Sydney Sawyer, a standout offensive defenceman who grew up in Rama First Nation, is living her dream of representing Canada at the U18 Women’s Hockey Championships in Finland.
The 17-year-old, who plays for the Etobicoke Junior Dolphins and attends Clarington Central Secondary School in Bowmanville, was selected for the team just four weeks before the tournament.
“I was actually in the gym when I got the call,” Sawyer shared. “I was so excited but also relieved.”
Sawyer, who has committed to playing Division I hockey at Colgate University this fall, arrived in Finland with Team Canada on Dec. 28. Since then, she has been soaking up the experience.
Canada opened the tournament with a dominant 6-2 win against Slovakia on Saturday, followed by a convincing 5-1 victory over Switzerland on Sunday.
Although Sawyer has yet to register a point, her contributions on the ice have not gone unnoticed. Skating on the second defensive pairing and the second power play unit, Sawyer is proving herself as a reliable player.
“I’ve felt good out there,” she said. “I’ve been trying my best to play a good two-way game.”
Sawyer says wearing the iconic red and white jersey is a dream come true.
“Wearing the maple leaf has been such a huge honour,” she said. “I’ve always dreamt of playing for Team Canada, and now that I get to, it’s really exciting and it's an awesome opportunity.”
Competing on larger international ice has required some adjustments to Sawyer’s game.
“The ice is huge here,” she explained. “There’s a lot of room to make a play, but at the same time, the game is so fast.”
Despite the challenges of international ice, Sawyer says the experience has been invaluable. Playing against talented players from around the world has pushed her to elevate her game.
“There’s a ton of talent here,” she said. “Every team has great players. It’s been cool to see.”
Sawyer admits to feeling nervous at times playing on the big stage, but the support of her teammates has helped her stay focused.
“They are all great players,” she said. “We all support each other and everybody has each other’s back. That helps me stay calm in the big moments.”
Her family and friends have also been a source of encouragement during the tournament.
“A lot of my family members have been texting me words of encouragement,” she said. “I’m really appreciative of that.”
Sawyer is using the tournament as an opportunity to learn and grow.
“All the other players have their own strengths, and I’ve been watching how they do things so I can apply it to my game,” she said.
While Sawyer’s immediate focus is on helping Canada's junior team succeed in Finland, her ultimate goal is to one day play for Canada’s Olympic team.
“I’m going to work as hard as I can to hopefully one day make it to the national team,” she said.
For now, Sawyer and Team Canada are preparing for their next matchup against Czechia on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. EST, which will be broadcast on TSN1.
