Elan Kramer and Amelia Bernier pictured here with their gold medals at the 2022 North American Hockey Classic. (Submitted photo/Carla Bernier)

By Martin Martinson

Achieving a dream

Locals Kramer, Bernier win North American Hockey Classic

May 31, 2022 | 5:24 PM

It was an experience local hockey standouts, Elan Kramer and Amelia Bernier will treasure for some time.

Together the pair of Battlefords locals represented team SASK XCEL’s 2010 (born) female hockey team, who took home a gold medal at the 2022 North American Hockey Classic in Winnipeg.

One of the largest female spring hockey tournaments in North America, this year’s event took place May 26–29, with the XCEL girls showing strong resiliency early in the tournament, on their path to the gold.

The 2010 SASK XCEL team pose for a team picture with their gold medals after winning their division championship at the 2022 North American Hockey Classic. (Submitted photo/Carla Bernier)

After falling 2–1 to the SASK GRRROWL to open round robin play, SASK XCEL bounced back quickly with a pair of big victories over the PHD PREDATORS BLACK 6–1 and MJI XTREME 5–3, to make the A-side heading into the playoff rounds.

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In the A-side semis, the XCEL then topped the HUSKIE PROSPECTS 6–1 to advance to the finals where they avenged their earlier loss to the SASK GRRROWL, to win the tournament gold.

Bernier, an 11-year-old forward who scored two of the team’s seven goals in the championship game, said it was a feeling she won’t soon forget.

“It felt amazing,” Bernier said. “Those were my first two goals of the tournament and in the gold final it was even better…The first one I was on the hash marks and my centerman passed me the puck for a quick shot that went right through the goalie.”

And the second?

“My teammate was on a breakaway and I was going up with her, when she made a nice pass, and I shot it in, and right after ran into the boards,” she added with a laugh.

Bernier said reflecting on the tournament win, it’s not just the goals that stand out, but being able to celebrate with teammates following the championship.

“We were all screaming [in celebration] and it was really nice because we’ve been working super hard and then we won,” Bernier said with a smile. “It was just a great weekend and I was with all my favorite people and we all had a good time.”

Kramer, a 12-year-old blueliner and alternate captain with the team echoed the sentiment, calling it ‘a pretty great feeling’ to take home her first tournament win at that level.

After all, it took dedication to come together as a team and find success. Featuring 17 of the elite female players in their age group from across the province, this marked the third year with the team for the bulk of the players, though their first competing in true tournament fashion since the pandemic.

Since coming together two months ago, SASK XCEL practiced every weekend to hone their skills and mesh as a team prior to three tournaments this year. The team played in Edmonton and Saskatoon, against ’09 birthdate teams, prior to the final in Winnipeg against fellow 2010-born teams that ended with the gold.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1