Mary-Beth Brophy will be playing hockey, on a global scale, later this month.
The Antigonish Female Bantam ‘A’ Bulldogs defender will skate in the 2019 IIHF Female Global Game Feb. 16 in Calgary.
The 13-year-old from Antigonish County and Emma Bellefontaine of Hammonds Plains are the lone Nova Scotia players on the national squad.
The Canadian contingent that will be divided into two teams, features 40 girls from Hockey Canada’s provincial branches.
“I was brushing my teeth,” Mary-Beth said, with a smile and a laugh, when asked about how she found out about the honour.
She was getting ready for bed; coincidentally, just after returning home from hockey practice, when her mother let her know someone was calling from Hockey Nova Scotia.
“I still can’t believe it,” she added of her reaction to the great news.
The annual Global Girls’ Game is a celebration of female hockey aimed at connecting nations from around the world that play the sport.
Over two-and-a-half days in February, girls from hockey federations in 40 countries, across six continents, will come together as one.
Starting in New Zealand and ending in Calgary, each country hosts a one-hour game. As one game ends, the puck drops in another country.
Hockey Nova Scotia players who applied to be part of the international experience were required to submit an essay to their provincial female council regional director.
“I play every game with teamwork as my focus, knowing that assists are better than goals, hard work can beat talent, and that honesty and respect on and off the ice makes me the best player and person that I can be,” Brophy wrote in her submission.
Noting there wasn’t a central theme required, she focused on “what hockey means to me.”
“It just had to be about why you wanted to go and why you should go,” the teenager explained, noting the piece had to be, at least, 200 words.
Along with playing in the game, which will take place in the Saddledome – home of the NHL’s Calgary Flames, participants will have an opportunity, amongst other things, to go rock climbing and visit Hockey Canada’s offices and facilities.
“We are going to get to do a lot of team building things,” she noted.
Mary-Beth said the highlight for her will be “meeting new people, from different provinces, and learning about how they play.”
“It is a great opportunity to meet new people and I am very proud to be representing the Quad Counties and my team in Calgary,” she added.
Mary-Beth has been playing hockey, since she was four years old, as part of the Antigonish Minor Hockey Association.
“You get to play with your teammates and you get to see your friends all the time,” she said, when asked why she loves the sport.
“It’s awesome,” Mary-Beth added.
Her favourite player is another Antigonish County product – Ella MacLean – who will be suiting up with Team Nova Scotia this month for the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alberta.
As for the upcoming once-in-a-lifetime experience, there will be only one thing missing.
“I wish I could bring my whole team with me,” Mary-Beth said.
