Makayla Watson celebrates a goal while playing for Team Canada against Team USA in Lake Placid, N.Y. this summer. (Photo: Makayla Watson)

By Jesse Gill

17-year-old from Brooks makes Team Canada Women’s U18 team

Dec 15, 2023 | 6:30 AM

KELOWNA, BC – A local teen is set to represent Canada on a major stage.

Makayla Watson is a 17-year-old hockey player from Brooks. The defenceman will be the only Alberta player representing Canada at the 2024 U18 Women’s World Hockey Championship in Zug, Switzerland from January 6-14.

Watson is currently playing hockey for the U18 women’s prep team at RINK Hockey Academy in Kelowna, a member of the Canadian Sports School Hockey League.

It has been quite the start to the season for Watson, who put up 34 points in 15 games.

She was in class when she got the news that she had made the national team.

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“The clock struck two, so I kind of just held onto my phone and then I felt a buzz,” Watson told Pattison Media.

“So, I left the classroom and took a call from our D coach and he said congratulations,” added Watson. “I was pretty excited and I called my parents right after. Then I had to go back to class. It was a pretty cool moment.”

When asked about her style of play, Watson said she is fairly offensive.

“I think that my style of play is kind of shifted a little bit. I’m probably an offensive defenceman, but I have definitely been working hard to grow my defensive side of the game. So, maybe a playmaking defenceman, if that’s a thing,” Watson said..

“I am just really excited and there are a lot people I have to thank for this, especially my parents and my past coaches. I mean, none of this would be possible without them and I am excited for this opportunity.”

This will be Watson’s first trip to Europe. She represented Canada at the summer showcase in Lake Placid, New York earlier in the year.

Watson began hockey at the age of seven played her minor hockey in Brooks with the Prairie Thunder girls team, then with the boys Jr. Bandits team up until she reached the U15 age group.

At that time, she joined the Southern Express a women’s U15 AA team in Lethbridge.

Watson spend the following two seasons at Edge School out of Calgary, playing for their U18 women’s prep team in the CSSHL before she made the move to Kelowna this season.

She was named the Top Freshman of the Year in the CSSHL in 2022.

Watson was also a member of Team Alberta at the 2023 Canada Winter Games in Prince Edward Island.

She is committed to play hockey at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut next season.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now

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