1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,760 Speaker 1: Well, Ice Hockey Australia has announced the national team roster 2 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:09,560 Speaker 1: for the upcoming Women's Power World Championships happening in Slovakia 3 00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: in August, and in what is some very exciting news, 4 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:18,599 Speaker 1: a Territorian has made the team. Now the squad showcases 5 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 1: a mix of experience, emerging talent and representatives from five 6 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:28,520 Speaker 1: states and territories, highlighting the growing reach and inclusivity of 7 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:33,239 Speaker 1: women's para ice hockey in Australia. And joining me in 8 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:38,560 Speaker 1: the studio is para ice hockey player Sonya Numa. Good 9 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:39,479 Speaker 1: morning to you. 10 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 2: Mate. 11 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:47,280 Speaker 1: I'm very excited. I'm like, this is the coolest thing. Ever, 12 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:51,160 Speaker 1: how did you make the Australian ice hockey team. 13 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a bit crazy coming from Darwin. Hey, that's 14 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:58,680 Speaker 2: about I love the most about it, I know, right 15 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 2: and rural Darwin at that, so no, look, it's an 16 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 2: amazing opportunity. I did a lot of work with Invictis 17 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 2: Games back in twenty seventeen twenty eighteen. From that, I 18 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 2: made some friends in the sporting community worldwide, and yeah 19 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:22,240 Speaker 2: I got a contact after that sort of finished, and 20 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:26,039 Speaker 2: one of the laters from Canada, from the Canadian team 21 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 2: messaged me and said, look, we're really trying to build 22 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 2: this sport and we really wanted to become an Olympic sport, 23 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:35,760 Speaker 2: so can you help us out, Like, let's get at 24 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 2: building in Australia. Little did we know that it already 25 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:42,640 Speaker 2: was kind of bubbling under the surface. Yeh, dip my 26 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:47,319 Speaker 2: feet in or my foot in and it's it's amazing. 27 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 2: I wouldn't look back. It's such a crack. 28 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:52,559 Speaker 1: And sport how cool? What so was that the sport 29 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 1: that you were playing when you're at the Invictor skate? 30 00:01:54,960 --> 00:02:00,680 Speaker 2: No wheelchair, basketball, swimming, a volleyball. 31 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 1: So you're good at everything. Basically, you're all round. 32 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 2: I just enjoy sports. I enjoy being active, and look, 33 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 2: I'll give anything a crack. And I've got two younger kids, 34 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 2: so I just wanted to show them that, you know, 35 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 2: like a few things in my life are different now, 36 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 2: you know, with my ambitation and that body hasn't doesn't 37 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:24,919 Speaker 2: stop you from getting out and enjoying life and living 38 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:27,960 Speaker 2: and doing some things that you know, whatever, if you 39 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 2: get an opportunity to come your way, don't don't you know, 40 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 2: don't pass it up. You've got to grab it. Hey, 41 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:32,640 Speaker 2: that's it. 42 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 1: You've got to grab it with both hands and get 43 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: into it. So how are you training for ice hockey? 44 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:45,839 Speaker 2: Yeah, well we've I've got sleds up here. Yeah, it's 45 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 2: sleds on ice and anybody google it because it's amazing. 46 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 2: It's full contact, so it is really hardcore. Nothing's off limits, 47 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 2: which can be a bit scary at times, but it's fantastic. 48 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 2: But like a lot of just fitness, core training because 49 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 2: you need to be able to get yourself back up 50 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:06,960 Speaker 2: because you do come out of the sled a lot 51 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:09,840 Speaker 2: or not out but fall off. And a lot of 52 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:15,640 Speaker 2: core training and general fitness. And yeah, Jeff down at that. 53 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 2: I think he's been amazing. He lets me slot in 54 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:22,120 Speaker 2: there on Saturdays and Sundays and training sessions. But we're 55 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:24,800 Speaker 2: also looking to get some more training sessions in there 56 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:28,399 Speaker 2: for proper team events. So need some more people to train. 57 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, which is fair enough. So Sonia, tell me where 58 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 1: are like with the players in the team, Like, where 59 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 1: are they from? Are they from all around Australia? 60 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 2: They are? Yeah, No, We've literally got We've got people 61 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 2: from Newcastle, Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Brisbane. We had a training 62 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 2: camp in Newcastle. The first week of June and that 63 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:55,080 Speaker 2: was a selection camp for the team and it was 64 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 2: just phenomenal to see the skill and the passion and 65 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 2: the drive that some of these ladies have. So it's 66 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 2: a it's a real it's real shot and arm to 67 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 2: be picked and if you're part of it all, to 68 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 2: be honest, yeah. 69 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 1: It must be. What was your reaction when you got 70 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:12,080 Speaker 1: that call, when you know, when they called you and said, hey. 71 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 2: It's a bit it's unreal. Yeah, you need to think that, 72 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:19,279 Speaker 2: you know, Like, I mean, it's not like we have 73 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 2: this in our backyard and everything else. But I just 74 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:25,920 Speaker 2: I love the idea of it being, you know, showing 75 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:28,599 Speaker 2: people that whatever, even whatever you think is out of reach, 76 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 2: is still reachable if you if you put things in 77 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:33,480 Speaker 2: place to make it happen. 