Hockey star out of Niverville, Bry Muntain, was part of Team Manitoba that won the War For The Roses tournament that was held in Edmonton.
Loving the sport of hockey came early and naturally to the 13-year-old. "From a young age, we lived in Pinawa, my parents played hockey, and our town was pretty big at hockey. I started skating when I was like, two. My dad has a video, I wasn't the greatest," Muntain says with a chuckle. "It was really cool. I joined a hockey team when I was around five."
Going from skating alone to playing organized hockey was quite the adjustment for Muntain. "It was really different. I was one of the only girls on the team, but it was fun. I got to play with my friends from school. I definitely enjoyed it."
As she's grown up in the game, Muntain says her passion and dedication for hockey has led her to where she it today. "It's been good. I really had to quit a lot of things to pursue hockey. Half of our move to Niverville was because I couldn't get, like, it was really far from the city where we used to live. I had to give up my friends because I wanted to go far in hockey. There's a lot of late nights, but it's all worth it."
Recently, Muntain was part of the 2012 Manitoba Junior Ice, and she says details how the team was made. "Well, we have a few girls that also play on another spring team, the Manitoba All-Stars. There's four girls from that team that wanted to try out for Team Manitoba. So, we had to vary the All-Stars and Manitoba Junior Ice the whole time. Most of my friends, I pretty much knew everyone on the Junior Ice, and the coaches were awesome."
This year, Muntain and the Junior Ice had the opportunity to attend a major event. "We had the annual War For The Roses," she says proudly. "It's like the Brick Tournament, but for girls. It's at West Edmonton Mall. It's so cool, because you get to see other people just stop and watch you, and they don't even know you. There's so many people watching, it's just such a cool experience. You get to meet so many new people, too."
A major tournament like that brings out a high level of competition, something Muntain loved and believes will help her in the long run. "The hockey was so good. The teams we had to play, like Toronto, we played them a couple times, and they were a really good hockey team. Playing there makes me want to keep going, keep striving to get even better."
Years ago, she was one of the only girls on a team, now, she's part of an all girl team, something Muntain is so proud of. "It's so awesome. When I get older, I want to inspire other girls to (play hockey). Now, there's so many opportunities. Even when I was younger, there were not organized girls teams, and now there's so many things that I can look up to go to. Especially with the PWHL, it's crazy, there are so many more opportunities that have risen for women in hockey."
Looking down the road, Muntain has a pretty good idea of the steps she wants to take, knowing full well the hard work is going to continue. "I'm trying out for the U15 AAA Selects this year. I'll also probably play spring. I want to go to a good prep school for hockey, like RINK, that's one of my dreams. Just keep working hard... maybe more workouts than I normally do," she says laughing.
Through it all, Muntain has gone through the highs and lows with her family by her side, as well as others in her hockey life, all of which she's cherished dearly. "It means a whole lot. My parents have been so supportive, they've driven me and travelled all over North America, just for hockey. They always help me. My coaches, I've been so lucky to have amazing coaches and I know they help me succeed. My teammates, this year, for War For The Roses, I think the reason we succeeded was because we were so close, we just wanted to win for each other and not for our selves."
The future is very bright for Niverville's Bry Muntain.