CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Ashley Hollis sees herself in the young girls who stand by the stairwell to wish them luck before and after they step on the ice to compete with Canada’s top ringette players.
The 22-year-old Stratford native is a defenceman with the Atlantic Attack, which is defending its National Ringette League title this week at the Credit Union Canadian Ringette Championships in Prince Edward Island.
“It brings me back to whenever I was a young girl and watching the Canada Games team and older girls play and just being like, ‘Hey I want to get there someday. I want to learn how to do that’,” she said outside the team’s dressing room at MacLauchlan Arena. “It gave me a drive . . . (to) want to be better and prove myself.”
When Hollis was 18 years old, she had a chance to watch an Attack squad, with Souris native Kendra O’Brien on the roster, play in Charlottetown.
It ignited Hollis’ passion even more.
“I want to get involved with this. I want to bring my ringette game to the next level,” Hollis said she remembers thinking.
Hollis decided to try out and made the team. She was timid the first year as she found her way around the team and league. Now, in her fourth season, she is a vocal player on the ice who is strong defensively and doesn’t mind mixing it up physically when needed.
“That’s my drive and want to get the ring and keep the ring in the other end,” she said.
Mike James coached Hollis as she grew up through the local ringette leagues. He said it is a boost to the Island’s program to have Hollis playing in the top league in the country and have her competing on the Island for a national title this week.
“To be able to watch her as a young 12- or 13-year-old (and see her today), it’s fantastic,” he said. “Ashley’s commitment level was as high as anyone that I coached, and her speed was her total asset. She was a fantastic skater at the younger age . . . and continued to work at it.”
Balancing work, athletics and life isn’t easy, but it is something Hollis enjoys and shows in her passion for the sport.
Hollis is a rehab assistant with CBI Health Group and coaches P.E.I. Edge the under-19 squad that will compete in next weekend’s Eastern Canadian championship in Oshawa, Ont.
“I love being active. The girls, they keep it fun, the spirit is great, and I am a competitive type of person,” she said. “I enjoy every aspect of it.”
Hollis is carrying the P.E.I. colours as the lone Islander on this year’s edition of the Attack.
“It’s pretty exciting, but I try my best not to let that get into my head,” she said. “It’s amazing having all my family and friends here (but I have to remain focused on the ice). If I don't, then I’ll be (off) my game.”
Hollis is a top ringette player but was also a strong field hockey player in the province growing up.
She was a provincial tournament all-star at Charlottetown Rural and helped the team win the provincials each of her three years at the school before joining the UPEI Panthers program for a season.
She coached The Mount Academy Saints to a silver medal at the Prince Edward Island School Athletic Association championship in the fall with only six players having experience before the year began.
“Ashley has a passion for sports, fitness, field hockey and ringette,” said Kenny MacDougall, The Mount’s headmaster. “She’s certainly an advocate for female sport and female participation and really wanted to introduce a group of girls to the game of field hockey.”
Need to know
Ashley Hollis
Who – A defenceman with the Atlantic Attack. They are playing in the Credit Union Canadian Ringette Championships this week on Prince Edward Island. She has two assists in the first five games.
Age – 22
Hometown – Stratford
Statistics
Season GP G A Pts.
2015-16 28 1 5 6
2016-17 20 1 7 8
2017-18 22 3 8 11
2018-19 28 2 12 14
Related
A look at the Attack's schedule at the Credit Union Canadian Ringette Championships
