By Tyler D’Angelo
You may have passed Katie Lugg on her way to the University of Ottawa to study commerce.
Perhaps you drove by McNabb Arena on a Saturday afternoon while she practised with her Ottawa Belle AA ringette team.
Or maybe you sharpened her skates before she took to the ice to coach 10-year-old ringette players.
Either way, you probably did not know the 19-year old Ottawa native will be playing for Team Canada in the 2004 world ringette championships, being held in Sweden this November.
Lugg worked hard for a spot on a team full of returning players from the 2002 world championships, where Canada won gold and the average age was 25.
“Making the national team has been the highlight of my career,” Lugg says confidently.
“It’s the highest level.”
Lugg first started playing with the City of Ottawa Ringette Association (CORA) at the age of six.
She hasn’t looked back since. Her success over the last 12 years includes six provincial championships, two national championships, three national all-star team selections and a gold medal at the Canada Winter Games.
She logged over 400 points in the last two seasons alone.
Even though she now plays for the Gloucester-Cumberland Devils (CORA does not have a team for girls 19 and over) and is a full-time student, Lugg has committed herself to coaching CORA’s Ottawa Petite AA team, comprised of 10 and 11-year-olds.
She also teaches power skating at McNabb Arena in the winter months.
Those who know Lugg, including CORA president Al Bateman, say she is a smart player, natural scorer, good student and devoted volunteer coach.
“She is a role model for the kids she coaches because she sets such a great example,” Bateman says.
For Lugg, coaching is one small way to help a ringette community that has personally meant so much.
“I started doing it in Grade 9 for community service and I didn’t want to give it up,” Lugg says. “It’s great.”
Bateman, whose daughters play soccer with Lugg, also describes her as a great leader who comes through in key situations.
“We look at people like her as one of the best assets in the association,” Bateman adds.
Lugg is one of three Ottawa-area players selected for Team Canada’s 22-person travelling roster.
The team travels to Stockholm next month to compete in the sport’s bi-annual world championships on Nov. 23-27.
Team Canada assistant coach Lyndsay Wheelans says she is confident Katie can help the team accomplish something that no country has done in the history of the sport: defend the world title.
“For a player her age she knows so much about what’s happening on the ice,” Wheelans says.
“I’ve coached some of the top players in the world, and there are not too many players that have that sort of gift.”
Still, Lugg says, ringette is about more than goals and glory.
“You play together, you make lifelong friendships, and those are the things that stay with you once you’re done ringette,” Lugg adds thoughtfully.
“That’s one of the great things about sports.”