Kailua’s Somera Pursues Hockey Passion On And Off Ice
By Jack Danilewicz
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS | Share
Del.icio.us
|
In addition to her assertiveness in the rink, Kailua High’s Cydnee Somera found herself a novelty attraction last summer at Boston University’s Summer Hockey Camp.
“I have a lot of friends in Boston,” said Somera, a junior.“I still talk to them.When I do, they are like,‘It’s the girl from Hawaii.’”
To be sure, in her all-consuming love of hockey,Somera is something of a rarity. Indeed, most hockey fans in Hawaii are invariably from the East Coast and are often affiliated with the military.While interest in in-line hockey continues to rise, it is still unique for an Islander to make ice hockey her passion.
And Somera’s high school hockey clock is ticking. She hopes to play in college and is working to that goal. The “dream school” on her radar is Ivy League’s Dartmouth, although she’s in contact with Division III UMass-Boston and coach Maura Crowell.
But for now, she just wants to play. She was to be in an inline tournament over the weekend at Kapolei’s new indoor rink and will resume ice hockey training with her coach, former Union College player Ken Perel.
Her interest goes back to the 2002 Winter Olympics, which she watched on television at age 10. “That’s what got me inspired. I heard there was an Olympic girls team, but I really wanted to play at a college. It’s not something someone from Hawaii normally does. I’ve wanted to play ever since I was 4. I’d watched my brother play and just always wanted to do it. My brother (Travis) and my dad (Sid) played. I played in fifth grade, and then I went back to it in my sophomore year.
“I kind of quit in-line then, but I just went back to it now that they have an indoor rink in Kapolei.”
To reach the level she wants in hockey, Somera knows travel is part of it. She went to Los Angeles last fall to try out for the L.A. Select All-Star team.She didn’t make the final cut, but it was a good experience. As at the Boston girls camp last summer,she was the only player from Hawaii.
“The coaches didn’t expect much from me - they were looking for an enforcer,” laughed the 4-feet-11, 110-pound teen. “I hope to bulk up before college.”
She opened some eyes in Boston though. “They were shocked I hadn’t played on a team and only had played in pick-up games. The Boston players helped coach at the camp, and they told me I could go far. The coach told me it’s possible I could play DI, but for sure I can play Division III.”
She’s currently on Kailua’s girls water polo team as a center. Although not on an official hockey team, she plays twice a week with “a group” coached by Perel. Most of them are older than she and have Mainland competitive hockey experience.
This June, she goes to Wellesley, Mass., for Rink Sport Camp - a week to eat, sleep, play and drink in hockey.A typical day offers two onice practices and off-ice instruction, followed by a game on the last day.
Somera’s family has been especially supportive of her hockey fixation. “They’re happy for me,” she said. “They’re always trying to help me. My mom (Tanya) is always trying to fundraise for me - she’s always there - and my dad paid for my camp last year.”
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS
Most Recent Comment(s):
