WINNIPEG – Hockey Manitoba is proud to announce the winners of the 2017 Global Girls’ Game hosted by the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA) and Hockey Canada.  The Global Girls’ Game focuses on bringing female players throughout the world together as teammates while working to grow the sport of female hockey.  Hockey Manitoba will be sending two players to participate in the Canadian segment of the Global Girls’ Game that will be taking place Sunday, February 19, 2017 in the Greater Toronto area.

Representing Hockey Manitoba will be:

• Olivia Bourbonnais, Winnipeg – Olivia is in her 7th year of female hockey, playing forward for the Bantam A1 St. Boniface Stars in Winnipeg, MB.  Olivia hopes to one day receive a scholarship for playing hockey and go to school for architecture.  When Olivia is not playing hockey she is working hard to help others whether its creating flower headbands with proceeds going towards an all girls orphanage or working with people with autism.  She is a very positive & friendly person who hopes this experience will help her grow as a player & leader on & off the ice while meeting new people.  Olivia urges younger girls playing hockey to keep their head up (literally) & to count themselves lucky to be able to play a sport as it is a great way to make friends & develop leadership skills.

• Leya Lepage, LaBroquerie – Leya is in her 3rd year of female hockey, playing defence for the LaBroquerie Habs in Labroquerie, MB.  Leya enjoys being involved in the arts as much as possible from playing her many instruments (violin, piano, guitar & ukulele) to singing, painting, reading & writing.  Leya hopes to travel through school with student exchange programs in the near future.  Leya considers herself a team player and leader by encouraging her teammates whether they’ve had a good or bad shift.  She likes to include everyone in activities on & off the ice and hopes this experience will create new friendships while travelling to play with new players and coaches to learn from.  Leya reminds younger girls playing hockey to make sure you seek help when something is hard & to practice and play to the best of your abilities.