A former Estevan resident is now a world hockey champion.
Dawn Bird (née Hirsch) was part of the Peace Country Canadians entry that won women's hockey gold at the 2020 Winter World Masters Games in Austria on Jan. 12. Bird, who now resides in Fort St. John, B.C., was part of a team of athletes from the Peace River region in northeast B.C. and northwest Alberta.
Peace Country defeated Austria’s EC Icemice Telfs – Tiroler Madln 5-2 in the gold medal game.
Bird joined the team through her connections in a league that she plays in. She said a couple of women from Dawson Creek were interested in going to the Masters Games, and issued a call for tryouts in Grande Prairie, Alta.
“Whoever was interested in going to the masters games in Austria went to the tryout,” Bird said in an interview with Lifestyles.
From there they created a team. Up until January they met a couple of times a month for practices and scrimmages. They also played in a tournament to build chemistry.
The Canadians boasted five players from Dawson Creek, three from Fort St. John, two from Edmonton, and one from each of Grande Prairie and Peace River, Alta. Bird knew the other two players from Fort St. John, because they are teammates of hers in their league, and she had played against the women from Dawson Creek.
The Winter World Masters Games are an open tournament for athletes over the age of 30. Peace Country was the only team from Canada entered. There were also two teams from Austria and one from Germany.
“We seemed to mould really well together, and of course, with a common goal and common interest, we’re all quite competitive in our own positions. We were able to gain new friendships as well as teammates for the future. It was a great opportunity to go there and spend time with the girls on the team.”
In the final, Canada trailed 1-0 after the first period, and the teams were tied 2-2 through two. The Canadians struck for three goals in the third.
It was a marked departure from the round robin game, which Canada won 7-2.
Peace Country went 3-0 in the round-robin, and outscored their opponents 29-2 in three games. Then they outscored the other Austrian team 14-0 in the semifinal.
“We were really welcomed there,” said Bird. “Another aspect of it is that everybody there loved Canada because we brought fans. There wasn’t a lot of fans for the local teams … and for Canada, we had a large amount of fans that came with us to support us and cheer for us, which was huge.”
Included in the cheering section were Bird’s husband Cory, her mother, Karen Hirsch of Estevan, and her aunt, Mary Wilkes of Regina.
“They went all out. They were in Canada apparel. You could hear them on the ice. They were a huge support. Even all of the ladies on the team who didn’t know our family were happy and hugging them and happy they were there.”
Hirsch paid tribute to her daughter and the attitude of the Canadians players.
“I didn’t really think about the team and you being grateful for the support,” said Hirsch in a message she sent her daughter. “I was just thankful for the chance to tag along and see it all happen. You made me so proud to be your mother. It doesn’t matter what age your kids are. You still feel as much pride in their accomplishments as you would if they were still under your care and responsibility. Maybe even a little bit more because they did it on their own.”
Bird started playing hockey when she was living in the Estevan area. She started with ringette in Bienfait, and eventually started playing hockey. She has been in Fort St. John for 16 years.
“I love the teamwork and playing with others,” said Bird. “And of course with the competitiveness, going out there and getting exercise and playing the game.”
The experience at the masters proved to be a great one, and many of the players are talking about coming together again in four years for the next masters games.
