The year 12 homeschooled student from Rangiora has been a fan of the high-speed, fast-action sport since she started skating at the age of four.
“It’s all thanks to dad that my brother and I are keen on ice hockey.
He’s a big fan, and he has been playing for years, and he still plays for the Moonshiners in the Canterbury Ice Hockey League,” she says.
“Even mum now plays on a social team.”
This is Cameron’s first full season playing for the Canterbury Inferno women’s ice hockey team after three years as a development player with the squad.
The 16-year-old plays in the New Zealand Women's Ice Hockey League (NZWIHL), which consists of four regional franchises competing across New Zealand in winter.
Teams are based in Queenstown, Dunedin, Auckland, and Christchurch.
She trains twice a week, and her games are usually played on both Saturdays and Sundays, so Fridays and Mondays are spent travelling.
“This year it’s going to involve a lot of long-distance travel to play against the other teams, but that’s part of the fun of the game.”
The team has promoted a number of its younger development players to this year’s squad, and Cameron says at 16 she isn’t the youngest on the team.
“Everyone is nice, and it’s giving me the skills and experiences I need to qualify for the national Under 18 team selection later this year.”
She says she likes the fast pace and atmosphere of the ice rinks much more than when she tried playing hockey outside.
“The first game I played outside was hard work, and when I finished, I was so hot compared to when I’m on the ice.”
“Skating is easier than running,’’ she says.
