As members of Ontario's two teams, they’ll spend three days — five if they make it to the medal round — playing the top players of each province at the under-18 national women's hockey championship in British Columbia.

Shelby Wignall, 17, says she has been nervous, but that has subsided as the tournament nears.

"I think I'm ready for it," she says. "I'm excited about the challenge."

The east Mountain resident first strapped on skates at age three. She played her first league game two years later and eventually chose hockey over soccer as her main sport.

Until a few years ago, Wignall, who plays defence, competed on boys’ rep teams to help her improve her ability.

"It's something I've always had a passion for," she says of her sport of choice. "When I get to the arena, it's kind of like my happy place. It's something I love doing."

Wignall will be joined on Team Ontario Blue by Sabres Melanie Desrochers of Welland and Rylee Smith of Hagersville. Sabre Arielle O’Neill of St. Catharines will play for Team Ontario Red.

Desrochers, 17, who also plays defence, says the tryout process was pretty grueling. At the first camp, players were assigned to one of six teams to play against other teams. She competed against 108 defencemen among the three camps.

“I was nervous at first but as I got on the ice, the butterflies went away because it was just another day playing hockey,” she said. “I played my best and knew that's all I could do and I hoped that the scouts enjoyed what they saw.”

Players were called back to a second camp in August for more games and fitness testing. Almost two months later, the Ontario Women’s Hockey League called to let the girls know they made the team.

In her second year with the Sabres, Desrochers played two years in midget, also part of the Stoney Creek Girls Hockey Association.

Forward O'Neill, 16, who is a third-year Sabre, also played one year with the midget Sabres. She is excited to play with and against the most talented under-18 girls in the country.

“I am most excited to throw the provincial jersey over my head and know that I am representing my province,” she said. “I am most nervous about seeing how I will react in a pressured situation where many people could be watching the game.”

Smith, 17, who is also a forward, came to the Sabres this season from the Hamilton Hawks Intermediate AA team. She said she enjoyed the tryout experience.

“The only thing that was tough was playing with complete strangers. You don’t know how they play and it gets difficult, especially when they switch the lines every game.”

She is proud to represent the Sabres and the province.

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, so I want to make the best of it and do the best I can,” she said.

Wignall, who is in her second year with the Sabres, who are 5-0-2 in Provincial Women’s Hockey League play, credits the team with helping to raise her game.

"The coaches (and) the program offer so much for players to develop and get better," says Wignall. "It's a great team chemistry, too."

Desrochers thinks the U18 championships is a great opportunity to showcase women’s hockey.

“Girls do play at high levels and are skilled. It is also a great opportunity to get scouted by universities and hopefully get an athletic scholarship at universities in Canada or in the States,” she said. “It’s also a great opportunity to make new friends, meet new people and also to play new teams.

“Playing in the PWHL, you play the same teams over and over, always competing against the same girls. Playing at U18 gives me a chance to play different people and see the quality of hockey played in other provinces.”

The U18 national championship runs Nov. 4 to Nov. 8.