Davidson honoured to be part of Canada Winter Games

By Lethbridge Herald on February 27, 2023.

South Alberta Hockey Academy defender Kendal Davidson carries the puck into the offensive end in the first period of a 6-4 win over St. Mary’s Academy at the Big Marble Go Centre earlier this month in Medicine Hat. Medicine Hat News photo by James Tubb

Justin Seward – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – sports@lethbridgeherald.com

Lethbridge product Kendal Davidson and Team Alberta female hockey team are competing in the Canada Winter Game in Prince Edward Island this week.

“It’s an honour,” said Davidson.

“Like I’ve worn the jersey before. Obviously not the same, because this is the Canada Games, and that was just Western Regionals last year. But no it’s a big stage and a lot of pressure, but it’s really a feeling that you don’t get very often and it’s really an honour to put on that crest.”

Davidson sees Team Alberta as being a really strong group this year.

“We have a lot of character on our team, so that’s good, and we’re a tight knit group, ”said Davidson.

“We all know each other, like a lot of us have played together before, we’ve played against each other … And obviously spending a week in the summer together practicing every day, and then a couple of more weekends since then —  like we really got know each other and I think we’re a very gritty team and we can pull it off.”

Davidson knows she will have to adapt her playing style at the Games.

“But I’m just going to keep it to what I know best and make the simple smart plays,” she said.

“Like take my offensive chances and just shut down the defensive zone.”

She will be joined by fellow Lethbridge native Summer Fomradas on the blueline.

“I’ve never actually played with Summer,” said Davidson.

“We’ve grown up together in like the hockey world obviously. But we never actually ended up on the same team. But it is nice to have someone from home. I mean, yeah, she plays out of Calgary and I’ve played against her a couple of times this year.”

Davidson is looking forward to meeting new people, playing with a new group of girls that she doesn’t play with on a regular basis and enjoying the experience.

Team Alberta opened up the tournament against Nova Scotia on Monday with a 3-2 loss in a shootout.

The team will play Manitoba today at 4:30 p.m. and then wrap up Pool A play tomorrow against Ontario at 4:30 p.m.

The defenceman currently plays for the SAHA U18 Prep team in Medicine Hat.

“Really good,” said Davidson on her season.

“I’m second on my team for points. This is my third year. It’s been really good, we’re right now in the home stretch. We have one more league game before playoffs and it’s been really good this year. I couldn’t have done it without Evan (head coach Vossen) and the rest of the coaching staff and management there.”

She is committed to Division I’s Union College down in New York next season.