Thursday, 24 February 2022 17:26

Olympic experience golden for Bell

If you are prepared and have done the work when opportunity knocks, dreams can come true. This was the case for Ashton Bell during the past seven months. She was captaining the University of Minnesota Bulldogs Women’s hockey team when she was selected to centralize with the Canadian Women’s hockey team in Calgary to prepare for the IIHF World Championships. She made the cut for Team Canada and they went on to win the gold over the US. Then it was back to centralization and choosing the Olympic team. Again Bell made the cut and another dream was realized. The dreams kept coming as Team Canada went undefeated in its round robin play and through to the finals. They faced their longtime rivals the US and edged them 3-2 to win the gold medal.
Throughout the competition Team Canada could always be seen smiling, though it might be said it is easy to smile when you are winning. Bell said the team was a very special group who loved being around one another every day and had so much fun together.

“It definitely started with the veteran players as they made the environment very inviting and we could all be ourselves. They made every person feel they added value to the team and could make a difference. We played our best when we were having fun,” she added.
Bell said there were many highlights at the Olympics besides winning the gold medal. For one, scoring her first Olympic goal in the first game was pretty special.
“The opening ceremonies were insane and something that I’ll remember forever. Walking out there with my team behind Poulin who was carrying the flag and seeing the Olympic rings is a feeling that you cannot describe. It was the moment when I realized that I was an Olympian.”
Another highlight was when the veterans handed the rookies their Olympic jerseys. Fellow Manitoban Jocelyne Laroque handed Bell her jersey, which she said was a special moment as she looks up to her as a player and a leader.
Bell said the team did get to watch some events (Big Air skiing, Speed Skating and Ice Dancing) and cheering on other Canadian athletes and watching them compete was very cool and inspiring. Her favourite to watch was the speed skating.
“There were so many inspiring athletes there but if I had to pick one it would be Isabelle Weideman. She won a bronze, silver and gold medal.”
“Seeing my parents on the screen after one of my games was also very special to be able to share that moment with them,” she added.
All good things must come to an end and Bell said the closing ceremonies were bittersweet as everything had gone by so fast. The consolation was they were bringing home gold.
“It was very special to be able to walk into the closing ceremonies with a gold medal around our necks and the whole ceremony was very well done just like the opening ceremony.”
Bell said what she would remember most about China is all the volunteers who were so excited to greet them everyday and the smallest of gestures made them so happy.
The team plans to get together in the summer and celebrate. Bell said she will take some time off before returning to Duluth for the summer and start training and preparing for the season with the Bulldogs.
She has realized two huge goals including being a member of Team Canada and winning Gold in Worlds and Gold in the Olympics all within a year’s time.
“My next big goal is to win a National Championship with the Duluth Bulldogs in 2023,” concluded Bell. “I want to thank the community for all their support. I felt so much love from back home during the Olympics and am so excited I get to share this with everyone as this is where it all started.”


by JUDY WELLS
Recorder staff
 

Read 15 times Last modified on Thursday, 24 February 2022 17:33