Blog Post: Catch Up With Allie Munroe

Earlier this month, ice hockey's Allie Munroe attended a developmental camp with the Canadian Women's National Program in Hamilton, Ontario. Below, Munroe writes about her experience at the camp and what she took away from it.

The Munroe File
Hometown	Yarmouth, N.S.
Position	Defenseman
Class	Rising-junior
Stats	2016-17: 21 points (7 goals, 14 assists)
Previous work	Women's Hockey Life blog post

"A goal without a plan is just a wish."

Ever since I was a little girl my dream was to play for Team Canada. Each year it seems as if that goal is getting closer and closer. Following my freshman year at Syracuse, I got invited to the May Strength and Conditioning camp for Team Canada's Development team. This was a huge day for me. I still remember reading the email and feeling tears come to my eyes. I finally got the opportunity to try and represent my country. It is something I have dreamt of since I was little and to finally have that chance to become closer to that dream was indescribable. But with success, often can follow disappointment. After being invited back to August camp, which consisted of games and practices, I was released. Which means I did not get to play the series against USA and ultimately was not chosen to go to Four Nations Cup in December. Getting cut from camp was tough, it was right before my sophomore season so it was hard to really feel the confidence I wanted to feel. Even though I was among my country's best, it wasn't good enough, but there's always so many positives that can come from tough situations.

Thankfully, my teammates, my coaches, family and friends really helped me get back on my feet and realize that it just means I have to work harder but more importantly never give up.

Munroe at the Canadian National Women's Developmental Team selection camp last August.
(Pictured from left to right: Allie Munroe, Lindsay Donovan, and Savannah Newton)

My experiences with Team Canada so far have been amazing. I was fortunate enough to get invited back to the Strength and Conditioning camp, but they cut the number of participants at this year's camp from 50 to 30. This time around camp really put everything in perspective for me. All of my hard work up to that point was worth it, but the realization I had was even more important. I know I have to commit myself for the long haul. That I have to be willing to do everything I can to make my dream of playing for Team Canada in the Olympics some day a reality. I want to have the honour to play for my country and with each day, especially with each hockey Canada camp, I feel like I am beginning to understand what it takes to get there. I am now waiting to find out if I am fortunate enough to be invited to August camp, but in the meantime, I am doing everything I can to excel this time around. I know that I am willing to make the right choices to help me get better every single day.

I am thankful for the opportunities that Syracuse has given me. I am sincerely blessed to say I attend Syracuse University and have the chance to play for the women's ice hockey team. Just being apart of Syracuse athletics and being surrounded by so many elite athletes helps me push myself daily.

This is a bit of advice I gathered at the Strength and Conditioning camp this year:

Make your mind your biggest strength and allow yourself to have confidence.

Push past the barriers that disallow you to feel confident and don't forget to have self-love. Confidence resides in all of us, but what are you doing or what are you not doing to allow yourself to have it.

I leave you, Orange Nation, with one question:

What do you imagine if your mind was your biggest strength?

Thank you for reading,
Allie Munroe #9

Syracuse University Athletics

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