The U18 North Island Impact girls have earned their way to provincials.
After posting a stellar record of 15-6-6 this season and defeating the Victoria Reign to capture the district banner, the Impact officially booked their ticket to the Single A BC Provincial Championships, which is being held in Armstrong this year.
The Female Competitive League consists of two teams from each age category of U13, U15 and U18, states VIAHA’s website.
“The Capital Region Female MHA roster one team in each category under the team name ‘Victoria Reign’ while the North and Mid-Island MHA’s sponsors one team in each category under the name ‘North Island Impact’.”
“We draw [players] from Duncan all the way to Port Hardy,” said Impact head coach Ryan Humphrey, noting they have four players on the roster from Northern Vancouver Island, Emma Walkus, Adysen Verbrugge, Bella Stewart, and Mecca Humphrey. “We have a down south practice early in the week, a North Island practice in Port Hardy or Port McNeill, and then a Friday team practice in Comox.”
“It’s a grind for them,” he added. “It’s a three-hour drive to practice and these girls are champs, they put in so much effort and work, it’s phenomenal what they do.”
Humphrey previously coached the Tri-Port Wild house league teams, and when his daughter Mecca tried out and made the Impact roster, he ended up becoming an assistant coach and then this year was named head coach.
As for provincials, Humphrey stated they’re going to Armstrong to compete and win.
“We’ve beaten all the teams going except for one, so we have a very good chance. If the girls bring it and play their game, we have a very good chance of taking home gold.”
Walkus, who plays defence, said the season has gone “pretty well. We started off really great and we’ve carried it throughout the season.”
She noted playing for the Impact is “a huge commitment, but this is my third year of doing it so I’ve gotten pretty used to it, the drive goes by pretty fast now.”
Stewart agreed the season has gone “really well” and their team earning their trip to provincials was “pretty exciting.”
She said she loves playing forward and scoring goals, and her favourite highlight from the season so far was winning the district banner.
“All the girls on the team are amazing,” she added. “The coaches are good and it’s really fun hanging out with everybody and travelling down island every weekend.”
Verbrugge, who plays forward, said the season has been “good” and that she’s managed to score “a few goals” this season, and that “making it to provincials and hanging out with the girls every single week” has been her season highlight.
Mecca Humphrey said she really enjoys playing defence instead of being a forward.
“It’s just more straightforward and I like being able to protect my goalie and the rest of the team,” she stated, adding the season has been “amazing - just the connections you make between all the girls.”
As for provincials, Mecca added she’s expecting to face “some good competition” and is excited for the “team building and fun activities.”