Sask. player returning with gold after U18 Women's Hockey World Championships
Grace Shirley was the only Saskatchewan player selected to Team Canada
The Canadian Women's U18 Hockey Team is coming home with gold after an overtime 3-2 win against the United States on January 13th. Saskatchewan's own Grace Shirley was a forward and alternate captain for the team that won the first gold for Canada since 2014.
Shirley said playing for Team Canada was an amazing feeling.
"It's kind of hard to put into words," she said. "I think anytime that you put the jersey on it's honestly indescribable."
This isn't Shirley's first World Championships. She played in Russia last year.
"You're in a different country half way across the world," she said. "It's crazy and it's nerve wracking but it's also super exciting."
Shirley said the fans were great at the tournament and that almost every Canadian player had family in the stands. Tim Shirley, Grace's father, attended all the games except the final.
"It was a lot of fun, it's always interesting where sports can take you and where hockey has been able to take my children," Tim Shirley said. "It's always great when you're able to share that experience with them as well."
Tim Shirley said it doesn't get easier watching close, nerve-wracking games—even after attending so many with his four kids.
The name Shirley is familiar to many Saskatchewan hockey fans as Grace is the youngest of four in a very hockey-oriented family from Saskatoon. Her sister Sophie and brothers Collin and Keenan all play the game.
A fantastic effort by Canada’s Under-18 Women in Obihiro, Japan! Very proud moment for all of Canada and girls playing from coast to coast to coast! – Tom Renney <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/U18WWC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#U18WWC</a> <a href="https://t.co/kA1NdPiFcH">pic.twitter.com/kA1NdPiFcH</a>
—@HockeyCanada"Growing up they were definitely role models for me," she said. "We just kind of pushed each other along the way."
Tim Shirley said Grace was a quieter but competitive child.
"She really has a lot of inner drive. I'm not sure if that's a function for being the youngest in the family," he said. "But she certainly always wants to do the best she possibly can. She's always out working on the backyard rink."
Next, Grace Shirley is heading down to Wisconsin to join her sister Sophie on the Badgers college team.
"I'm really excited about that," she said. "It should be lots of fun."
With files from Saskatchewan Weekend and the Morning Edition