Fomradas excited to soak in Canada Winter Games experience

By Lethbridge Herald on February 23, 2023.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Lethbridge’s Summer Fomradas will be representing Team Alberta at the Canada Winter Games in Prince Edward Island next week when the female hockey teams hit the ice.

Fomradas will be joined by fellow Calgary Fire U18AAA teammate Evelyn Lawrence and Kendal Davidson, who is also from Lethbridge.

“Well, definitely really nice,” said Fomradas.

“But I almost know the whole team now because we have been to these past two camps together, and then we were at another camp with the actual team and even playing against them. I probably played against half of the team already just in the AFHL (Alberta Female Hockey League) league. But it’s definitely nice to just have a hometown kid on the team and knowing Kendal since I was probably six years old. So, it’s definitely nice to have some familiar faces because we will be gone for like nine days. So that’ll be nice to just kind of feel like at home with those people.”

Fomradas and her teammates have been preparing for the Games by playing it safe on the ice —with trying to stay injury-free and staying out being suspended — and watching what they do outside of hockey.

“So, we’re all good for the Games because it’s definitely big and is probably one of the biggest things we’ll do in a lot of our hockey careers,” said Fomradas.

“So I think it’s just like staying healthy, eating right and just staying away from injuries and stuff before the Games.”

The coaches have been preparing the players mentally by reiterating that the Canada Winter Games is going be the best of the best for their age.

“Everyone is just going to be a top player,” she said.

“And it’s every top player from every team across the country. So it’s definitely going to be a pace that none of us have played yet. But it’ll be fun … We’re all on this team because we’re all at the next level. So I’m excited and I think we’re all very excited. But we’re definitely looking forward to like hopefully get that gold and that’s what we’ve been setting out sights on this whole time.”

When putting on the Alberta crest at the games, Fomradas said it’s going to feel awesome.

“Like literally a dream come true,” she said.

“I think it won’t even register for me, like when we first put the jerseys on,  and like seeing my last name on the back and stuff.  And just wearing that Alberta logo on the front, like oh my goodness, it’s going to be like a surreal feeling.”

The team departs for PEI on Sunday.

“From a Calgary Fire perspective, we couldn’t be more proud of Summer and all that she has accomplished, said Fire U18AAA coach Kyle Severson.

“ She is truly one of a kind, and makes our group better every day she is part of it. She deserves every thing she has earned so far, and we are sure there is much more ahead for her.”

Team Alberta will open their Pool A schedule against Team Nova Scotia at 4:30 p.m. MST on Monday.

Team Alberta will then face off against Manitoba on Tuesday (4:30 p.m.) and then conclude pool play on Wednesday against Ontario also at 4:30 p.m.

The defenceman is in her second season with the Fire and is second in league scoring with 30 points (15 goals, 15 assists), and is only second to teammate Lawrence who has 32 points.