Makayla Watson from Brooks pictured in the middle after winning bronze at the U-18 Women's World Hockey Championship in Switzerland. (Submitted by Makayla Watson)

By Jesse Gill

17-year-old hockey player from Brooks returns from Europe with a bronze medal

Jan 22, 2024 | 5:26 PM

A 17-year-old hockey player from Brooks says the U-18 Women’s World Hockey Championship was an awesome experience.

Makayla Watson competed as the only Alberta player on Team Canada at the tournament in Zug, Switzerland which wrapped up Jan. 14.

The defenseman helped her team to a bronze medal finish after a 4-2 semi-final loss to Czechia kept them from a chance at gold.

Watson said she was hoping for gold, but was still happy to medal.

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“It was a good tournament we played really well, we had a really strong team,” Watson said.

“Bronze wasn’t our ultimate goal, but after the semi-final game we came back together as a team and put in a good showing for our final game and won bronze,” she added.

During the teams two weeks in Europe they were able to do some travelling and site seeing, which included a one day stop in Italy and touring around Switzerland.

Watson said the experience was once in a lifetime and pretty special.

Canada defeated Finland 8-1 in the bronze medal game on Jan. 14, while the U.S. beat Czechia 5-1 in the gold medal game.