Carman’s Zoe Cramer is enjoying a successful start to her hockey season at Shawinigan Lake School and representing Team Manitoba at the recent 2024 U18 Women’s National Championship.
Cramer and her family first moved to Carman from Humboldt, Saskatchewan, in 2010 when she was two years old. She lived in Carman until 2017, until the family moved to an acreage five miles west of Carman.
“I caught interest in hockey by being at the rink watching my older brother,” said Zoe Cramer. “I knew I was a competitive child, so my parents thought I should give it a try when I was five years old. I loved the sport from the first time I played a game. I was also in dance at the time, but I told my mom after that year to don’t sign me up anymore.”
Cramer played her minor hockey in Carman and later with the Pembina Valley Hawks for her Grade 8 year, during which time she scored 47 goals and 32 assists for 79 points.
The 16-year-old Cramer is now playing for Shawnigan Lake School, which is located on Vancouver Island in British Columbia and is in her second year there at the school.
“I was playing for the Rink Hockey Academy in Winnipeg for my Grade 9 year, and my head coach Megan Price was leaving to go to Shawnigan Lake. I had never heard of Shawnigan before, so I looked into it and went for a visit and fell in love with the campus and the warm welcoming from the people.”
To date this season, Shawinigan Lake is in third place in the CSSHL, and Cramer currently has 23 points in 15 games.
“This year’s been going very well as our team is very skilled and fast,” said Cramer. “I believe we have a good chance of winning the championship this year in the CSSHL.”
Cramer was also selected to play on Team Manitoba at the recent 2024 U18 Women’s National Championship that ran from Nov. 3-9 in Quispamsis, New Brunswick. Unfortunately, Team Manitoba put up a 1-2 record and missed playoffs.
“Nationals were very fun, and I made lots of memories that I will have forever. The team got along very fast, and it showed on the ice with everyone’s chemistry. We had some tight games against lots of talented players from all around the world. I believe the future is very bright for Hockey Manitoba.”
Cramer is only in Grade 11, but because she’s a young hockey phenom, she has already committed to playing NCAA Division 1 hockey after she graduates high school in 2026 at Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania. She is very much looking forward to this experience.
“I committed in September and am very excited to continue my hockey career at university, especially at Mercyhurst, as the program is very good and is a great place to help me improve more on the ice and as a person.”
