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St. Albert's Emily Harty goes global in hockey

Local ESSMY student in select company in Global Game
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GOING GLOBAL – Emily Harty of the bantam A St. Albert Blades is among 40 U15 females from 10 Hockey Canada branches selected to participate in the Global Game on Saturday in St. John's, Nfld. Over two and a half days, 28 countries will host one-hour games in succession with players on Team Blue and Team White and a cumulative score is kept. Canada plays the final segment. The goal is to unite all females currently playing hockey as one global family. JEFF HANSEN/St. Albert Gazette

St. Albert hockey player Emily Harty spoke from the heart while applying to participate in this year’s Global Game for girls.

“I said I’ve been playing for a really long time and I’ve always really, really loved the sport,” said the defenceman for the bantam A female Blades. “I like the teammates, skating and being on the ice. The whole thing.”

Harty’s passion resonated with the selection committee to determine two Alberta players, one forward and one defenceman, to play in the Canadian segment of the International Ice Hockey Federation’s Global Game on Saturday at St. John’s, Nfld.

Applicants had to be bantam age and registered to a bantam A or B level female hockey team in Alberta this season.

Harty’s reaction to her successful application was heart-warming.

“I started to cry. I was very happy.”

The Global Game focuses on uniting female hockey players around the world.

The celebration also embodies the spirit of enjoyment and teamwork in collaboration with those from diverse backgrounds.

Over two and a half days, 28 countries will host one-hour games in succession with players on Team Blue and Team White and a cumulative score is kept.

The participating countries identified players to represent both teams and the game in Canada will feature 40 U15 players from 10 Hockey Canada branches.

“It’s really good to raise awareness for female hockey,” said Harty, 14.

The Grade 8 Ecole Secondaire Sainte Marguerite d’Youville student was inspired to give the Global Game a shot.

“I tried out for this Alberta Challenge (for female bantams) earlier this year and I didn’t make that one, but then when this one came up I wanted to do it,” Harty said. “Last year a couple of my teammates went to it in Calgary and I was like, 'That seems pretty cool.'”

The online application form included questions like, “Why you started hockey and the best memory of hockey, stuff like that,” Harty said.

As for her most vivid memory, “I was in novice and won minor hockey week with my team and I just remembered seeing some of the older girls play and it was just real cool.”

Harty’s 10th season of hockey includes another Edmonton Minor Week championship during a winning campaign by the Blades (7-5-3).

“The minor hockey week wins are pretty big, but last year we made it to provincials (in Okotoks with the bantam B female Comets). We didn't come first, but it was pretty fun.”

Harty leaves Thursday for St. John’s, and a variety of weekend activities leading up to the Global Game includes off-ice sessions and presentations by guest speakers.

“I’ve never really done anything like this except for that Alberta Challenge thing, but I knew a lot of those players already,” Harty said. “This is going to be a bit different because everybody is from different places and I don't know who they are at all.”

Harty’s goal for the Global Game is to “keep those friends that I make and try and stay in contact with them as long as I can.”

It’s that sisterhood that Harty has fully embraced as a hockey player.

“In St. Albert specifically there is not a crazy amount of people so every single team you play on you'll know somebody. I have friends that I'm still friends with since initiation,” said the Gazette carrier who cheers for the Edmonton Oilers and lists Hayley Wickenheiser and Meaghan Mikkelson as her favourite players.

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