Local invited to ringette Nationals
Tewehshon Patience Nelson watches on as her big sister plays in the Eastern Canadian Championships a decade ago. Courtesy Jeffrey Nelson
After a shutout period in goal at Provincials with the Laurentians Junior AA ringette team this month, Tewehshon Patience Nelson has been asked to join the team in Ottawa for Nationals.
It’s an impressive feat for a Benjamin goaltender, but it comes as no surprise. After all, her older sister Kahsennine Nelson played in the Eastern Canadian Championships a decade ago.
Tewehshon is too young to remember it, but she was there to cheer her older sister on from the stands in PEI - and now it’s her turn to ply her skills on one of ringette’s biggest stages.
“All I know is it’s going to be tough and there are a lot of teams going,” said Tewehshon, but she’s still unfazed. After all, she stopped six out of six shots on net at Provincials, even though she was playing with girls two and three years older than her.
“At the start, I was scared, but when I got on, I was fine,” said the goaltender, who has been getting time in with the squad in addition to her Blainville Cavaliers Benjamin A team.
Her game has grown by leaps and bounds since she starting playing with the Junior AA squad, said her father, Jeffrey Nelson.
“They even have a goalie coach on their team, so she’s been getting basically private lessons while practicing with the team,” Jeffrey said.
“It’s just awesome that she’s still only 13, and being moved up to play an age level and a level higher is a huge accomplishment.”
The Junior AA team’s third-place finish at the Ligue Elite de Ringuette du Quebec Provincial Championships from March 6-9 in Quebec City punched their ticket to Nationals. They were 3-2 heading into the semi-final match for a chance to go against the top-seeded Quebec City team, but just barely fell to the South Shore squad in a tight 4-3 loss.
But because of the location of the Nationals, Quebec is eligible to send three teams, so the Laurentians’ bronze was enough to earn a spot at the Canadian Ringette Championships, which will take place from March 30 to April 5.
“To say I’m proud of my sister is an understatement,” said Kahsennine. “She’s really grown out of her shell and has put in the work, day in and day out, to get to that spot, especially when it’s not even her team.”
Kahsennine said she benefitted from taking part in the Eastern Canadian Championships, getting her out of her comfort zone coming from a small community and being the only English speaker on the team. Now her sister gets the chance to compete on an even bigger stage, she said.
“I’m happy I’ve gotten to watch her grow and love the same sport I play and love,” said Kahsennine, joking that it’d be “iconic” if they ever got to play together.
“I’ll always be her biggest fan,” Kahsennine said. “She’s going to do amazing things on and off the ice.”
As if playing in Junior AA Nationals wasn’t enough, Tewehshon has a major Benjamin A tournament the same week, so she’ll be travelling back and forth between Ottawa and St. Eustache to provide her goaltending talents wherever they’re needed.
“I know I’m going to be really tired from the travelling and everything, but I’m just excited for both of them,” said Tewehshon.
It’ll be an equally busy week for her father Jeffrey, who will be taking her to and fro and coaching the Benjamin A squad.
That may not be the end of the road either. If her Benjamin A team takes the St. Eustache tournament, that team will be headed to Nationals too.
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And it might just happen.
“Having her as the goalie, we obviously have a chance every game,” Jeffrey said.
Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
