The Town of Cochrane will have a decent contingent of athletes participating in the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer Feb. 15 to March 3.
Featuring 19 sports, over 150 events and a major arts and cultural festival, the 2019 Canada Winter Games will welcome up to 3,600 athletes, managers and coaches and more than 20,000 visitors.
The 2019 Games will be the largest event ever hosted in Red Deer and central Alberta and one of the largest events to be hosted in Alberta in over three decades, since the 1988 Calgary Olympics.
Forecasted to generate a significant economic impact, the 2019 Games will provide a stage for Canada’s next generation of national, international and Olympic champions to compete. The 2019 Canada Winter Games is the 27th edition of the Canada Games and the third time the Canada Games have been hosted in Alberta. Previously, Alberta hosted the Canada Games in 1975 in Lethbridge and 1995 in Grande Prairie.
The 2019 Canada Winter Games will leave a lasting legacy of new and enhanced sport facilities and volunteer and leadership development that will benefit athletes and the broader central Alberta community for years to come.
Curler Julianna MacKenzie, artistic swimmer Adora Kruger, Sophie Morrish will be a guide for the visually impaired skiing event while hockey player Sarah Wozniewicz will all represent Cochrane on Team Alberta at the event.
Wozniewicz who is a 15-year-old forward for the Edge Mountaineers, said she's very excited to be representing her province with many friends and family making the trip to Red Deer to be in attendance.
"I think it's an honour and it makes me feel really excited. I'm excited to get the chance to represent Alberta," Wozniewicz said. "My friend's mom has already been like 'we booked a hotel room so we're going to come watch you play.' That's going to be nice."
Wozniewicz will also be the youngest member on the U18 team, but said having a lot of Edge teammates on the team will help make her feel more comfortable.
"Yeah, I'm the only 2003 born player on the team. I'm just really excited I have a chance to play for Team Alberta," said Wozniewicz." I just have to bring my speed and work ethic (in order to be successful). Those are the biggest things."
"It makes you feel better (playing with Edge teammates) because you know more people. It's nice to compete with your close friends. We've already grown a lot so it's good. It's been a good year so far ... we've played a lot of games already."
Wozniewicz said she chose to play for a private school over an Alberta Female Junior Hockey League team due to some added benefits to help her reach her eventual goal.
"More ice time, more practice time and more workout time. I feel it's better for development," she said. "Hopefully it all helps me play university hockey and eventually for Team Canada."
Team Alberta will play Team British Columbia on Feb. 24, Team Nova Scotia the following evening and Team Ontario on Feb. 26 all at the Enmax Centrium. Those interested can purchase tickets at www.canadagames.ca/tickets.
With files from Scott Strasser
