Canada’s national senior women’s field hockey captain Kate Gillis will be holding a skills session for junior players this week.
The 24-year-old University of British Columbia arts student will lead a skills session for the Burnaby Lake Field Hockey Club’s aspiring under-10 to -12 girls at Cariboo Oval today (Wednesday) July 2 between 6 and 8 p.m.
Gillis has earned more than 100 senior caps representing Canada in international matches. She scored her first international goal against Argentina in 2010.
It’s very important to have high-profile mentors interact with the younger players and to show them how far hard work and commitment can take them, said local junior national team hopeful Ellen Colbourne.
“I remember watching (the natioinal team) and it inspired me to continue to play,” Colbourne said.
This season, Colbourne, a New Westminster Secondary School grad, earned a field hockey scholarship to NCAA Division I Lafayette College.
“I hope that having seen a player off the national team would inspire some girls to have a goal and where they can take field hockey,” said Colbourne, who helps coach the Burnaby Lake club u-11 girls’ team.
As one of the initial recruits for the incoming new Lafayette head coach,
Colbourne is eager to get the season started.
“I’m so excited to progress as an athlete and be a role model for the girls that I coach,” she said.
