Calling it a great experience, Kippens athlete Kristen Cooze has returned home from the 2011 World Women’s Ball Hockey Championships with a silver medal.
“I really enjoyed it,” she said of the games. “It was very exciting to be there, because not many people get the chance to do what I did.”
Kristen was a member of Team Canada, who went undefeated with a 4-0 record going into the gold medal game against Slovakia, the tournament’s host country.
The final match was a tough fight, with Slovakia scoring the game’s only goal in the third period.
“Losing wasn't the best. No one likes to lose, but it happens,” she said. “The game was a good game, it was just that one lucky goal and sometimes that happens – just got to move on and get ready for the next one.”
Kristen was the only female ball hockey player from this province to ever play for Team Canada in the sport – and she had several favorite moments at the tournament.
“Scoring my first world championship goal, that was pretty great.” - Kristen Cooze
“Scoring my first world championship goal, that was pretty great,” she said. “Also, when we had to have a shoot out against Slovakia to see who would come in first place and I scored one of two goals to win, that was a good moment too.”
Her first goal came when Team Canada defeated Greece 14-0 early in the tournament. The other goal Kristen spoke of came at the end of round robin play, when Canada and Slovakia had a shootout to determine who would be in first going into the quarterfinals.
Up next for Kristen is a provincial meet this weekend in Clarenville and the Eastern Canadian Ball Hockey Championships in P.E.I. later this month.
“I also may be going to nationals at the beginning of August,” she said. “So my summer is packed with some great ball hockey. I’m pretty excited it should be a good summer.”
