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Some of my best memories are long summer weeks on P.E.I. I never did get to go to the Allan Andrews' hockey school like my brother, but going to sport camp at the Kensington Arena and attending Campbell picnics was a blast. It was a place that no doubt influenced my athletic career in so many ways
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I have forgiven Allan and my father for never allowing me to go to camp. That didn't happen until Allan started a female camp after 1998! I do know that without the success of this stellar hockey school many East Coast boys and girls would not have received the opportunities they did from this great game. His influence on developing and showcasing East Coast players should never go unnoticed.

The first Canada Games for women's hockey was on P.E.I. in 1991. I was with Team Ontario and we were the favourites.  We, well...finished fourth!

Staying at the University of P.E.I. and spending many moments with teammates no doubt prepared me for the Olympics, which were still to come.

P.E.I. is a leader when it comes to hockey, especially in the women's game where so many young girls are playing the game and starting to make a difference at high levels, whether it is the CIS, NCAA or even within the national ranks. You can always count on the province to accept women's hockey with open arms.

My last year playing for Team Canada was during the 2006 Olympic year and I still thank my coach for having our summer training camp on the Island. This camp was no picnic, but to be able to play and train in my country's colours while being present on the Island was a dream come true.
It was amazing to see people watching our on-ice training sessions or coming out to our intrasquad games. We even had people inviting us over for supper! The hospitality was endless. Although I can say it was the hardest training camp I ever participated in, it was made easier by being on the Island.

On a day off (we only got one each week) I would slip out to the farm to see family or head off to the beach just to relax and rejuvenate by the ocean. It was a way to get away from the grind that was camp.

This Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada will be my fourth since I started with CBC and I have to say that P.E.I. is in for one terrific show. It's a crazy and fun week that ends with hours of television telling the stories of P.E.I. and its great people and hockey legends.
 
I remember walking into rinks on the Island where there was always someone waiting to tell the legendary stories of a person who played in that very arena. The pictures in the trophy cases were punctuation marks for stories told by a local who simply just couldn't say enough about the hockey heroes from the Island.  

One of our great hockey producers, Kathy Broderick, will be returning home for Hockey Day in Canada. She's just one of the handful of females who work on the show.

Ron MacLean and Don Cherry of course will be there along with many other of CBC's finest, NHL alumni and so many more who will help us celebrate the greatest game on earth on an Island that just happens to be the best place on earth!

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