78 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:37,840 Speaker 1: And you know what an awesome frame of mind you've got. 79 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 1: But I don't, you know, I just think to approach 80 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:44,320 Speaker 1: life in that way, and you know you touched on 81 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:48,600 Speaker 1: before obviously your amputation and then you know, when an 82 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:53,719 Speaker 1: opportunity presents itself, taking that opportunity and running with that, 83 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 1: go on with that. You know. I just think that's 84 00:04:56,800 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 1: such like it is such a great way of looking 85 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 1: at life. 86 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:04,719 Speaker 2: Thank you appreciate it. Yeah, kind of for me, I 87 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:07,320 Speaker 2: feel like there's no other way. That's just what you do, 88 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:07,800 Speaker 2: you know. 89 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 1: Yeah. Now, in terms of your preparations, when your head 90 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 1: overseas talk me through some of that. 91 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:19,719 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, I mean, now, there's it's a lot of 92 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:25,839 Speaker 2: it's a lot of training and the hardest one for 93 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 2: us to do is to do a lot of the 94 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:30,040 Speaker 2: stick work and get rid of, you know, get used 95 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:33,039 Speaker 2: to chasing the puck because obviously that's you know, a 96 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 2: big part of it. A lot of that will be 97 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 2: done on synthetic ice at home and just under because 98 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 2: you pass underneath the the slurd and stuff like that, 99 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:47,200 Speaker 2: so that'll be hand eye coordination and anything that does that. 100 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:50,119 Speaker 2: On top of that, I'm trying to get some ice 101 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 2: tyme at the Darwin Ice Hockey Center. It all costs money. 102 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:58,360 Speaker 2: It also costs a lot of money to get over 103 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 2: to Slovakia in the first place. The whole team has 104 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:05,839 Speaker 2: to raise our whole team funds and flights and accommodation 105 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:07,040 Speaker 2: and fold and all of that. 106 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:09,280 Speaker 1: So you're doing quite a bit of fundraising at the moment. 107 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 2: We have just hit the around running. Since he got 108 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:15,479 Speaker 2: announced yesterday. We've got until the eighteenth of August, which 109 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:16,279 Speaker 2: is the day we leave. 110 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 1: So I mean, anybody out there listening this morning, who's going? 111 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:22,160 Speaker 1: Do you know what? Sonya? You sound like an awesome 112 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:25,599 Speaker 1: person and I'm keen as to support you. Have you 113 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:28,280 Speaker 1: got a link up yet or is it still sort 114 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:29,160 Speaker 1: of still. 115 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:32,239 Speaker 2: We're still very scratchy. If you could do a search 116 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 2: on the Australian Sports Foundation just for Sonya Newman, Sonya 117 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 2: with a wife, that should come up. Failing that, I 118 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 2: know that the awesome Michael Horn has put a link 119 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:47,919 Speaker 2: up on the Reeling Veterans Facebook page, so that's an 120 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:49,680 Speaker 2: easy one to find. Yeah, for sure. 121 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:52,719 Speaker 1: Well, and I know he's supportive. I reckon all the 122 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 1: other all the other veterans and even though Servings still 123 00:06:56,960 --> 00:06:59,719 Speaker 1: would be really bloody proud of you and be thinking 124 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:02,600 Speaker 1: what an awesome thing that you are set to in 125 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 1: bark On. 126 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:06,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, thank you. I just I like the idea of 127 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:09,640 Speaker 2: highlighting sport as a way to move forward when things 128 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:11,640 Speaker 2: can be challenging. Yeah, do you know. 129 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:13,960 Speaker 1: I love sport. I love it for so many reasons 130 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 1: and I say that very often on the show. But 131 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:19,239 Speaker 1: your approach I just think's incredible and I know people 132 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: listening this morning will feel exactly the same. So just 133 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 1: remind us what date exactly are you heading overseas and like, 134 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 1: how are you feeling about do you reckon? Some of 135 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 1: these other teams are going to be rough as. 136 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 2: Oh absolutely so, oh yeah, nervous. We leave Australia on 137 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 2: the eighteenth of August, and then we have a sixty 138 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 2: training prior camp in Poland and then yeah, we get 139 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:51,360 Speaker 2: to Slovakia and the twenty third of August. I think 140 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 2: through till the twenty six He's a competition. 141 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:55,120 Speaker 1: So it's all of it. 142 00:07:55,200 --> 00:08:00,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, and the teams USA and Canada they've been playing, 143 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:02,840 Speaker 2: you know. I mean some of these people have been 144 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:07,240 Speaker 2: playing since the babies, so they're going to go hard. Yeah, 145 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 2: they're not going to take it easy on us, so 146 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:16,680 Speaker 2: you know, but we've got Norway, as I said, Usa, Canada, Norway, 147 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:20,680 Speaker 2: good you others yeahs. 148 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:22,120 Speaker 1: Sonya, you are going to have to keep us up 149 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 1: to date while you're away, Okay, we're going to need 150 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:27,440 Speaker 1: some updates to find out how it's going. Once again, 151 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:30,560 Speaker 1: a massive congratulations to you. You send us that link 152 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 1: so we can let our listeners know where they can 153 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 1: jump online as well and support you if they're keen. 154 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 1: But a huge congratulations of course on making the ice 155 00:08:39,679 --> 00:08:44,200 Speaker 1: hockey Australian team, the power Australian team. I just think 156 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:46,440 Speaker 1: it's so cool. I can't believe that we've got an 157 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 1: ice hockey player across to the World Champs. I reckon, 158 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:49,960 Speaker 1: it's amazing. 159 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:52,280 Speaker 2: Good on you, Thank you 160 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:54,080 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for your time this morning.