Taylor Lind’s summer just got a whole lot busier after she was named to the 2019-20 National Women’s U18 Team Camp Roster.
“When I first found out I was really excited, I’ve been waiting for awhile. I couldn’t have been more happy when I found out,” who added that she quickly realized now is when the real work begins to take the next step in her career.
The Shaunavon native will now attend the BFL Selection Camp in Calgary on August 2-11. She is among 24 forwards named to the 45-player roster, which is the first step to representing Canada at the 2020 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship.
“Honestly there are girls coming from across the country that are all in some of the best shape around. I’ve been working out everyday, try to get on the ice as much as possible, went for runs. It was go, go, go. There’s never enough done.”
Lind, 17, led the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League with 29 goals, 31 assists, and 60 points in 28 games with the Swift Current Diamond Energy Wildcats last season.
She was named the Hayley Wickenheiser Most Valuable Player, won the Kelly Bechard Top Scorer Award, and was a First-Team All-Star.
Canada is the defending U18 World Champion.
“I definitely think it’s going to be really high end hockey. I think I read that there’s five returning girls that were on the team that won Worlds last year. It’s going to be some really good hockey. It’s going to be fast, it’s going to be quick, and I have to be ready for that.”
She will be looking to show off some of her offensive talent that got her this far already.
“I think that I definitely need to show them my speed and my strength. I need to show them my vision on the ice as I see myself as a good playmaker. I need to puck some pucks in the net.”
Lind played three seasons with the Wildcats, winning a pair of league scoring titles along the way.
“I’m honestly proud of some of the things that I did there. It was a great run. I obviously wish that we could have ended one of the seasons with a league championship, but as a team I couldn’t have imagined a better place to go for my Midget career. All the people were awesome, all my teammates, we all got along, it was like a family there in Swift Current. We had so much support behind us. It was awesome.”
The 5’7” centre had previously committed to play for the Lindenwood University Lions next season, but she was recently announced as a recruit of the St. Cloud State Huskies.
“A lot changed down in Lindenwood. Some of the coaching staff got fired,” Lind explained. “So I decided I was going to look at some other schools and St. Cloud was one of them. When I looked at it I fell in love with St. Cloud. It’s a beautiful place. All the girls from the team are already so nice, reaching out. The coaches, they’re detailed to games. They put every bit of themselves into that team. I can’t wait to get down there.”
