Tournament Of The Year (For Me)

The above image is certainly how one team will remember the 2023 Female World Sport School Challenge as the AFHL's Calgary Fire emerged victorious over the CSSHL's South Alberta Hockey Academy in overtime by a 3-2 score. The gold medal game was an absolute treat for me to call alongside Jason Pchajek on the UMFM Second Stream, and seeing Tyra Edl roof the puck from a sharp angle to win the game in extra time is one of those goals I won't soon forget. Finishing the tournament with an amazing game between two very deserving teams is how every tournament should end.

If there's one thing that I've come to appreciate at the Female World Sport School Challenge every year, it's the atmosphere. From the sixteen teams who arrive with hopes and dreams of being the last one standing on Sunday to the parents who cheer on their kids and their teammates in their quest for gold to the staff and volunteers who make this tournament happen like a well-oiled machine, I am always impressed with how well everything goes and how the smiles radiate off the faces of everyone involved.

I mentioned her last year, but this tournament would be a shadow of itself if it weren't for Kathy who seemingly abandons sleep for four days as this tournament plays out, yet still greets every person through the door by name and with a smile. She runs this tournament like a professional, and I honestly believe she could coordinate a Super Bowl or a World Cup with her organization, professionalism, and abilities in making this tournament work. Kathy's fingerprints are all over this successful tournament once again, and I'll always maintain that she's a gem of a human being meaning I will always go out of my way for anything she asks. Kathy, thank you once again for another fun, memorable tournament!

There are multiple volunteers who do incredible work in keeping this tournament humming along, and I need to thank all the volunteers who commit their time and make the effort to make the Female World Sport School Challenge great. Most are parents of current or former players, but there are both current and retired staff from St. Mary's Academy who spend hours at the rink completing tasks and ensuring everything runs smoothly.

Everyone says hello, everyone asks how one is doing, most share a story or joke, and it's more than evident than everyone cares about everyone else. I am always blown away how everyone is excited to see me representing UMFM at this tournament and how quickly I'm welcomed into the group, and this warm welcome and constant support of one another among the volunteers and staff who work at this event over the four days of action is a very large factor in why the Female World Sport School Challenge succeeds every year.

I'd certainly be remiss if I didn't mention the tireless work put in by Larry Bumstead, head coach of the St. Mary's Academy Flames, in not only preparing his team for this tournament, but getting everything ready for when teams arrive and play their games. He'll be quick to deflect credit elsewhere, but Larry was the reason we were able to do intermission interviews with players this year as we elevated our coverage at this event. There isn't a detail that Larry doesn't have covered when it comes to how things will play out on the ice, and I am always privileged, honoured, and pleased to work alongside Larry in making this tournament sound as professional as we can. He's a beauty, and his passion for the game might be unmatched.

I had the pleasure of meeting some of the parents who are among the volunteers that work at this tournament. Whether it's the Chubacks, the Thomsons, the Dennehys, or the Schimnowskis, they have every reason to be proud of their daughters playing in this tournament while we provide the narration to the game. As great as their daughters are in playing hockey, they're better in the classroom and are absolute pleasures to chat with before and during games. Being able to see them wear that pride on their sleeves as their daughters play is something special, and I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to describe their daughters' play on the ice. Without the parents, this game just isn't as good.

When everything comes together, it's easy to see why this tournament runs so well - it's the people who make the difference. Kathy ensures that all the volunteers can be successful, and all the volunteers take their roles seriously so that success is the only option. The staff and committee ensure that all the pieces of the tournament puzzle come together, and Kathy and Larry ensure that everyone will be successful in their assigned roles. The closeness among staff and volunteers in icing 34 games over four days means no games fall behind, everyone has fun, and all teams go home on Sunday while making plans to come back for the next iteration of the Female World Sport School Challenge because of how well they were treated.

I circle this weekend on the calendar every time the dates for the Female World Sport School Challenge are announced because everyone seems extremely grateful that we, at UMFM, are able to broadcast the tournament. From the parents who have seen us at the tournament before to the parents who are experiencing our broadcasting for the first time, I can honestly say that I heard "thank you" for broadcasting the tournament so often that I lost count - that was just the first day! When the parents, volunteers, and staff say "thank you", you can tell they mean it. I won't lie in saying that I love broadcasting this tournament, but feeling appreciated for doing so makes the effort in broadcasting the games that much easier.

The teams and fans who decided to make the trek to Winnipeg made the hockey incredible to watch as the fans cheered on their favorite teams while the players dazzled us with talent. There were no true blow-outs at the tournament this year, and every game was competitive despite the scores occasionally favouring one side over the other. I can honestly say that there was no game where we could circle the winning team's name prior to the game being played. That's how good this year's tournament was when it came to the teams that attended.

I am forever grateful for having a number of players talk to us during the intermissions including the likes of Kate Chuback, Letta Mattheos, Summer Fomradas, Trynity Turner, Rachel Loewen, Olivia Brassard, and Marlee Fong. These well-spoken, intelligent women are going to be the cornerstones for post-secondary programs in the future, and all of them showed incredible skill on the ice, gave great answers during our interviews, and were excellent ambassadors for their teams. I'm excited to see what the future holds for all the women to whom we spoke!

No matter which way you measure up, examine, or dissect the 2023 Female World Sport School Challenge, it was an absolute honour to be involved with this tournament once again. I was witness to 13 games of incredible hockey played by the future of women's hockey across North America, and I got to speak to some of the best women who will move on to helping U SPORTS, ACAC, and NCAA teams reach new heights.

Off the ice, I am always in awe of the volunteers, the parents, and the staff who make sure the Female World Sport School Challenge goes off without so much as a hiccup, and I am forever grateful that they want UMFM broadcasting their games. To Kathy, Larry, the volunteers, the staff the parents, the fans, the players, the coaches, the teams, and all those who tuned into the games via UMFM's Second Stream internet stream, thank you for letting us get to know you, tell your stories, describe your talents, and keep you connected. It is truly an honour.

Mark your calendars, and we'll see you in Winnipeg in 2024!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!