A pair of Williams Lake hockey players are helping the Northern Capitals of the BC Female Midget AAA League to a strong start to the 2015/16 campaign.
Defenceman Victoria Byer is back with the Capitals in her third and final season and second-year goaltender Tamara William, who played last year with the Williams Lake Female Timberwolves, has joined the roster after being an affiliate player last year for the Capitals.
In nine games so far this season the Capitals, who are based out of Prince George, sit third out of six teams in the BCFML with four wins, three losses and two ties, three points back of the first-place Greater Vancouver Comets and one point behind the Vancouer Island Seals.
William, in three starts so far, has gone unbeaten with two wins and a tie.
Byer, from the blueline, has two goals and two assists in nine games.
“I really enjoy playing on the team,” Byer said. “We’ve achieved many accomplishments and hope to continue to follow in this success. It’s a great group of girls and I’m always having a blast with them.”
William said, like Byer, she’s enjoying her time with the club.
“It’s a great experience for me and I’ll always cherish this moment,” William said. “My goal this season is to greatly help out my team win a provincial title and for us to be recognized throughout Canada.”
Including practices, the team is on the ice six times per week. Byer said Capitals head coach Mario Desjardins has played a big role in helping her, not only as a player, but off the ice, as well.
One of her goals coming into the season, she said, was to receive a letter on her jersey.
“This came true,” she said. “I’m currently assistant captain on the Capitals.”
She added improvements she hopes to make this season include bettering her pace of game, getting faster and stronger and making smarter decisions on the ice.
“I always try to improve myself, pushing to get better every day and I actually do see a difference in how I play,” Byer said. “I feel I’ve improved a lot over the years.”
William, meanwhile, said her friends and family have played a big role in helping her achieve her goal of playing for the Capitals.
She said a provincial title is well within the team’s capabilities.
“We all have to work as a team to win and for me to help out I’m going to work hard in practice and focus on my weaknesses and hope for the best,” she said.
The Capitals are at home this weekend hosting the fifth-place Fraser Valley Rush (3-5-1) on Friday and Saturday.