On the ice, she’s a force to be reckoned with and everyone around her knows it. Demi Pelley is a member of the Springdale Midget hockey team where she also wears the C and acts as team leader.
The only thing, though, is that even though on the ice with her equipment and helmet on she likely blends in with the other players around her at any given time, off the ice when the pads come off, she’s much more likely to stand out among that same group – in particular, stand out as the lone girl among them.
That’s right, in a mostly male-dominated sport, Ms. Pelley is the only girl on her team, and as she says, often times the only girl on the ice when they’re facing off against opponents from other parts of the province.
“Not many teams have girls,” she said. “But that’s OK, I don’t mind being the only girl. I just love playing hockey.”
And playing hockey is something she’s been doing for most of her life. Starting when she was four, Ms. Pelley has roughly 13 years under her belt, as she’s 17 years old now, and graduating high school this year.
“I really just love to play,” she explained. “I’ve always loved it, and it doesn’t matter who I’m playing with, or against, I still love to play.”
As for why she feels she earned the title of captain, Ms. Pelley says she’s not sure, but she’s proud of it none-the-less.
“It could be any reason,” she continued. “I guess they saw something in me they liked and felt I deserved to have it which I’m very glad about, because it’s an honour that they picked me, and I try to do the best I can to live up to it.”
One of the things about being the only girl on a mostly male hockey team is the fact that the physical activity is probably elevated higher than that of less contact divisions.
“It’s definitely more physical,” she recalls. “I find that in some places people are reluctant to check me because I’m a girl, but other times they just let me have it, and they don’t really care.”
As for the future, she says next year she’s off to Memorial University to study, but one thing’s for certain, her passion for the sport will not die down any at all.
“No matter what I’m doing I’ll still be playing hockey,” she said. “I’m not giving up – I love it way too much for that.”
