Molly clinches silver with Ireland in Canada
A STRABANE girl has just returned from Canada where she helped her ice hockey team to silver in a major tournament.
A STRABANE girl has just returned from Canada where she helped her ice hockey team to silver in a major tournament.
Molly McGillian, a pupil of Strabane Academy, played with the U15 Irish Saints team in Halifax, Nova Scotia, last month in the SEDMHA International Minor Hockey Tournament, where they reached the final and took home silver medals - with Molly being awarded 'Most Valued Player' (MVP).
And, what a difference a year makes!
Last year, Molly and the team travelled to the same tournament and unfortunately lost all three of their games, but undeterred, they returned and reached the final, winning all games en route to the showpiece finale.
While they were ultimately defeated 5-0 by Sherwood Falcons, the hard work and dedication these Irish teens pursued was evident in their achievement, despite there being limited resources in the country to cater to this specific sport.
Even that obstacle isn't enough to deter Molly from being an ice hockey player.
Her love for the sport began when she attended a Belfast Giants game in 2019, and it was shortly after that she purchased a set of in-line skates, a hockey stick and a puck, and began practising her skills regularly.
After seeing Molly's love for the sport, her family made contact with the Junior Giants in 2022.
She then started the 'Learn to Play' programme before being selected for the U14 team last year, which is made up of both boys and girls.
This has led to the family travelling to Dundonald for training bi-weekly at the only ice rink in the country, with Molly also being a part of an all-ladies team in Scotland and having to travel there to get regular games due to the lack of a ladies leagues in Ireland.
Molly has also played competively against teams in England.
Speaking with Canadian channel CTV, she reflected on the experience and the difference in facilities between Canada and Ireland.
"It’s so exciting and so fun, the atmosphere in here (the arena) with all the parents and the billets is amazing,” she said.
It’s insane (compared) to what we have at home, because we don’t have competitive teams to play against in Ireland and we only get to train together once a month, so it’s different.
"I practice a lot at home, a lot of work at the gym and a lot of shooting pucks and stuff just to make sure I can keep up with the boys."
Being at the tournament for the second time, the talented teen highlighted the hard work and dedication the team displayed following the match, and she is proud of the achievement and opportunity to play in Canada.
"We got silver but I'm still really happy because nobody ever thought we would make it this far," she added.
"We came last year and we did not do as well as we did (this year), so I'm proud of everyone in that locker room. We played well."
Molly has a couple more games in Scotland until the season is over, with her next big outing in May being a trial to play in Boston with an all-ladies U18 team from Cardiff.
Her proud father, Derek, has urged sponsors to get in touch to help support the cost of travel and equipment Molly will need in the near future.
He said: "We're always looking out for sponsorships or funding ideas.
“We have tried to find them in various places but they're hard to come by.
"If anybody would ever like to sponsor or help out we'd be very grateful."
Molly McGillian has represented the Strabane area as well as the country at only 15 years-old, and we can't wait to hear more of her achievements in the years to come!