A women’s hockey team is getting set to represent Team PEI at the Canada 55+ Games taking place in Strathcona County, Alberta on August 27th-30th. This is the first time the ice hockey event will include a women’s division at the national games.
The team will face Team Nova Scotia and two teams from Alberta.
Women’s hockey has been included in the Vogue Optical PEI 55+ Winter Games since 2012 in Summerside with three teams competing every year since then.
“We were so pleased to be able to compete at the Canada 55+ Games,” says coach and player Dawn Moase. “We’re hoping by the next set of Games in 2016 a few of the other provinces will have caught up and it will be an even bigger event.”
PEI is also sending men’s ice hockey teams in the 60+ and 70+ divisions. Both teams medaled at the Canada 55+ Games in 2012 in Cape Breton.
Other Islanders will return to defend their medals, including Phyllis Quinn Cheverie, who won cribbage gold in 2012, and Ann Andrews and Letty Abbott, both of whom won multiple medals in the swimming pool.
In total, Team PEI will have 76 members competing in 8 different events: curling, bowling, swimming, cribbage, golf, bocce, women’s hockey, and men’s hockey. The team includes a few “adopted” Islanders, who come from other provinces but are competing with PEI to help fill out team rosters.
Team PEI’s chef de mission Ernie Stavert says, “The 55+ Games are such a fun way to stay active and healthy. Those travelling to the Canada 55+ Games have developed a great
camaraderie as several Team PEI members have been to four or more events.”
Back row: Wendy Harris, Dawn Moase, Linda MacEachern, Heather Moore
Front row: Kim Knight-Picketts, Pam Taylor, Carol White, Diane Ferguson
Missing from photo: Anne Oakley, Rhea Mahar, Velma White-Motley, Joan Proctor, Pat Davis