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26 S Sports SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2011 GOLDEN MISSION: Oakville's Kristyn Capizzano will represent Canada at the Under18 Women's World Hockey Championships in the Czech Republic, which begins Dec. 31. The Grade 11 student at Appleby College, who attended the IIHF's High Performance Camp in Slovakia in the summer, has won championships at both the provincial and national levels and is looking to add a gold medal from worlds to her collection. MATTHEW MURNAGHAN HOCKEY CANADA IMAGES Capizzano looks to help Canada reclaim U18 gold By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Kristyn Capizzano's first trip overseas was all about helping other countries bridge the gap between European countries and the North American teams that dominate women's hockey. It will be a much less benevolent trip when she returns at the end of the month, as she and her Canadian teammates will be looking to prove that, although they're willing to help, they're still No. 1. Capizzano will be making her national team debut with Canada at the Under-18 Women's World Championships in the Czech Republic. Canada opens the tournament New Year's Eve against Switzerland. It will be a much different trip than the one she was part of in July. The Appleby College student was one of 16 players selected to represent Canada at the IIHF High Performance Women's Camp in Slovakia. The camp brought together players and coaches from 17 countries to help raise the level of women's hockey around the world. And although they were there as equals, Capizzano said it was clear the Canadian players were held in high regard. "They looked up to us a lot," she said. that we never get to see. There was such "They know we're pretty dominant and they a high level of skill. I was shocked but I have respect for our game. But we learned a was excited." lot from it ourselves." With Canada trying to reclaim the underCapizzano said the camp helped her de- 18 title from the United States, Canadian velop her leadership skills. As one of five coaches may have just looked at what Capiz16-year-olds on Canada's zano has accomplished in U18 team, she might be "They know we're pretty the past year and figured counted on for them this dominant and they have her presence just might year. But being eligible respect for our game, but guarantee gold. for the tournament next Consider: In March, year as well, there's a good we learned a lot from it Capizzano scored twice in chance Capizzano will don ourselves." Appleby College's 5-2 win the Canadian jersey again in the final of Ontario FedOakville's Kristyn Capizzano on in a year's time. eration of School Athletic Capizzano attended her trip to the IIHF women's Associations tournament Canada's strength and hockey camp in Slovakia -- the school's first provinconditioning camp and cial high school championthen another training ship camp in the summer that Canada used In April, playing with the Mississauga to select a team for a three-game series Chiefs, she won the Ontario Women's with the United States. She didn't make Hockey Association intermediate champithe cut in August so she was caught off onship. Despite being the second-youngguard when she received a call last month est player on the team, she finished third telling her she would be on the team for on the Chiefs in scoring with 20 goals and the world championships. 45 points in 35 games. "I was definitely shocked," the Grade Capizzano completed her golden hat trick 11 student said. "There were so many in November by helping Ontario Red with great players from Alberta and Manitoba the national under-18 championship. A gold in Slovakia would give Capizzano a victory at every level -- provincial, national and world -- in the space of eight months. Winning is not just a recent development either. She won a Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Association (CISAA) championship with Appleby in 2009 and an Ontario Minor Hockey Association championship with the Oakville Rangers' minor peewee team in 2008. She led the Rangers in scoring at the championship tournament and set up the winning goal in a 1-0 win in the final. Capizzano said playing with the boys in a contact league forced her to keep her head up, which was a big factor in developing the playmaking skills she now considers the strength of her game, along with her speed. She hopes those skills will one day help her earn a spot on Canada's national senior team. In Slovakia, she met several members of the Canadian Olympic squad and got a chance to see them play up close. "Watching them play a few games, it's awesome to watch," she said. "The way they carried themselves as players, you get to see what you have to do to get to that next level."