No suprises with Davidson, Pearce representing Alberta

By JAMES TUBB on December 3, 2022.

jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb

There are few greater feelings than waking up from a well executed nap. But waking up to being named a member of Team Alberta at the 2023 Canada Games is an experience Kendal Davidson had Thursday.

The South Alberta Hockey Academy defender was selected to the provincial team to take part in the national tournament hosted in P.E.I.

“I was in bed and it was a big sigh of relief afterwards,” Davidson said about seeing her name in the announcement video. “I was so ecstatic. Being a returner there’s more pressure but I was so happy.

The 17-year-old has represented Alberta before, playing in a Western Regionals tournament after nationals were cancelled due to COVID-19. She takes a lot of pride in donning the provincial jersey.

“It’s an honour and it’s a step up,” Davidson said. “It’s a feeling like no other.”

She won’t be alone on the team, SAHA forward Téa Pearce was also named to Team Alberta. Pearce was in school at the time and left class to call Davidson while sitting in the middle of the cafeteria.

The announcement video started with the goalies, then defenders and forwards last. Pearce says she was in the later third of the names which built the suspense.

“It was just excitement,” Pearce said eventually seeing her name. “I was so excited, especially when I saw Kendal’s name, too.”

The duo will also be joined by their head coach Evan Vossen, who was named as an assistant coach over the summer.

Both Davidson and Pearce said having people they know on the team makes it even more exciting.

“It’s going to feel less stressful having people in my corner no matter what,” Davidson said. “Just having that bit of family there with me on the ice and on the bench.”

“It’s going to be like always having someone who has your back,” Pearce said.

Pearce and Davidson sit No. 1 and 2 on SAHA in points, with Pearce, who sits eighth in league scoring, putting up 12 goals and seven assists for 19 points in 12 games and Davidson contributing seven goals and six assists for 13 points in 16 games.

“It’s exciting to see hard work pay off,” Pearce said.

Vossen is proud of the two of them for making the roster and says there wasn’t too much surprise after their play last season, in the summer camp and the start to this season.

Being part of the roster selection, he says it was a little difficult to not tell them ahead of the announcement.

“I got prodded a couple of times to try and share it a little earlier this week but I just tried to keep them on their toes,” Vossen said. “I just wanted to make sure that they weren’t going to go down the gutter but also not getting too excited about it.”

He says he is excited for his opportunity and getting to experience it with two of his players.

“Anytime you are involved in an event like this with the provinces and all of Canada, it’s a pretty big and pretty cool spectacle to be a part of,” Vossen said. “I’m really looking forward to seeing what it is because it’s a bit of an unknown for me.”

The tournament comes toward the end of SAHA’s Canadian Sport School Hockey League season, roughly a week before the playoffs begin. Vossen says it will be a tight schedule but says it’ll all work out.

“A lot of the other teams will be down to a body or two as well so it’s not perfect timing but at the same point in time, having Jane (Kish) and Steph (Meyer) and the rest of the staff here in support roles, they’ve been fantastic in supporting me for this. They will have everything covered while I’m gone and the girls have been great this year with anything that’s come up.”

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