The Four Nations Cup Women’s Hockey Tournament is next month in Finland.
The host country, plus Sweden, the United States and Canada are the four countries competing.
The Canadian roster includes Vicki Bendus of Wasaga Beach, who is emerging as a key player at the National level both in the short term and potentially in the long term.
Two seasons ago, Bendus, who played in the Wasaga Stars Minor Hockey program along with the Clearview Girls Hockey Association, was selected as the top player in NCAA Women’s Hockey after a stellar year with the Mercyhurst Lakers out of Erie, Pennsylvania.
These days, Wasaga Beach is home for Bendus, but only on a semi-regular basis.
She goes to school at the U of T, she plays hockey in Brampton in the CWHL loop, and she has National Team opportunities including the upcoming Four Nations Cup.
More than a decade ago, the New Jersey Devils won the Stanley Cup with Jason Arnott of the Beach scoring the winning goal.
That marker was followed by a terrific community parade and one hopes that if Bendus & her teammates can win the 4 Nations, the World Championship and potentially an Olympic title, she too would get the hometown hero treatment at Wasaga Beach
I’m Fred Wallace