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Christine Bestland is one of the forwards on the national women’s under-22 team. (SUPPLIED PHOTO)

Brunkild’s Christine Bestland is one step closer to achieving her dream of earning a spot on Canada’s senior women’s hockey team.

Bestland is currently playing for Canada’s under-22 women’s team at the Meco Cup in Germany, the third international tournament of her young career.

During an interview conducted prior to the Jan. 2 start of the tournament, Bestland said she’s excited about the opportunity, but doesn’t know what to expect from the five other teams in the tournament as it is the first time she’s competed at such a high level. She was a member of two Canadian under-18 teams that played in international tournaments.

Last summer, she played with the Canadian under-22 women’s development team. In 34 exhibition and inter-squad games, she scored 24 goals and 34 assists.

Bestland got her start in hockey at age four with the Macdonald Hockey Association. She joked that her two older brothers used to dress her up in hockey equipment and put her on the ice.
She is currently in her third year at Mercyhurst College in Erie, Penn., where she is playing forward for the Lakers’ women’s hockey team.

"It’s a big change from playing Canadian to American hockey," she said.

The Meco Cup playoffs are scheduled for Sun., Jan. 6.