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SUMMERSIDE – Although there has been a large turnover with the Three Oaks Axewomen’s senior AAA rugby team roster, head coach Tim Hockin refuses to call it a rebuilding year.

“I never want to say it’s a rebuilding year, but I try to find balance,” said Hockin in a recent interview with the Journal Pioneer.

The Three Oaks Axewomen and Axemen will host the 22nd annual David Voye Memorial senior AAA rugby tournament at the Summerside high school from Thursday to Saturday. This year’s event has attracted a record 28 teams – 16 girls and 12 boys. The previous high of entries was 24.

“There’s a big sense of pride playing in the Voye, especially the (team’s opening) 3 p.m. game on Friday (against North Nova),” said Axewomen senior fullback Hope DesRoche of Summerside. “You will have most of the school come out, a lot of people you normally would not see at a game.

“It’s really nice because you feel that big sense of community, which is a big part of rugby.”

Hockin described the 2018 edition of the Axewomen, who defeated Montague to win the P.E.I. School Athletic Association Senior AAA Girls Rugby League championship in June 2017, as a young team.

“We graduated 15, 16 Grade 12s last year, so we only have six or seven Grade 12s,” said the veteran head coach. “There are a lot of new Grade 11 girls filling some key roles.

“They are athletic girls, and they just have a lot of learning to do as far as the rugby knowledge is concerned.”

DesRoche, who also plays for the provincial under-18 and under-20 teams, said one key for the Axewomen will be to focus on their defence.

“I think offence is where we will thrive being so athletic, but getting down hard on defence and not letting the opposition find the gaps will be a big make or break for us,” said DesRoche.

Click here for story on Three Oaks Axemen hosting boys' portion of David Voye Memorial rugby tournament:

Hope DesRoche is a Grade 12 player with the Three Oaks Axewomen.

Divisions

The girls’ teams are split into two divisions, and Hockin says it may be the strongest field in the tournament’s history.

“There will not be one easy game,” emphasized Hockin.

The Axewomen, who have been hit hard by injuries early in the season, are in Tier 1 with North Nova (New Glasgow, N.S.); Stouffville, Ont.; Avon View (Windsor, N.S.); Sutton, Ont.; Montague; Westisle and Horton (Wolfville, N.S.).

“We are in a tough division this year,” reasoned Hockin. “There are 16 girls’ teams, two from Ontario, two provincial Nova Scotia championship teams from last year, Horton (Division 2) and Avon View (Division 1).

“All of those teams are in our pool. It doesn’t matter who we play, it’s going to be a strong team. We are looking to get experience, we are looking to win a couple of games and just compete and keep getting better. Obviously, our ultimate goal is to win the province.”

DesRoche, who will be wearing the Axewomen’s green and gold colours in the Voye tournament for the third straight year, said one thing the players enjoy about playing in tournaments like this one is to face different competition they normally do not get the opportunity to play.

“It gains us experience, because usually the teams we play are tougher ones,” added DesRoche, 18. “It will be good to get us used to playing hard defence and things like that.”

Mya Chisholm works on a passing drill during a recent Three Oaks Axewomen practice.

Difference

DesRoche acknowledged there “definitely is” a difference playing against off-Island teams compared to P.E.I. competition.

“The teams in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are usually built on size and drilling the ball hard, where teams from here we are usually about all the same size, but it’s speed and athleticism that we are built on,” continued DesRoche.

Team and camaraderie are two important parts of a successful team, noted DesRoche, who was asked what attracted her to the sport of rugby?

“The big thing for me is the adrenaline you get from it,” answered DesRoche. “It’s not like playing soccer or anything else. You always feel that sense you have to do this.

“You have such a set position that if you do not fulfil what you need to do then you are going to let down your team and that’s not something you want to do.”

Jason.simmonds@journalpioneer.com

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Schedule

Girls’ schedule for David Voye Memorial rugby tournament:

Tier 1

Friday, May 11

3 p.m. – Game 1: Three Oaks vs. North Nova (Canada Games)

3 p.m. – Game 2: Stouffville vs. Avon View (Bus Depot).

4 p.m. – Game 3: Sutton vs. Montague (Victoria Road).

4 p.m. – Game 4: Westisle vs. Horton (Eric Johnston).

6 p.m. – Game 5: winner of Game 1 vs. winner of Game 2 (Canada Games).

6 p.m. – Game 6: loser of Game 1 vs. loser of Game 2 (Eric Johnston).

7 p.m. – Game 7: winner of Game 3 vs. winner of Game 4 (Canada Games).

7 p.m. – Game 8: loser of Game 3 vs. loser of Game 4 (Victoria Road).

Saturday, May 12

10 a.m. – Seventh-place game: loser of Game 6 vs. loser of Game 8 (Victoria Road).

10 a.m. – Fifth-place game: winner of Game 6 vs. winner of Game 8 (Canada Games).

11 a.m. – Third-place game: loser of Game 5 vs. loser of Game 7 (Eric Johnston).

1 p.m. – Championship: winner of Game 5 vs. winner of Game 7 (Canada Games).

Tier 2

Friday, May 11

2 p.m. – Game 1: Halifax West vs. Charlottetown Rural (Bus Depot).

2 p.m. – Game 2: King’s-Edgehill vs. Hants East (Canada Games).

4 p.m. – Game 3: Northumberland vs. North East Kings (Bus Depot).

4 p.m. – Game 4: Edmonton vs. Cobequid Education Centre (Canada Games).

5 p.m. – Game 5: winner of Game 1 vs. winner of Game 2 (Victoria Road).

5 p.m. – Game 6: loser of Game 1 vs. loser of Game 2 (Eric Johnston).

7 p.m. – Game 7: winner of Game 3 vs. winner of Game 4 (Bus Depot).

7 p.m. – Game 8: loser of Game 3 vs. loser of Game 4 (Eric Johnston).

Saturday, May 12

10 a.m. – Seventh-place game: loser of Game 6 vs. loser of Game 8 (Eric Johnston).

10 a.m. – Fifth-place game: winner of Game 6 vs. winner of Game 8 (Bus Depot).

11 a.m. – Third-place game: loser of Game 5 vs. loser of Game 7 (Victoria Road).

Noon – Championship: winner of Game 5 vs. winner of Game 7 (Canada Games).

Roster

Three Oaks Axewomen’s senior AAA rugby team roster:

Players

Gabby Gallant

Kate Gaudet

Madelyn Reilly

Maddy Clements

Hope DesRoche

Mikaela Tynski

Kara Stewart

Hailey VanDuenkerken

Melanie Rodger

Madison Myers

Mackenziee Crockett

Gina Richard

Maddison Kelly Maund

Drew Drummond

Carly MacKenzie

Olivia Shaw

Paige Campbell

Mya Chisholm

Erin Arsenault-Gallant

Ariana MacFarlane

Zoe Chapman

Jordan Power

Jordyn Connell

Jill Clark

Reese MacDonald

Amber Dyer

Coaches

Tim Hockin

Lauren Sheidow

Lauren Ryder