Team Nova Scotia hopefuls rally to raise spirit for games

By Lindsay Jones - The Weekly News
The 2011 Canada Games may seem far off to some, but for the young teens who are vying to make Team Nova Scotia, training for the competition is part of their daily reality.
"I'm training a lot," said 14-year-old Kayle Dyson, who hopes to make the girls' ringette team. "I'm one of the youngest trying out against girls who are four years older … but when you get on the ice, it doesn't come down to how old you are. It comes down to the skill you have. They're looking for strength and the drive, … so that's what I've been trying to work on so I can get there."
The Lawrencetown teen has already made one cut, but the final decision won't be made until next summer. In the meantime, she plays on two ringette teams.
One is a provincial team that won the Eastern Championships and is going to nationals soon. She's also captain of her school's volleyball team, defensive captain of the football team and plays soccer.
When she's not playing those sports, she runs three-kilometre loops around her house. In her spare time, she coaches a younger girls' ringette team, and teaches speed skating and referees to make extra money.
"It's kind of hard because I have to balance out life too," she said. "I can't just focus on ringette even though I really want to. You have to focus on school. It kind of gets in the way, but I like school."
Dyson and a few of her fellow ringette hopefuls took part in a recent demonstration at the Keshen Goodman Library in Clayton Park to raise spirit for the upcoming games. Across the street, construction of the sprawling, state-of-the-art new Canada Games Centre is coming together by the day. The 176,000-sq. ft. recreation facility will be a primary sport venue for the February 2011 Games, hosting badminton, artistic gymnastics and synchronized swimming.
"I'm so excited for all the stuff getting built because Nova Scotia needs more sports facilities," Dyson said.
"It will be like a miniature Olympics and something I've always wanted to do is be in the Olympics. Even if I don't make the team, I'm going to be watching and helping out as much as I can."
Dyson's teammate Laura Patterson is also hoping to make the cut. The 13-year-old from Cole Harbour started playing ringette at the age of six and wants to follow in her dad's footsteps and compete in the Canada Games.
"If I did make the team, then all my friends and family could come see me and it would be great. I just think it would be a really cool experience," said the Astral Drive Junior High student.
To compliment her ringette training, she also plays on a hockey team, runs and trains on an elliptical machine.
Fourteen-year-old Kirsti Mason from Cole Harbour is also training up a storm. She spent the summer paddling to help with endurance and strength. She also runs and plays on her school football, soccer and volleyball teams.
"I've been playing other sports to help me get better," said the Astral Drive Junior High student. "I think it would be a really cool experience and I'd be at the younger age, too.
"I just think it would be really cool. I've always dreamed of it and my mom has gone far in ringette so I really want to be like her."
ljones@hfxnews.ca
The 2011 Halifax Canada Games will be held Feb. 11 to 27, 2011.