2 days ago
Skating past the Caitlin confusion
You can call her Judy.
Among Queenstown's Wakatipu Wild women's ice hockey team are sisters Caitlin and Abbey Heale, though to help with the confusion, the former's going by 'Judy'.
That's because there's another Caitlyn (Hollyer) on the team, while Kaitlyn Gruber's the team's GM.
Both Judy and Abbey are in their first season for the Wild — Judy, 27, spent the last three years with Dunedin Thunder Women while Abbey, 24, had four years there before a stint with Australia's Melbourne Ice.
Between them, they have 23 years' ice hockey experience.
Judy started playing about 2009 — she made the national development team at 14 and was selected to represent the New Zealand Ice Fernz in 2013, when she was just 15.
She then headed to Canada, playing for the Leaside Wildcats in Toronto for two years while finishing high school, then to Norwich University to study andplay.
Back in New Zealand, the forward played for Canterbury before heading back to Dunedin, having moved there when she was 10.
But when she got a job teaching geography and social studies at Invercargill's Southland Girls' High School, Judy decided to switch allegiances.
"The schedule worked a bit better with the school holidays for me, playing for the Wild, but also it's a bit of a change of scenery, and getting to play with players I haven't played with before."
Though the geographical distance between her residence and new team is proving slightly challenging — she's not able to train with the Wild, instead doing her own thing and linking up with them on game weekends.
Abbey, who lives in Tekapo, is in the same boat.
That aside, Judy says she's loving the Wild experience. "It's nice to be in a different environment — different team systems, different coaching systems — you kind of get to reinvent yourself a little bit, which is nice."
She's also relishing being on the home team when they play in front of a Queenstown crowd.
"In Queenstown, for men and women, they do really well to promote ... and support their teams in the Queenstown community.
"I've had the opportunity to come as an away player and see what it's like to play ... with the Queenstown crowd going against you.
"It's definitely a boost when you're playing for them."
Currently in fourth place on the NZWIHL table, they're playing third-placed Canterbury at the Queenstown Ice Arena this weekend.
Judy says they're feeling "pretty confident" to come away with two wins.
Meantime, the SkyCity Stampede had a massive turnaround in Auckland last weekend.
After losing to the West Auckland Admirals 5-2 on Saturday night, the Stampede — in first place on the table — mounted an almighty comeback, to take the 'W' 9-1 on Sunday.
They'll next play the Canterbury Red Devils next weekend in Queenstown Wakatipu Wild v Canterbury Inferno, Friday and Saturday nights, Queenstown Ice Arena; puck drop 7pm.
