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By Anil Jhalli
They’ve all got different athletic backgrounds and outlooks, but the three Ottawa natives set to compete in the July 20-26 World Junior Ultimate Championships in Lecco, Italy can certainly agree on one thing: there’s nothing quite like getting the call to represent your country.
“Right now, I’m just very excited and very happy that I am getting this chance to play for my country,” says Owen Watt, who will compete in the 25-team Open division. “Playing against the best players in the world, it just doesn’t get any better than this.”
A former soccer player, Watt took up ultimate in high school and now plays for Phoenix, Ottawa’s top Open team, whenever he’s home from university. The 18-year-old Waterloo mechanical engineer student would like to play on a professional ultimate team in the future, but for now his focus is a strong showing in Italy.
“All the players on the team are very good – the best players in the country,” Watt indicates. “We know our goal and while I can see a podium finish, we can do more. The talent is there, it’s just a matter of coming together as a team.”
Dream-come-true for Wicked player
The day Camille Bedard was told she’d been selected to play for Canada’s women’s team at the junior worlds changed her life, the 18-year-old recalls.
“There were a few tears when I heard,” recounts Bedard, who was heavily involved in track-and-field before making ultimate her sport of choice. “I have been playing for so long and I have worked so hard, so getting this chance, it means so much to me.”
Bedard started playing the disk game at age 12 and has experienced the competitiveness involved in the sport as she’s made her way up to the Ottawa Wicked women’s team.
Despite this, she feels that her sport doesn’t get the respect it deserves from those outside Ottawa’s close-knit ultimate community, who are always eager to spread the word and showcase ultimate any chance they get to grow the game.
“People don’t see it as a sport, and that’s unfortunate,” Bedard says. “It is just as intense as any sport. You have to be moving all the time and it is so much fun. It is a self-refereed game, so that’s where sportsmanship and team spirit become important.”
Nightmare-come-true for Stella player
Natasha Cloutier was also chosen to play on the Canadian junior women’s team, but she believes her chances of going to Italy are slim due to a torn ACL knee ligament.
“Recovery has been going well, but right now, I don’t know if my knee is where I need it to be,” laments the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees player. “It has been a difficult few months because I have worked so hard to get this chance and I feel like it is getting taken away from me.”
While she may not join her teammates, Cloutier has faith that the Canadian women – defending bronze medalists from the 2012 world juniors, where Canada’s Open team also won bronze – will come out with a strong finish.
“I have just been blown away by what these girls can do,” says the member of the Stella club team. “I think, because we live in different parts of the country, we just need to get that chemistry going and work stronger as a team. We have the talent.”
For the majority of her 18 years, ultimate has played a big role in Cloutier’s life. Her parents were avid players, and she used to watch them as a child.
“To be honest, I was never really fond of it when I was younger,” recalls Cloutier, who was convinced to try out the competitive side of the game at age 16. “Then I just saw how many people played it just came to me what could happen if I really gave the time and effort.”
Despite her injury setback and the derailed junior worlds journey, Cloutier plans to continue playing ultimate at the highest level possible and hopes that will lead to another chance to represent her country in a future ultimate competition.
“Ultimate has become a lifestyle for me,” indicates the 2013 Eastern Canadian university ultimate champion. “I grew up around it, everyone around me has been or is an ultimate player. If I can just continue to be part of the ultimate community in any capacity, it would be great.”