“I just tried to take it day by day and to focus on my strengths and my own game and not worry about things that I had no control over. At the end of the day all you can ask of yourself is did you show up everyday? Did you compete and have a good work ethic day in and day out? Did you have a good attitude? And were you a good teammate?”
Bell’s reaction to the news was shock and tears. She said she had the biggest smile on her face and could not believe she was going to be an Olympian and representing Canada at the Olympic Games.
“It feels weird even saying that and it still hasn’t sunk in yet.”
The team is back practicing together in Calgary and moved into the “bubble” to ensure they are all as safe as possible heading into the Olympics. They will be staying at a hotel for 14 days and only going back and forth from the rink to the hotel. The team will fly to Beijing on January 26 and will learn all the protocols very soon.
Team Canada’s first game will take place February 3 against Switzerland followed by games on February 5, 7 and 8. All the preliminary games will be at 12:10pm China time. The quarterfinals start February 11 and 12 with the semifinals on the 14 and the gold medal game is on February17.
“Obviously our eyes are set on that gold medal game but we’re just going to take it one game at a time. Womens’ hockey has grown so much so nothing is guaranteed. The history of the USA versus Canada in the gold medal game at the Olympics is one of the best rivalries of all time so hoping it will comedown to that.”
Besides the goal of a gold medal, Bell wants to take it all in, have fun and enjoy every moment.
“It’s hard to put into words how grateful I am for this opportunity and I am so honoured to get to represent Canada at the Olympic Games as its been a dream of mine since I was a little girl. I hope to inspire girls in my town to dream big and my hope is to bring back that gold medal to our community,” concluded Bell.

by JUDY WELLS, Recorder Staff