In the case of Shayna Twamley, the title of Amazing Kid is actually an understatement.
Focused beyond her years, the good natured local teenager has been selected for an Amazing Kid award and will be featured on TV March 10 at which time she will be presented a cheque for $1,000.
Amazing Kids is a program sponsored by Save-on-Foods and A Channel (Vancouver Island) “which recognizes young people for there outstanding efforts in either community, sports, or the arts.” A new youth is chosen by committee each week, and the winners highlighted Thursday evenings during the 5 p.m. news broadcast on channel 12.
Last Thursday, the Oceanside Generals honoured Shayna by having her drop the puck for the opening face-off in their VIJHL playoff game against the Kerry Park Islanders, then presented her with a bouquet of flowers at centre ice.
The smile on her face said it all.
Shayna, it should be noted, is only in her fourth season on skates. At age 12 in her first year on skates she made the BC Winter games Zone 6 Ringette team. She travelled to Kimberly and Cranbrook in 2008 to compete, and then again in 2010 in Terrace.
Since then she has embraced the game of hockey and is a standout on defence for the Oceanside Midget Female Icebreakers — she has been named team captain the last two years running.
Those that follow that Generals know Shayna is there every game — has been for two years now — volunteering her time to be part of the team by putting the nets in place after each ice clean. Shayna is coming up to her 100th home game with the Generals and has only missed one game in three years (she was away at her own tournament).
Not surprisingly, Shayna’s younger sister Jaidyn also plays hockey for the Oceanside Icebreakers Female Atom team.
Those that know her all say Shayna, who turned 15 on New Years Eve, “loves to be involved with any kind of ice sport and loves to help her community.”
As for the road ahead, Shayna, who is an honour roll student at Ballenas Secondary School (Gr. 10 French Immersion), says she plans on enrolling at Vancouver Island University after graduating in 2013 to take the Recreation Specialist program there. Not all that surprisingly, Shayna plans on putting her Amazing Kids earnings into an RESP to pay for tuition at college.
In the meantime, she will also certify as a Level 2 referee with BC Hockey next season in order to officiate higher level games with OMHA and mentor some of the younger female officials in Oceanside. She is also contemplating becoming an assistant coach when she turns 16 with the female program in Oceanside.
Shayna, says her mom Sue, “is a caring, considerate and warm hearted young woman with a heart of gold. She loves to help others, and is always the first to volunteer when help is needed. I am her mom, so I may be a little biased, but she is a great kid and we are very proud of her.”
After being recognized at centre ice last week, Shayna told The News she didn’t even know she’d been nominated for the award and was surprised as she was pleased when her mom told her the news.
“It’s lots of fun,” she said easily when asked about all the hours she devotes to the rink. “I love it — it’s my life (and) I just want to enjoy it as long as I can.”
OMHA referee in chief Chris Herr, who has gotten to know Shayna the player, the ref, and the person over the years, confirmed she is not your typical teenager, and one seriously good skater.
“Good for her — she certainly deserves it,” Herr said of the award, adding Shayna has come a long way this year where her refereeing is concerned — she was the only female to be promoted from linesman to referee this season.
“I’ve had a lot of really good comments, not only from parents but from referees on her progress this year. She’s definitely beyond her years. She’s reliable ... just an all ‘round good kid,” he said, pointing out, “she’s been to the Winter Games in ringette, she’s captain of her (hockey) team, and on top of all that she’s a straight A student ... not too many kids her age take on that kind of responsibility.
“She’s a great kid,” he added. “I foresee a good life for her. I think she’s the kind of person that will excel no matter what she chooses to do.”
sports@pqbnews.com