By Kristi Patton /

It has been quite the year for Westman Wildcats forward Brittany Phillips.

Not only has the forward tallied 75 points her team is in the hunt to represent the West region at the inaugural National Women’s Midget Championship.

“I believe [nationals] is a very positive move and is really exciting for the women’s game,” said Phillips of the Esso Cup which will be held April 19 to 26 in Calgary, Alta. “Playing a high level of competition and challenging ourselves would be a highlight...it would really be awesome to show that our program is producing a great team, great players and great people.”

The Wildcats beat the Winnipeg Rangers 5-0 (goaltender Tara Lacquette earned the shutout credit) at the provincial tournament to win gold in Hartney. They now await the winner of the Saskatchewan AAA provincial champions, either the Swift Current Diamond Energy Wildcats or Notre Dame Hounds, in the western regionals.

The Rangers were last year’s provincial champions after defeating the Wildcats in the finals. The Wildcats were determined not to let history repeat itself.

“We took care of our end and sure we kept it simple, trying to do the little things right throughout the game,” said Wildcats coach Dwight Pollock, adding this year’s squad has a strong work ethic and belief in each other, celebrating each other’s individual success as much as their own.

For Phillips, this won’t be the first time she has participated in a high-calibre tournament. The forward was part of the U-18 Team Canada squad that earned a silver medal in Germany earlier this year.

“I believe it has made me a smarter and more observant player as well as improved a lot of my skills. It’s also helped a lot with positioning and making me appreciate every player for their unique style of play and what they bring to the table,” said Phillips.

Getting the experience has helped her game, making this one of her strongest campaigns point-wise. The Lauder-native and Wildcats team captain said she has learned to channel her mental game and challenge herself every time she steps out onto the ice with her teammates.

“I’m very thankful to be part of the Westman Wildcats – being surrounded by great teammates and great coaches whom bring out the best in everyone,” said Phillips who will be attending Colgate University in the fall and playing hockey with the Raiders.

The National Women’s Midget Championship Esso Cup will be a four-team tournament with the Pacific (B.C., Alta.), West (Sask., Man.), Central (Ont.) and Atlantic (N.L, N.B., N.S., P.E.I.).
Quebec will join the field in 2010 to make it a six-team tournament.