By Laura Lennie, News Staff

Four Stoney Creek Junior Sabres players have been chosen to represent Ontario at the Hockey Canada National Women’s Under-18 Championship Nov. 2 to Nov. 6 in Saguenay, Que.

Junior Sabres goaltender Elaine Chuli and forward Sarah Nurse will hit the ice for the Ontario Red team, while forwards Sydney McKibbon and Taylor Accursi will join Ontario Blue.

The trip will be a first for the four players.

“I’m really excited for the opportunity, especially to get to play for team red; it’s a big accomplishment,” said Chuli, who hit the ice with Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team during the Canada-U.S. three-game summer series in Rockland. “I was hoping I would be able to do it this year, especially after the busy summer I had. I’m really looking forward to going to Quebec and hopefully we can win.”

Chuli, Nurse, McKibbon and Accursi earned their spots on the Ontario rosters after attending evaluation camps in June and August in Etobicoke.

“Our strongest belief is team and they all really get that, so they’ll be good teammates. Their work ethic is fantastic and obviously they’re skilled enough to be there,” said Junior Sabres head coach Stacey Marnoch, when asked what the players will bring to the experience. “They’re pretty tight, so it will be a little awkward (to play against each other), but I can tell you at practice they compete hard against one another when we’re playing small area games. When the puck gets dropped that’s it.”

The Ontario red and blue teams will be among eight provincial teams vying for National Women’s Under-18 Championship supremacy.

Ontario Red, Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba will make up Group A, while Group B will include Ontario Blue, Atlantic, Quebec and Saskatchewan.

“I know Alberta will be pretty good because they have a really good goalie,” Nurse said. “I think, looking at our roster, we look really strong.”

Teammates McKibbon and Accursi said team work will be the key to Ontario Blue’s success.

“We’ll definitely need to play as a team and definitely work together because we haven’t all played together before,” McKibbon said. “We just need to help each other out and work hard.”

Chuli, Nurse, McKibbon and Accursi agreed their time with the Junior Sabres so far this year has helped prepare them for the championship.

“Squaring off against each other will definitely be weird; the winner will probably get the bragging rights for the rest of the season,” Accursi laughed. “Everyone wants to win, so it will definitely be a little different, but on the other hand it will be very fun too.”

Stoney Creek Midget AA Sabres forward Kirsten Miller will also join McKibbon and Accursi on the Ontario Blue team.

Midget head coach Brian Cleary  calls Kirsten a  strong forward with speed and terrific acceleration.

“I believe Kirsten is the youngest player on Team Ontario Blue” Cleary said.

“People do not realize what an accomplishment this is for Kirsten cracking the Ontario lineup at her age and still playing at the Midget level. She has bright future in the game as playing at a national championships will only help in her maturing as an athlete and a person.”

Kirsten says she is proud to be representing Ontario.

“As the youngest player on the team it will be a privilege to play with such a talented group of  hockey players. I am also very grateful to my coaches and teammates  who have given me so much support and encouragement.”