the game. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 3-on-3 and we had some good pressure in their end and we put one home.SA国际影视传媒�
The Gee-Gees, as OttawaSA国际影视传媒檚 teams are known, then took to the ice for the Ottawa Derby, if you will, to take on their crosstown rivals from Carleton University on Halloween night, Oct. 31, their home opener. It didnSA国际影视传媒檛 end the way they would have liked as the ladies were blanked, 3-0. Vail didnSA国际影视传媒檛 play on the advice of the training staff.
Like every other athlete who plays university sports in Canada, Vail played not one single minute of action last season as U Sports, the countrySA国际影视传媒檚 governing body of university sport, cancelled everything due to Covid-19. The silver lining is that every athlete was given an extra year of eligibility because of it, meaning Vail, whoSA国际影视传媒檚 in her third year of study at the school and taking an honours degree in environmental science, is only in her second year of playing.
Getting the news that actual hockey was going to happen again was both a sigh of relief and excitement for Vail.
SA国际影视传媒淚 thought the third or even fourth wave would cause everything to be cancelled again,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 held my breath, like everyone else was, and when they announced that the schedule was going to come out, I got real excited.SA国际影视传媒�
The Gee-Gees play in the RSEQ (R茅seau du sport 茅tudiant du Qu茅bec) with five other teams and Vail said the division brings out the style of play she likes: crash and bang.
SA国际影视传媒淲hen I played in Alberta (St. Albert Slash), there were a lot of smaller players,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淥ut here, the players are bigger and itSA国际影视传媒檚 really physical.SA国际影视传媒�
Her first year with the Gee-Gees saw her play 20 games and finish third in team rookie scoring in the 2019-20 season as the team finished out the regular season by winning 10 of their last 16 games, which included seven wins in their final eight contests. It came to an end in round one as they lost to McGill in what Vail called a SA国际影视传媒渕eltdown.SA国际影视传媒�
This season, Vail said team bonding before the season began was a big deal, especially considering they werenSA国际影视传媒檛 able to do much of that last season.
SA国际影视传媒淚t was hard to get to know the new girls because we werenSA国际影视传媒檛 all together,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 why the pre-season was such a big deal because we were on the ice as one and being in the same room together feels really good. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 what makes a good team.SA国际影视传媒�
Because of the lack of hockey at university last season, Vail decided to head home and play menSA国际影视传媒檚 rec hockey in Fort Smith for about a month just after the new year.
SA国际影视传媒淚t wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 the greatest situation but I wanted to play hockey,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 could study at home and at least get ice time when I wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 able to be at school.SA国际影视传媒�
For this season, Vail said the team goal is to rebound from that playoff disappointment and take a run at winning the conference.
SA国际影视传媒淭hat is a huge motivating factor,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淥ur coach (Chelsea Grills) came in after our former coach resigned and we all rallied around her. We have a lot of first-year players but we had a bonding session before the season started and itSA国际影视传媒檚 a real good feeling around the team.SA国际影视传媒�
