'Once in a lifetime': 7 N.L. girls help lead Canada to world ball hockey championship

'Once in a lifetime': 7 N.L. girls help lead Canada to world ball hockey championship

Canada defeated Slovakia 2-1 on July 5 to win gold

Not many teenagers can say they're the best in the world at something, but seven ball hockey players from Newfoundland and Labrador certainly can.

Aleah Philpott, Avery Strong, Anna Seymour, Adrienne Shannahan, Aubree Bartlett, Jorja Smith and Paityn Williams were all part of Canada's victory at the 2026 U16 Women's World Ball Hockey Championships in Sheffield, England on July 5.

"Me and Paityn were just in the corner, and we were just counting down the seconds. And when we threw our sticks up, it was just such an amazing feeling," Strong, a 16-year-old from Conception Bay South, told CBC News Wednesday.

"It was just an unreal experience. Once in a lifetime," added 14-year-old Smith of Chapel Arm.

Canada lost to Slovakia earlier in the tournament, but Seymour said the Canadians were able to pull out a win when it mattered.

This year marked the first time the International Street and Ball Hockey Federation has hosted a U16 World Championship — and the first time the girls have had the opportunity to represent Canada.

The girls competed for Newfoundland and Labrador at a recent national tournament, and were impressive enough to earn a spot on Canada's roster.

"Everyone was all in on the team," said Shannahan, a 15-year-old from St. John's. "To be able to represent your nation at any level is a really cool experience no matter what age you are."

Seymour, a 16-year-old from St. John's, said many of the players have an ice hockey background and recently began playing girl's ball hockey.

Around a year later, the group are world champions.

"We only just started playing last year, but obviously we've played ice hockey for a very long time. And it was just super cool to be able to experience that with our friends," Seymour said of the championship.

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Philpott is a veteran among the group. The 16-year-old from St. John's has been playing ball hockey for over five years, and said it's been incredible to watch the sport grow in the province to the point where seven Newfoundlanders and Labradorians can contribute to a world title.

"There was never really a girl's team because there wasn't enough of us," Philpott said. "It's just so cool how we, like, grew together and, like, got to that point and got to celebrate together."

7 N.L. teens help lead Canada to world ball hockey gold

The seven teammates hope the tournament is the first of many opportunities to represent Canada. Their time back at home in Newfoundland and Labrador is brief, as they'll soon head back to nationals in New Brunswick to represent their home province.

"We've always, I think, been a pretty good competitor for teams across Canada. So I think we can just keep on growing and getting better," Williams, a 16-year-old from Bay Bulls, said.

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Alex Kennedy is a reporter with CBC Newfoundland and Labrador based in St. John's. He previously worked with CBC N.L. in Corner Brook, and has a particular interest in stories about sports and interesting people.