Wearing the Maple Leaf at international competitions will never grow old.
Micah Hart’s resumé for such appearances continues to grow as the 19-year-old from Saanichton, who turns 20 on Jan. 13, returned home this week after a pair of appearances with the national women’s hockey team.
It will continue following the Christmas break when the Cornell University sophomore represents the country with the national development team at the Nations Cup in Germany.
Hart was a member of Team Canada, which defeated the U.S. in a pair of exhibition games this past week, winning 5-3 on Saturday in Plymouth, Michigan — which will play host to the world championship from March 31 to April 7 — and 3-2 in overtime on Monday in Sarnia, Ont.
“It was amazing. I was playing with a lot of girls I’ve looked up to my whole life so it was obviously a dream come true and a great learning experience for me, moving forward with my hockey career and just life in general,” said Hart.
“I got a lot of opportunity. Obviously, they were the best players in the country so there were a lot of good players to put on the ice, but I definitely got a fair opportunity in all situations.”
Mostly paired with Halli Kryzyzniak, Hart took her spot on the Canadian blue line and was joined at the event by Aldergrove sisters Amy and Sarah Potomak, whom she has known since she was 12.
Under watchful eyes of Hockey Canada women’s team general manager Shirley Cameron and coach Laura Schuler, Hart welcomed the moment and challenge, refusing to give in to any pressures as the organization considers its world championship and Olympics roster.
“In a way there really wasn’t any pressure because you’re one of the younger players, so it’s telling yourself you’re there for a reason and just playing the game you know how to play and not letting the pressure of the situation get to you too much,” said the well-spoken Cornell student-athlete.
“Whenever you’re playing with Hockey Canada, it’s a bit of a tryout for situations to come so it’s always in the back of your mind. But I felt good about my game. It was easy to play with the players I was surrounded by so that made the transition pretty smooth,” she said.
Hart, the youngest of four children, has represented Canada for four years in programs between U-18, development team and now the senior team opportunities.
“The Olympics has been my goal since I was little,” she stressed. “Whether it happens sooner rather than later — that’s something I’m working toward.”
The opportunity to skate with the national team was not lost on the Island product, who is studying psychology at Cornell and hopes to become a lawyer, but also has a keen interest in coaching.
“It was pretty surreal. In Sochi we watched the women come back from a two-goal deficit to win it in overtime so it was pretty cool to be part of a situation like that,” she said, referring to Monday’s overtime thriller, in which Marie-Philip Poulin scored in the first minute of the extra session.
“These are girls I have been watching for the majority of my life and there are also girls from Cornell, who I also look up to,” Hart said of Canadian teammates Laura Fortino, Lauriane Rougeau, Rebecca Johnston, Brianne Jenner and Jillian Saulnier.
Hart, the Potomak sisters and Sophie Shirley were among the youth infused onto the team for the series against the U.S.
“It was great to be able to see them in this kind of environment,” said bench boss Schuler. “All four of those players — it was great to get them this kind of international experience.”
