Kelly Babstock.
Mississauga teen Kelly Babstock is among 44 players invited to Team Canada’s Under-18 strength and conditioning camp, tomorrow to Sunday
Submitted photo
Kelly Babstock’s favourite saying is, “I won’t back down,” from the Tom Petty song.
The Mississauga teen also lives by the credo in the hockey rink.
Her take-no-prisoners style is certainly taking her places.
Like to Calgary this week, where she’s among 44 players invited to Team Canada’s Under-18 strength and conditioning camp, running Thursday through Sunday.
Hockey Canada is using the four days to get to know the players and give them off-ice training techniques, as well as proper nutritional guidance.
Following the workout, officials will make their selections for a July under-18 camp, which will lead to selections for the national women’s U-18 team for the 2009-10 season.
The prospect of representing Canada is a dream come true for the Port Credit Secondary School student.
It also caps off a brilliant season for Babstock. Playing for the Toronto Jr. Aeros of the Provincial Women’s Hockey League, she won gold in the regular season, silver at the PWHL championship and bronze at the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association provincials.
“It’s really exciting — a big step in my career — to be invited to Calgary,” said the soft-spoken 16-year-old, who’s been playing houseleague hockey since she was six.
Babstock has a good shot at making the team, says Aeros’ coach Darryl Giancola.
“Our organization has coached many national level players — Cherie Piper, Gill Apps, Haley Irwin, to name a few — but none had as much potential at her age as does Kelly," he said. "She is a dynamic player with great puck ability and a knack for finding the net. She is very strong and still has not reached her best physical ability. Her maturity and dedication to the game is growing and with that, so should her ability.”
Babstock also excels in lacrosse with the Mississauga Tomahawks. The first girls’ team in club history, it made its debut last summer and captured the Provincial Lacrosse Festival. Taking on host Whitby Warriors in the final, Babstock, the team captain, netted the winner with 6:34 remaining and completed the hat-trick with an empty-netter to give Mississauga a 4-2 win. Over the course of the tournament, Babstock notched 43 goals in eight games.
However, her lacrosse gold came with a price: She had to forgo an invite to the Team Ontario hockey tryouts, since both events were the same week.
“I had to be loyal to my Tomahawk teammates,” she explained.
Joining Babstock in Calgary are two other players with city connections — her Aeros’ teammate and Mississauga native Aurora Kennedy and Theadora Imbrogno, who plays left wing for the Mississauga Jr. Chiefs.
“(Kennedy’s) a very good offensive defenceman with great puck control for a tall girl. She does well in her own zone, but is most effective in the neutral zone as a rusher and as a defender,” said Giancola.
“Both players (Babstock and Kennedy) have a real legitimate chance at making the team...they’re a pleasure to coach and are an asset to any team.”
jchin@mississauga.net