Courtney Vorster is taking her hockey career where few in Richmond have gone before and the future couldn’t be brighter.
The 16-year-old blueliner wore the maple leaf jersey for the very first time this summer when she was one of three B.C. players named to Hockey Canada’s U18 national team for a three game series against the United States. The roster was finalized following a Summer Showcase selection camp in Calgary.
Vorster would be one of just three 2000-born players picked.
“Playing for Canada for the first time was an experience I will never forget,” she reflected. “Just having the opportunity to be able to play a sport that you love, with amazing coaches and teammates, then represent the country that you love is truly an honour. When I put the jersey on, especially for the first time I was immediately filled with excitement and chills in my body.”
It should only be the start of more good things to come in national team colours.
If all goes well, Vorster will also be playing for Canada at the 2017 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, slated for January in the Czech Republic.
She will be further evaluated at the 2016 National U18 Women’s Hockey Championships, set for Nov. 9-13 in Regina. She is a lock to make the B.C. roster after being the youngest player on the team a year ago. Another local player — 15-year-old Kate Reilly — is also among 26 players still in consideration for the provincial team, following a recent four-day selection camp in Salmon Arm.
Vorster had little time to catch her breath — arriving home from national team duties and leaving for the provincial camp two days later.
“The few days after Calgary were very hectic!” she continued. “It would be an unbelievable experience to be able to go to Worlds representing Canada. I am going to continue to play as I did in Calgary, plus push myself to get better so that when the World tournament does come, I will know that I have put myself in the best place I can be for getting a chance of playing with a great group of girls and coaches.”
In the meantime, Vorster has returned to Minnesota for her second-year at Shattuck-St. Mary’s — the renowned hockey boarding school that includes Sydney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, Zach Parise and U.S. women’s team star Amanda Kessell among its alumni.
Following a week of tryouts, she successfully secured a spot on the U19 Prep team, that regularly contends for U.S. high school championships.
Last season, Vorster helped the Sabres U16 team capture the national title, finishing third among defenceman in scoring.
“It was a fun week catching up with friends while still having some high tempo practices and scrimmage,” she said. “(Last) Friday at 4 p.m. the lists came out and I was extremely happy to see that my name was on the list with 19 other talented, hard working girls. I am excited to get the season started with such a great group.”
Her stint down south certainly sets her up for one of the biggest prizes among elite female hockey players — a full-ride scholarship to an NCAA Division One school.
It’s no surprise Vorster was heavily recruited and has already made a verbal commitment to Quinnipiac University in Connecticut for the fall of 2018.
Her journey to becoming one of the country’s top up-and-coming players included a number of years playing for boys teams where she more than held her own.
Vorster was named MVP with the Seafair Islanders Bantam A1 squad during the the 2014-15 season. Two years earlier, she captained Richmond Minor’s top Pee Wee boys rep team.
Along the way, she has received tremendous family support, including older hockey playing brothers Devon and Ryan and her mom.
“She has been my biggest influence because she works so hard at her job all day and then still takes such good care of (us),” Vorster added. “She never gives up and is just an amazing person so this pushes me to be a good person while also working to excel in my hobby, hockey, and she excels in her work.”
