Top female forward hopes to be an X-Woman

MONCTON, NB - Chosen Best Forward at the Atlantic Female Midget AAA Championship last weekend in Bathurst, Schyler Campbell of the Moncton Office Interiors Ricoh Rockets plans to continue her studies at St. Francis Xavier University in the autumn and to suit up with the X-Women hockey team.

Campbell, who lives in Rexton, NB is described by her coach, Dan Leger as one of the Rockets most exciting and dominating players. She finished the tournament with a record of six goals and two assists for eight points in five games and was named as her team’s MVP in two games. Campbell was well prepared for this event and according to her coach played her best hockey in the three years this season with the Rockets.

She has travelled to play and practice with the Rockets for three years. She has proven herself as one of the best midget aged players at national level also playing with Team Atlantic at the National U18 championship in November.

"Campbell is a delight to coach, she will do everything she can help her team win. She is one of the hardest workers on the ice and off the ice. I have no doubt that she will be one of the best university players out there in the coming years", said Leger

In an interview, Campbell said the St. FX coach had seen her play at a couple of tournaments this year in Nova Scotia. "I think maybe my coach had contacted him, I’m not sure, Anyway, he got in touch with me and we talked and I went to visit the campus and it’s beautiful there. I really liked it. So I said I’d be there this fall. I’m going to study human kinetics and take my BA."

She has been playing hockey since she was six  and played with the boys hockey team until she reached midget age. ""It was completely different and I spent a lot of time in the penalty box the first year," she laughed, "but not this year. I think I bring a lot of energy, a positive attitude and a good work ethic to my team. This year we had a lot of young players so I guess you could say I was a leader."

"Next year I’ll have a different role. Likely be the one that battles in the corner for the puck. Not so much scoring. That kind of thing. That’s my favorite part (battling for the puck) and I think my time on boy’s teams gives me an advantage there. I’m stronger and I’m used to it," she added.

She said they had trained hard this past season and she feels they peaked for the Atlantics. "We only have two teams in New Brunswick. It’s a shame. A lot of girls go to prep school in the States because they think they’ll learn more - the coaching’s better. They should stay home and play here then we’d have a stronger league and we’d all get better together."

NOTES -: As an aside Campbell said she had been thrilled to see the Moncton Flyers win the Atlantic major midget title. "I played with Shane Dallaire and Julien Belliveau as a bantam so I was so happy for them"....her older brother is Rankyn Campbell who played several years with the Miramichi Rivermen of the NB-PEI Major Midget League and is a member of the Miramichi Timberwolves in the Maritime Junior Hockey League.