Perseverance definitely paid off for 17-year-old Shelby Laidlaw of Luton, southeast of Aylmer.
After initially failing in August to earn a berth on the U-18 women’s national hockey team, a month later she was invited to join the squad that ultimately would capture gold this past weekend in Sweden.
A forward on the team – she describes herself as a playmaker – Laidlaw tells myFM what the mood was like going into the final game against host Sweden, a team they had previously beaten 4-2 in the tournament
She is one of five members of the London Devilettes who skated with Team Canada.
Literally hours after returning from Sweden, Laidlaw was off to Strathroy with the Devilettes for a game against the Bluewater Hawks.
Her parents both play hockey, so what could be more appropriate than being rinkside when Laidlaw and Team Canada captured gold.
Laidlaw is a forward with the Devilettes as well as the East Elgin Secondary School Eagles.
She describes the reaction of her parents at the final buzzer of the gold-medal gam.
Her 15-year-old sister Reece skates with the BAD (Belmont-Aylmer-Dorchester) Girls.
Winning gold was the next step forward for Laidlaw.
And, keeping with the gold theme, she now has her eyes set on the Golden Knights. When she graduates from East Elgin S.S., Laidlaw will head to Potsdam, New York on a full hockey scholarship at Clarkson University.
Clarkson has a Devilettes grad on this year’s squad, Nicole Gosling of London.
myFM asked Laidlaw what advice she would offer to a young girl looking to pursue a career in hockey.
She is to be recognized tonight at the St. Thomas Sports Spectacular at St. Anne’s Centre.
Written by Ian McCallum
