By Radha Agarwal
A group of B.C. 鈥榃interhawks鈥� are taking the world of girl鈥檚 hockey by storm, representing the province for the first time ever in the 64th annual U13 World Championships in Quebec City this week.
But for coach Karen Kos and her North Shore Winter Club team, this feat not only represents the tireless efforts of each individual player 鈥� it鈥檚 a highlight in the journey of women鈥檚 hockey.
The 11-day long tournament was initially in tandem with Quebec Winter Carnival. It has been a growing ground for NHL legends, like Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, along with prominent players like Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid. Due to its long and rich heritage, it is also described as hockey鈥檚 version of the Little League World Series.
After six decades, it was just last year in 2023 that the series added a Female Division.
鈥淚t goes back to when I was young myself and I wanted to play hockey. I was told I couldn鈥檛 play because I was a girl,鈥� says Kos.
For the coach, taking part in the tournament marks a significant benchmark of transformation and growth for women鈥檚 and girl鈥檚 hockey.
鈥淭hese girls were just siblings running around a rink when their brothers were playing at the North Shore Winter Club. Here we are today, with this phenomenal group of young ladies pursuing their passion. It hits my heart beyond belief.鈥�
Kos has coached these girls since they were five and six years old. Now 11 and 12 years old, they are part of the 15-player squad at the winter club. They crushed the Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association Tier 1 U13 League, taking first place.
鈥淚 really believe in mentorship,鈥� Kos said. 鈥淲hen these girls are walking around the club, they鈥檙e getting high fives from young girls that are aspiring to be like them. It鈥檚 really important that they鈥檙e not just trailblazers in their sport, but set a really positive vibe for the younger ones, and mentor them throughout their journeys.鈥�
The Winterhawks are playing their first exhibition match on Feb 7, and officially competing against the 鈥淪uisse Romande Chouettes鈥� from Switzerland on Feb 9.
Kos believes that their team is well-equipped for some stiff competition this year. She was fortunate enough to visit Toronto in January and familiarize herself with what鈥檚 to come.
鈥淲e do know there will be some great teams there. I think we鈥檒l be okay, we鈥檝e a great skating group which understands the game, their roles and their positions,鈥� she said.
Their foremost strategy is to maintain the hunt for the puck and keep possession. In Kos鈥檚 informed opinion, there is something special about this group of girls, and when they hit the ice it鈥檚 magical to watch. She says they鈥檙e highly competitive and feisty, while also being very respectful and trusting towards one another.
She鈥檚 preparing the team to have over 10,000 fans on the bleachers in Quebec.
鈥淲e鈥檒l have lots of hockey and lots of fun. But most importantly, we鈥檒l do our best to make B.C. proud.鈥�
