Nova Scotia’s Pictou County rallied behind its very own Blayre Turnbull Thursday afternoon as Canada’s women’s hockey team faced off against the U.S. in the gold-medal game at the Winter Olympics.
Students at Turnbull’s childhood school, G.R. Saunders Elementary in Stellarton, N.S., were eager to see Turnbull hit the ice. Displays are up across the school, celebrating her and the Milano Cortina Games.
“Today was jersey day at the school. We have some Team Canada jerseys, some green jerseys and some Blayre Turnbull jerseys,” said Rene Melong, who teaches Grade 6 at the school.
The students in Melong’s class had the chance to watch the men’s hockey team play on Wednesday, and the excitement was even bigger Thursday, as their hometown hero and fellow G.R. Saunders graduate played in the final.
“They look up to Blayre you can tell, all the time. Even our Christmas concert this year was cancelled. Blayre was in Halifax playing, so we rescheduled because they were excited to go up and see her,” added Melong.
Melong has coached the school’s hockey team for the last 15 years. He says the co-ed team started out with just one or two female players, and it now has 10 — he says Turnbull has had an impact on those numbers.
“Blayre has kind of paved the way for that to happen for them,” said Melong.
The students say she is an inspiration for them, as they can see themselves in her, knowing someone from their school now plays for Team Canada.
“It’s amazing to see women play because women’s hockey has only been around for like, a little bit, right,” said Mina Sanders, the captain of her local hockey team.
Sanders said she looks up to Turnbull, describing her as a role model.
“It’s really, really cool to see that high intensity of a game and it’s just awesome to see role models like Blayre and Reneta Fast to look up to,” said Sanders.
The team’s two coaches also hail from Nova Scotia. Head coach Troy Ryan is from Spryfield and assistant coach Kori Cheverie is from New Glasgow.
The Canadian Sport Institute Atlantic hosted a cheering party Thursday in New Glasgow, N.S., and a watch party took place at Summer Street Industries.
Team Canada ended up taking home the silver medal after the United States secured a 2-1 overtime victory.
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