By Nigel Maxwell

Olympic medalist makes stop in P.A.

Aug 23, 2016 | 7:00 PM

A group of young girls from the Prince Albert area had a unique opportunity to meet one of Canada’s best hockey players this week.

Colleen Sostorics, 36, was the guest coach Tuesday, Aug. 23 during the Northern Female Hockey Program camp.

Sostorics who has three Olympic gold medals with Team Canada (2002, 2006, 2010), talked to the girls about strategy, training, and also told her audience members to not give up on their dreams.

“Hopefully I’m lighting a fire in them but it sort of rekindles my fire. Obviously I won’t be playing at the elite level anymore but it rekindles my fire for coaching and for why we want to give back to the game,” she said.

Women’s hockey has come a long way in the past two decades.

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Sostorics said she fondly remembers dreaming of playing in the NHL when she was a young girl, and getting excited when she found out women’s hockey would be included as an Olympic sport.

“I realized all these girls were born after 1998 so they’ve never lived in a world when women’s hockey was not in the Olympics and isn’t that cool they never have to have that feeling like my sport is second best,” she said.

Sostorics brought all three of her Olympics medals to the talk and let the girls hold them. 

She said her medal from the Vancouver Games in 2010 will always hold a special place in her heart.

“Nothing can top playing in an Olympics in your home country, with your own Canadian fans,” she said.

Sostorics said if there was one message she wants to pass on is for the girls to realize all dreams, both small and large, are achievable.

“I’d just love to run into them later on in life and hear they have achieved their dreams, whether they are hockey-related or not,” she said.

Sostorics remains an active part of the game. She is currently working as an assistant coach at the University of Regina.

nmaxwell@panow.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell