Samantha Hoover: a rookie with a future
By Jasmine Ball
Lance Writer
October 15, 2008
Samantha Hoover, a fresh face and rookie winger on the Lancers’ women’s hockey team, is a fun-loving girl who enjoys reading, swimming and of course getting on the ice for a good game of Canada’s national winter sport.
In her childhood Hoover originally took to the ice as a figure skater, but as a sprightly seven-year-old she was determined to go to hockey camp and since her experience there she has “never looked back.”
She played hockey throughout high school – and was encouraged to continue when in her first year on the Stayner Collegiate team, the Aurora Panthers, her school finished third in the provincials and competed in the Ontario Winter Games.
The 5’5 forward, originally from New Lowell, Ontario, was also a two-time player of the year with the Clearview Ice Cats Midget Hockey Club, prior to joining the Panthers.
With the Ice Cats, her team played in the Silver Stick Tournament, where Hoover was named MVP of the tournament.
An English and creative writing student in her first year, Hoover states that one of the best advantages to playing a team sport as a new student on campus is getting to know people from other faculties.
Getting involved outside of her program has given her the opportunity to form friendships with people she might not otherwise have met.
The team members travel to compete with other varsity hockey teams and get to be very close over the season.
No doubt there are benefits to being active, but Hoover also believes that being involved in a team sport has helped her academically.
“It keeps you occupied. It keeps you focused,” she stated, making a case for sticking to a schedule to avoid getting off-track.
She claims the hockey season works well with the semester, because it starts early: “It gets you in the rhythm. On the first day we got here we were on the ice [for tryouts].”
When asked if she finds it difficult to balance school, sports, and a social life, Hoover confessed she hasn’t met any difficulty yet, though she’s sure that as the semester goes on and midterms are held, finding a good balance will be a little more challenging.
“You just have to know how to manage your time,” she said, considering the future and preparing for busier times ahead.
With the future in mind, Hoover says she is excited for this hockey season, hoping for the best and stating that it looks promising for the Lancers as we have a “pretty solid team.”
The Lancers’ Women’s Hockey Team already won two games at their opening weekend.
On Oct. 4 the Lancers stole the show with a final score of 3-0 against the UOIT Ridgebacks and on Oct. 5 the team won 5-3 against Queen’s Golden Gaels.
Hoover, number 44, tacked on an assist in the game against Queen’s.
If anything is certain, Hoover’s got a good approach to university life and will benefit from getting involved so soon.
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