Peninsula香蕉视频直播檚 homegrown talent, Micah Zandee-Hart, is returning to New York with a silver medal from the 2025 IIHF Women香蕉视频直播檚 World Hockey Championship, held in Ceske Budejovice, Czechia.

While the ultimate goal after every international tournament is to bring home gold, Zandee-Hart was quick to acknowledge that silver still carries weight.

香蕉视频直播淲hen you represent Canada in hockey, you want to come home with a gold medal,香蕉视频直播� said the 28-year-old blueliner. 香蕉视频直播淪o it香蕉视频直播檚 easy to look at the colour of our medal and feel like the tournament was a bit of a disappointment, but that香蕉视频直播檚 not really the case overall.香蕉视频直播�

Zandee-Hart recorded one goal and one assist in seven games during the tournament. Her goal against Switzerland marked the first international goal of her career.

But her journey with Team Canada began long ago when she first represented the country at the 2014 U18 Women香蕉视频直播檚 World Hockey Championship. Since then, she has played 62 games wearing the Canadian maple leaf, growing alongside some of the sport香蕉视频直播檚 most iconic figures.

香蕉视频直播淲hen I look back, I realize that players like Marie-Philip Poulin, Brianne Jenner, and Jocelyne Larocque kind of raised me in a sense,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淭hey taught me what it meant to be a champion 香蕉视频直播� the habits, the little things you do every day 香蕉视频直播� knowing that you're not always going to come out on top, but it香蕉视频直播檚 about the next time we represent Canada.香蕉视频直播�

The Canada-U.S. rivalry remains one of the fiercest in all of sports, and Zandee-Hart has seen it evolve 香蕉视频直播� especially with the rise of the Professional Women香蕉视频直播檚 Hockey League (PWHL).

As a member of the New York Sirens, she illustrated how playing alongside teammates, such as Alex Carpenter, during the PWHL season and then facing them internationally adds a new layer to the experience.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of energy, a lot of nerves, and whether it香蕉视频直播檚 hockey or any sport, we definitely feel the Canada香蕉视频直播揢SA rivalry,香蕉视频直播� she explained. 香蕉视频直播淚 play with Alex every day, and then I go and play against her. That香蕉视频直播檚 definitely changed the dynamic.香蕉视频直播�

As Zandee-Hart continues to carve out her professional career, the PWHL香蕉视频直播檚 recent announcement of a Vancouver franchise struck a personal chord.

香蕉视频直播淲hen I heard that yesterday, I almost teared up thinking about the fact that we have a professional women香蕉视频直播檚 hockey team in Vancouver,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淕irls can go to the rink, check out a practice, and connect with the team."

For Zandee-Hart, the expansion of women香蕉视频直播檚 professional hockey, alongside a growing wave of girls entering the sport, marks a new and promising chapter.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 everything for young girls to be able to watch games regularly and think, 香蕉视频直播業 could do that someday,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� she said. 香蕉视频直播淲hen I was growing up, I never thought that would be possible, but now it香蕉视频直播檚 becoming a reality for them.香蕉视频直播�

Though she is now playing in her second season with the Sirens, Zandee-Hart香蕉视频直播檚 connection to Vancouver Island remains strong.

Last summer, she returned to skate at the Panorama Recreation Centre 香蕉视频直播� her old home rink. Her name now sits in the arena香蕉视频直播檚 main entrance alongside other notable Peninsula Eagles alumni, including Jamie Benn, Jordie Benn, and Matt Irwin.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e been back to Panorama a couple of times now, and skating on that ice again was surreal,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 funny because I never thought I香蕉视频直播檇 be on the board as a notable Peninsula Eagles alum, but here I am.香蕉视频直播�

She hopes her story will inspire not just the next generation of athletes but anyone who finds value in being part of a community and pursuing what they love.

香蕉视频直播淚 didn香蕉视频直播檛 have someone to look up to in my sport growing up, but I hope to be that person for someone else,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚f I can get kids involved in the game and help them experience all the benefits I香蕉视频直播檝e gotten from it, that香蕉视频直播檚 the coolest thing to me.香蕉视频直播�

Now, Zandee-Hart turns her focus back to the Sirens as they continue to fight for a spot in the PWHL postseason.

New York香蕉视频直播檚 next game is set for Sunday, April 27, against the Minnesota Frost.

Sitting six points back of the final playoff spot, the Sirens are in must-win mode. They'll need to sweep their remaining three games 香蕉视频直播� and get help from elsewhere 香蕉视频直播� if they hope to clinch their first postseason appearance.