News Release

FREDERICTON (CNB) – The female and male hockey teams that will represent New Brunswick at the 2011 Canada Winter Games had a chance to measure themselves against other Atlantic teams at the recent Atlantic Challenge Cup held in Moncton.

The female U-18 team took second place in their category at the tournament losing a close final to Nova Scotia 3-2. The team, led by head coach Peter Murphy, will be taking part in the University of Montreal Invitational Tournament in December as they prepare to compete during the second week of the Canada Games in Halifax, Feb. 21-26, 2011.

The 24 hopefuls for the NB U-16 male team, under the direction of head coach Jim Midgley of Rothesay, took part with their respective club teams in the Monctonian tournament in November before final Team NB selections were made. The team will come together in December for final preparations before competing during the first week of the Games, Feb. 12 - 18, 2011.

Player profiles

The players profiled are a representative sample of the athletes vying for team spots. Team New Brunswick will issue periodic press releases highlighting and announcing final team rosters for the 18 sports in which New Brunswick will compete at the 2011 Canada Winter Games.

Sarah MacDonnell

MacDonnell is competing at her second Canada Winter Games. She was on Team NB at the 2007 Games in Whitehorse.  

"I have been playing hockey for 10 years and I really love it, " she said in a recent interview. "I play centre and I like skating and executing plays on the ice. Our participation at the Atlantic Challenge Cup really helped us to become a better team in preparation for the Games. We are working together as a unit and are having the chance to get to know each other better. The competition is good and the team spirit is starting to come together now. This is important because we are all sacrificing a lot to play with this team and it is important that we work together.”

MacDonnell lives in Quispamsis and said she enjoys playing a leadership role.

"I am taking advantage of our time together to help the younger athletes adjust to the way this team plays,” she said. “I really liked competing at the games in Whitehorse. The Canada Games are an experience that you have to live - it’s a way of life.”

Leanne Gallant

Gallant is from Woodstock and has been playing hockey since she was 11. It was her family who introduced her to the sport.

"I love everything related to hockey,” she said. “It's a very exciting sport. The Atlantic Challenge Cup allowed us to all come together to meet and show our team spirit. It's important for us because we are not together all the time. Hockey is a passion for us and it teaches us life lessons."      

Gallant is looking forward to the 2011 Canada Winter Games and finds the idea of representing her province exciting.

"For me, I will live each moment and during each Game,” she said. “I will give it everything I have to help my team.”

Scott Fenwick

Fenwick is an athlete from Quispamsis. He believes the Atlantic Challenge Cup offered a chance to play with the provincial team in a tough competition that helped to measure themselves against other Atlantic teams.

"This tournament allowed me to become a better hockey player and a better person" said Fenwick, who is captain of the U-16 team. "We also had the chance to live a great experience and to better prepare ourselves for the games. It takes a little adjusting to leave our club teams to play for Team NB. You have to learn to play together because we don't often come together as a group. We usually play against each other.”

Fenwick, a 1.8-m (six-foot), 83-kg (185-pound) athlete, said his objective is to help the team out offensively by getting some goals and playing as best as he possibly can.

"We have a good group of guys who are ready to do all they can to get results at the games,” he said.  

Julian Belliveau

Belliveau is from Grand-Barachois, near Shediac, a defence player who could be representing his province on Team NB.

"I'm living an incredible experience as a player and as a person,” said Belliveau. “We are together as a team and we are having a great time. The Atlantic Challenge Cup prepared us well for the games and we had the chance to play against other Atlantic teams.”

Belliveau is following in the footsteps of his brother, his sister and his father who have all competed at the Canada Games.

"They told me that it's a very nice experience and I want to live that experience myself,” he said. “It's also very interesting because it's a multi-sport competition so I'll get the opportunity to see and meet athletes from other sports that I don't know very well. It's a unique experience that you would usually only get once in a lifetime, and I'm happy to be at the right age to live it.”