By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
In a world of seemingly endless change, there is at least one constant, one steady unwavering force in the form of Osoyoos’ star female hockey player, Danica Maynard, who is set to take the next step in her hockey journey at one of the “Big 10” American varsity schools.
For the 17-year-old, her life – and certainly by extension the life of her family – revolves almost entirely around hockey. In arguably a short span of her youthful career (although to be fair skating and walking were probably pretty much simultaneous on the learning curve) Maynard has chalked up an impressive list of accomplishments, accolades and hardware.
The latest and most prestigious addition to her trophy collection is a gold medal from January’s U18 Women’s World Championships in Finland. Maynard, who plays defence, and her teammates blew through the best teams in the world, emerging undefeated in six games including a rather satisfying schooling of the Americans 3-0 in the final.
Holding the coveted U18 Women’s World Championship cup after beating the Americans 3-0 in the final.
Contributed photo
“It was amazing!” is Maynard’s concise response to what it felt like. But in a true demonstration of what this young woman is all about she follows it up by saying, “I got to it with my teammates and my friends as well as I got to do it in a new place, Finland, which was unreal.
“Just being able to experience that was really amazing. I think also just playing hockey down there and playing it with such an amazing group of people and teammates and staff as well.”
She goes on to say that the best part, aside from the winning of course, “was just getting to know everyone and enjoying the moment, and just taking in the scenery. Getting to experience that and the different culture that they have, I think that was really, really great.”
“This is definitely the furthest that I’ve ever travelled with hockey!” she says and of course being a major hockey nation was an added bonus.
And with the elevated level of hockey came additional learning from both coaches and fellow players as well, she notes.
As for the team’s success – always a challenge given the team is essentially “thrown together” just for that particular championship – Maynard puts it down to various things, not least of all due to the opportunity they had to bond off ice.
“We got there a little bit early so we could have time to adjust and we played an exhibition game against Finland which was pretty cool.” It also gave them a chance to get their feet moving and practice as a team.
“I think being able to bond with everyone before the tournament actually started, and do some team bonding I think that allowed us to become closer together as a group. When the first game hit, I think everyone just knew it was like time to go. We all had to bring our best games,” she said.
Family fan support as Danica is all smiles with gold in hand.
Contributed photo
“Everyone was supporting each other, and we all trusted each other,” she said adding that the coach’s advice was that “this is just another game.”
“You’ve got to continue to play your game. You’re here for a reason and she always told us, ‘We’re here to get one per cent better every day’. And I think that just stuck with our group and allowed us to progress throughout the tournament.
“I think we definitely got better as a team throughout the games. Obviously it’s a short tournament, so you don’t have much time for adjustments. I think our group exceeded with that, being able to just trust each other and go out there and play and, yeah, I think that that helped us progress to the final game.”
And in this successful endeavour, Maynard’s part was by no part small racking up three key assists and a goal against Slovakia of which she says, “So that was pretty cool, my first international goal it’s pretty amazing.”
Maynard says it’s not as challenging as it might seem, being thrown together as a team for one event, as many of the players have played with or against each other in provincial or national leagues and tournaments.
She says that it was only herself and North Vancouver’s Chloe Primerano from BC but she adds there are others who play on the same team as her in Penticton, “so that was pretty good”. And as well, she’s played with some people like Sara and Kate Manness on a spring team together and she also knew a handful of others as well.
Canada’s U18 Women’s champions after winning the gold after beating the U.S. at the 2025 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship in Finland in January.
Michaeline Veluvolu/HHOF-IIHF photo
Soon there will be new teammates, new friends, and new challenges as Maynard will be packing her bags and heading east this fall to study and play hockey at Penn State University which aside from having reputable academic “cred” is also one of the Big 10 (eighteen actually) varsity schools where sports are played at the top level.
“Something different, but it will be really fun,” she says somewhat nonchalantly. All part of the plan, which includes hopefully continuing with Hockey Canada to participate on the national U22 team, she adds.
The trials she says will most likely be in the summer, possibly late-August and “hopefully I will get an invite that this year. But if not obviously there are a lot of years, and they told us that’s really hard to get into and if you don’t get it the first time give up you have a lot of other years to get there.
“So, yeah, I think that’s the next steps as well as we’re finishing up here in rink soon and I think from there just some summer training and then getting ready for Penn State.”
Further out on the planning horizon for her hockey goals are professional hockey and of course the big red maple leaf on the cake, the Olympics. No doubt this young woman’s talent and character will carry her far, and one day we’ll be cheering her on in her quest for Canadian Olympic hockey gold.
