Tracey Arnold had an incredible homecoming in Glen Ewen last weekend.
Arnold, who hails from the village, was selected earlier this year to be one of three goalies for Team Canada’s women’s sledge hockey team for the 2019-20 season. She is one of three goaltenders on the team.
A fundraiser was held for her on Nov. 9 at the village’s communiplex.
More than 120 people turned out to support her and wish her good luck with Team Canada.
“I was so happy to see all of the people there, and the support that everyone has provided, it was just great,” she said. “Sometimes I don’t even have words to explain it.”
The event had lots of food for people to enjoy, including beef on a bun. Saskatchewan country music singer Chris Henderson, who is Arnold’s cousin, played music at the event.
Other highlights included a silent auction, a Chinese auction and a live auction of an autographed Team Canada jersey from Arnold that sold for $1,000 to Mark and Ashley Kosior.
Her father’s old hockey team, the Glen Ewen Selects, presented her with one of her dad’s old jerseys.
She also saw many people she hadn’t seen in years, as she now lives in Saskatoon.
“It was really great to see people I haven’t seen in a long time,” said Arnold. “Great friends came up from the U.S. too, and friends from all over in southeast Saskatchewan, and I had friends from Saskatoon who sent donations down who weren’t able to make the event. I was blown away by all of the support.”
A committee comprised of Arnold’s family members and friends decided to organize the event after Arnold was selected for Team Canada earlier this year.
An estimated $11,000 was raised.
Arnold’s time with Team Canada is going well. She will be in Calgary this weekend for a development camp with the women’s team. She has also had some game action in Nova Scotia in October.
“It was really good. It was the first time the team had been together after the tryouts, and it was an amazing experience. We had a two-game series out there with an Atlantic Canada team, and we won both games.”
Arnold admits she was nervous when she was out on the ice, and it was an emotional time when she was presented with the Team Canada jersey and when she heard O Canada out on the ice for the first time. But she thought she played well and she enjoyed the experience.
