(Brampton) Sarah Fillier often talks about the moment she first walked into the Team Canada locker room. The 18-year-old performed a gesture that any fan would have emulated.
She immediately placed her smartphone in front of the vacant locker of Marie-Philip Poulin, the women’s hockey superstar.
“I took a photo and sent it to my friends,” said the now 22-year-old with a big smile on her face.
“For me, it’s like I’m having the craziest moment of my life. I still get that feeling sometimes. All my friends are still like that, so amazed that I have the chance to play with her every day.
“And all the other names.” »
After Fillier had made a remarkable entrance on the international scene, her teammates, today, have the same feeling.
“When she came in, we knew she was talented,” said Poulin, Team Canada captain. “But it’s more than that. It’s the little details, the little habits. She is excellent with her stick. She sees the game well. As a hockey player and as a person, she is extraordinary.
The five-foot-five, 143-pound forward, her blonde braid hanging from the back of her helmet, has proven a dynamic presence with Team Canada since the start of the Women’s World Hockey Championship.
She led her squad through the preliminary round with four goals and three assists, as the focus now shifts to the playoff and quarter-final round matchup against Sweden on Thursday.
“A lot of young players have an adjustment period when they get to that level,” noted veteran striker Brianne Jenner. “It’s a bit faster, you have less time to make decisions, it’s robust.
“She plays a vital role in the success of our team. When she skates at full speed on the ice, she gives momentum to the rest of the club. »
In his first appearance at the World Championship, inside the bubble set up in Calgary in 2021, Fillier helped Canada win the gold medal with a collection of six points.
Then came the moment when she burst onto the women’s hockey scene. At the 2022 Beijing Olympics, the native of Georgetown, Ont., scored eight goals and three assists to guide Canada to gold.
“Anytime you have such talent on your team, it’s exciting,” said linemate Natalie Spooner. “We are lucky that she is able to continue this way. »
Fillier, who recently completed his third season with Princeton University in the NCAA, went on to lead Canada with five goals and six assists at the 2022 World Championship in Denmark. She notably set up the winning net for Jenner in the gold medal final against the United States.
On Monday, the speedy skater added a goal and an assist in Canada’s 4-3 shootout win over the United States in the two teams’ final preliminary round game. In doing so, the Canadian squad secured the top spot in Group A.
“There’s no question it’s a surprise,” Fillier said of his immediate and sustained success in a Canada uniform.
Fillier notably put studies aside for a year before the Olympics to perfect his game.
“She’s just a special player,” said Canada head coach Troy Ryan.
“At times, she can be dominant. When she is at her best, she is almost like a shark; alert and ready to strike. »