A local trio has spent the summer competing with Manitoba’s best U16 female hockey players.
Kennedy Simpson of East Selkirk, Rielle Forfar of Clandeboye, and Makayla Sydenham of Hodgson all attended Team Manitoba U16 Female Program of Excellence tryouts that began in spring, featuring the province’s top 2010- and 2011-born players, as well as a few from 2012.
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Pictured left to right, Kennedy Simpson (East Selkirk), Rielle Forfar (Clandeboye), and Makayla Sydenham (Hodgson) will represent the Interlake region at the Team Manitoba U16 Female Program of Excellence Top 40 games from Aug. 22–24 at the Hockey For All Centre. Simpson will skate with Team Manitoba White, while Forfar and Sydenham will compete with Team Manitoba Black
Following initial evaluations, all three girls cracked the Top 68, advancing to a series of inter-squad games in June. Their strong performances in those games secured them spots in the final Top 40, guaranteeing positions on one of two Team Manitoba squads that will face off in a mini-series at the end of August.
“It was really good,” Simpson said. “Everyone’s competing very hard. It’s been tough, but I was still successful.”
This year marks Simpson’s debut with the Program of Excellence. The 14-year-old centre played for the U15 North East Predators last season.
Forfar and Sydenham, both 15, previously participated in the program, making last year’s final Top 68.
Sydenham spent this past winter playing defence with the U18 AAA Female Interlake Lightning, competing up an age group.
Forfar, meanwhile, was sidelined for the entire season due to an ACL injury, missing her role as a centre/left wing with the U15 AAA Female Interlake Lightning. Despite her injury, Forfar remained committed, attending games and road trips with her teammates.
Now fully recovered, she’s back on the ice and looking forward to the summer showcase event.
“It’s a great group of girls,” Forfar said. “I love everybody’s mood in the dressing room. Everyone’s hyping each other up, and during the fitness testing, everyone’s supporting each other, so it’s fun.”
The Top 40 players have been divided into two teams—Team Manitoba White and Team Manitoba Black—for the exhibition series set for Aug. 22–24 at the Hockey For All Centre. Players will participate in team Zoom calls ahead of the event, which will be held in front of scouts.
Sydenham and Forfar will compete with Team Manitoba Black, while Simpson will skate for Team Manitoba White.
