For Keenoshayo School's new phys-ed teacher Chelsea Stone, sport is more than just a pastime. It's a lifestyle that has enabled her to make lifelong friendships and travel extensively throughout North America and Europe.
"It's pretty much who I am," said Stone, who began teaching at the school last month to cover a maternity leave.
While hockey and rugby have both played an important role in Stone's life, she said it's as a high-level ringette player that she gets the most satisfaction. Stone has been involved in ringette, as a player, coach and referee for the last 21 years.
"It's kind of the underdog sport, I've played it the longest. I keep going back," said Stone, who started playing ringette because her sisters were involved in the sport.
"The atmosphere is fun, the girls are a lot of fun and you make so many friends."
Recently, Stone played centre for Team USA and helped them to a bronze medal at worlds in Finland.
She said she was surprised at how well the team was treated during the competition.
"The atmosphere for female sport was outstanding which was kind of exciting and a very big change," Stone said.
She said Canada and Finland both have a three-year training program for ringette while Team USA only had one month to prepare.
"We were kind of a last-minute entry," she noted.
Stone said because they were expected to lose, it took some of the pressure off.
"It was kind of just excitement, there was no pressure. We weren't expected to do well and we set some history because even though we did lose to Canada and Finland, we had the smallest score margins ever," she said.
Against Finland, Stone's team lost 13-0 but she said it was their closest game ever. Against Canada, Team USA scored four goals, two of them by Stone.
"That was a pretty big thing, just the fact that we scored on team Canada, and that was the most goals that they've ever let in," Stone said.
Recently, the United States widened their player restrictions to allow any Canadian with relatives in the United States for play for the team. This meant that Stone, whose great-grandfather is American, qualified to play for the American team.
"There is no ringette in the states right now, which we're trying to change," she said.
While there are fewer opportunities for women to play for high-level and professional sports teams, Stone said this is changing.
"There are scholarship opportunities out there which I hope can be some incentive to get girls more involved," she said.
While there are plenty of sport scholarships for women in Alberta, few of them are full scholarships.
Stone was the first female rugby player to earn a three-year Wall of Fame scholarship from the University of Alberta.
The importance of sport
Stone feels strongly that sport should be a part of everyone's life and said she is excited to share her experiences with students at Keenoshayo.
"It keeps kids busy, it gives them a commitment, it gives them something to work towards, it gives older people something to do too," she said.
"It's kind of a lifestyle and I think more people should be a part of it."
