EXETER – The toughest game of Karly Bryson’s field hockey career came in Alberta in mid-July, a 3-1 win that captured a national U18 women’s championship for Team Ontario.  

The game was the rubber match to last year’s gold medal game, which Ontario lost to British Columbia,and of which Bryson was a part.

"It was amazing," the 18-year-old Exeter native said of this year’s experience. "All of my experiences up to this point have been cherished, but finally beating B.C. felt great. It was really good."

The win over B.C. was by far the closest of the tournament for Ontario, which had scored 28 goals to that point and shut out every other opponent, according to Bryson.

Bryson listed a 16-0 win over Manitoba, a 5-0 win over Alberta U18 and a 7-0 win over Alberta’s U16 team en route to the final.

"That was the best we’d ever done," said Bryson, speaking from three years of experience with Team Ontario. "It was a really good accomplishment."

Though just barely into adulthood, this was Bryson’s second national championship, her first being a fastball title earned three seasons ago, according to her father Ross.

Her athletic history also includes an Ontario Summer Games silver medal in field hockey, and a Silver Stick championship from her days in the South Huron Minor ice hockey system.

Of all those accomplishments, Bryson lists this year’s field hockey win as most exciting, "just because we’ve worked so many years to finally beat B.C. and dominate over them, and (dominate) all the other teams," she said.

Bryson is a recent South Huron District High School (SHDHS) graduate, and said she was introduced to field hockey by Jim Workman, a long-time coach at the school.

"He has definitely been a role model of mine," Bryson said. "He encouraged me to go further and he’s always encouraged his teams to push to do their best.

"He was definitely somebody who convinced me to go out and try out for the provincial team. He believed in me and he’s always supported me."

Bryson cited Team Ontario’s all-around strength as key to this year’s national title win, saying the provincial coach could count on anybody.

"We really could be counted on anyplace in the field and (our coach) would move people around different positions," Bryson added later.

"She really trained us and coached us to be offensive and defensive, just as equally and strongly."

Bryson’s playing days are likely not done: she plans to attend the University of Western Ontario this fall and hopes to crack the varsity team’s starting lineup there.

"The training camp … starts at the end of August, so I’m pretty excited for that," she said.

Bryson’s youth was flush with extra-curricular activity – not only sports but also a part-time job, according to Ross. It’s an approach Bryson said she’d recommend to younger students on their way up.

"I think it’s always been important to get involved with as much as you can," she said.
"Time management is crucial, but if you believe that you can do it and set aside your priorities, I think it’s definitely doable.

"I think everyone should have the experience to do extracurriculars and just lead up to the furthest they can go. It’s definitely helped me improve not only sport-wise, but I’ve learned a lot as a person and met a lot of friends."

Bryson said she’ll be majoring in health sciences this fall at Western, with teaching or speech pathology as possible career paths.

"I’m not positive yet exactly where it’s going to take me," she said, "but there (are) a lot of options, so … I’m keeping my options open."

Bryson is the daughter of Ross and Rhonda Bryson of Exeter and has two brothers: Tyler and Kyle.