First at the rink. Ready to compete. Outstanding student.
Vernon's Emma Ward is the embodiment of a participant in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL).
Ward, a goalie for the North Shore Warriors' U18 Female Prep team is the U18 Female West Division's Player of the Month for November.
This award is aimed at recognizing the student-athletes within the CSSHL and acknowledges their hard work, dedication, commitment, leadership, academics and community impact.
"Emma has established herself as one of the top goalies in the league, consistently delivering elite performances and giving our team a chance to win every single game," said the Warriors. "Her work ethic is unmatched -- she's the first one at the rink every day, prepared, focused, and ready to compete."
Ward is having a standout season in North Vancouver.
She's appeared in nine games for the Warriors, compiling a 6-3 record. She has a paltry 1.10 goals against average and a staggering .967 save percentage.
The Warriors currently sit ninth overall in the 14-team CSSHL Female U18 Prep League with a record of 10-5.
Beyond her on-ice success, Ward is an outstanding student who excels in school and stays on top of every responsibility. She manages her academic workload with maturity and discipline, setting a strong example for her teammates.
Her father is former Vernon Lakers BC Hockey League standout forward Spencer Ward, currently the principal at Falkland Elementary School with School District 83.
Emma is also an incredible teammate.
"She brings positive energy to the room, supports everyone around her, and is always cheering on her teammates' success," said the team. "Her leadership, attitude, and commitment make our team better both on and off the ice.
"Emma embodies what it means to be a dedicated athlete, strong student, and great teammate, and she is truly deserving of this nomination."
The North Shore Warriors Hockey Academy was founded in 2016 and was formerly named the West Vancouver Warriors Hockey Academy.
This high-performance hockey development program remains the only Hockey Canada Accredited School on Vancouver's North Shore, and joined the Canadian Sport School Hockey League in 2016. Since that time, the Academy has expanded to six teams playing in U15, U15 Prep, U16 Prep, U17 Prep, U18 Prep and Female U18 Prep divisions.