Dedication, commitment help young player shine

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This article was published 27/04/2022 (398 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Payton Chornley is a 12-year-old Grade 7 student who attends Collège Churchill High School’s Churchill Hockey Academy.

Payton is incredibly mature and well-spoken for her age. She averages 98 per cent in school, so I asked her what happened to the other two per cent and we had a good laugh.

“Math is my favourite class,” she said. “I enjoy solving problems and trying to work things out. Math is very challenging.”

Payton also enjoys the challenge of the sport she loves, which is hockey. I loved her answer when I asked what her goals are for both her education and her hockey:

“I want to play hockey at the highest level possible and I want to get an education at the highest level possible,” she said.

Payton has been playing hockey since she was just five years old. This past season she played for the Winnipeg East U13 Saints.

“I play centre or left wing. My favourite position is centre,” she said. “I like that I get to bounce around the ice a bit and help set up plays. It’s really important to me to support our defence and goalie. I put a lot of emphasis on my defensive game.”

If you look at Payton’s jersey, you can see a C on the chest and she embraces the responsibility of being captain .

“As captain you have to take the leadership role seriously,” she said. “You have to be serious when the situation calls for it, and then allow us to have some fun when the time is right.”

Payton and her dad Shaun, mom Kelly, and brother Shea live in St. Boniface.

“My dad is our coach,” Payton said. “He pushes me hard. He is tough but fair. My parents are always pushing me to be my best, on and off the ice. I am very thankful for my parents, they have always supported me.”

I asked Payton if there was a player who inspired her.

“Marie-Philip Poulin,” was her immediate answer. “She really picks corners with her shots. She works really hard and is very humble. I really like that about her.”

Payton is active in the community and wanted to send this message to all the girls she helped at the recent Stars Cup tournament:

“Keep pushing yourself and keep playing the game dedicated the way you are. Good things will happen.”