Penner signs up
A family trip to the East Coast was enough to convince Avery Penner Prince Edward Island was the place to continue her hockey career.
The 18-year-old defenceman for the Ridley Tigers visited the Maritimes last year and quickly felt at home.
“I knew I wanted to go somewhere far and move away from home,” Penner said. “I fell in love with the East Coast.”
When she returned from the trip, Penner reached out to handful of schools, and with the guidance of Ridley assistant coach Celeste Doucet, hooked up with University of Prince Edward Island coach Bruce Donaldson.
“She (Doucet) knows the coach and told me he was amazing. I reached out to him and I knew after talking to him for a bit I would feel comfortable there and love it there,” Penner said.
Penner said the area was reminiscent of her hometown of Niagara-on-the-Lake.
“P.E.I. as a whole is small and I knew I wanted to go to a small school,” she said. “It’s a great atmosphere and everyone was so friendly. It’s super small and reminds me of Niagara-on-the-Lake.”
A tour of the campus was arranged and that sealed the deal, Penner said.
“Coach Bruce Donaldson has a lot to do with it. He’s a great guy and when I toured he made me feel so welcome and everyone on the team did too,” she said. “I spoke to a girl I used to play with at Ridley and she could only say good things about it.”
Penner, who will major in kinesiology, is excited for the hockey aspect of playing at P.E.I..
“I didn’t realize how good they were until I started following them. They were placing top 10 in Canada which is amazing for them and that program,” she said.
Penner is well aware it’s a huge jump to university hockey from high school.
“Their head scout talked to me and said the hockey is similar but it’s a lot more aggressive,” Penner said. “I’m going to have to become stronger on the ice and push a little more which I’m totally OK with and working towards now.
“He said it’s not much different in regard to speed and moving the puck but he said playing against girls who are five years older than me will be a challenge as far as strength goes.”
Penner is working out at home as much as possible, but is limited due to the pandemic.
“With the virus there’s not much we can do. I’m just looking forward to September and hoping it will happen,” she said.
Penner said she will miss her family, but is excited for the experience.
“I have never really been away from home. I go to Ridley but am a day student and I want to experience the boarding life so that’s why I wanted to move away,” she said. “I’m sure I’m going to miss my parents and family and Niagara but I know I will be able to come home on holidays and see them and they’ve already talked about coming to see me play, which is great.”
She feels her time at Ridley has prepared her for the next level.
“It’s the best experience I’ve ever had,” she said. “I’m happy I went there. Everyone at university says the academic part at Ridley prepares you so much for university. Strength and conditioning twice a week, being on the ice every day and then playing multi games on the weekend, that’s the same schedule as P.E.I. so I’m pretty sure I’m prepared and I’m really excited.”
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