Having graced the ice of British rinks since her teens, Roseanne (Rosie) Adey is the embodiment of consistency. One of the most celebrated competitors in the history of the Coventry Phoenix organization, racking up over 150 career points, the highly durable forward also wore the British jersey at the 2017 Winter Universiade.
Enjoying three more seasons with Coventry following the Winter Universiade, Adey, also a WHL Ambassador, accumulated a cumulative total of 60 points. Finishing as the team’s leading scorer in 2017-18, the next two seasons saw Adey place second in team scoring, respectively.
With the 2020-21 season shelved, an absence from the game attributed to the pandemic, returning to the ice represented a combination of numerous feelings for Adey. Jubilant at the opportunity to resume the game she loves, rekindling friendships and putting stick in hand comprised only part of the narrative. Just as relevant, the recent WNIHL season represented a sense of rejuvenation.
“Well, like many hockey players will probably say, it was great to be back on the ice! I have missed playing games and not just training! It was wonderful to be back out and competing with my team! It is not just the hockey we have missed, but the social side too. It is important for our mental health to have people around us and honestly hockey family is a special kind of vibe!”
Just as prevalent, an exciting new chapter in Adey’s competitive odyssey involved wearing a new jersey. Garbed in the colors of the Solway Sharks, calling Scotland’s Dumfries Ice Bowl as their home arena, it marked play in a different division for Adey. During her seasons in Coventry, the club competed in the South Division. With the Sharks based in the WNIHL Division 1 North, facing off against teams rarely seen, the season definitely presented a change of scenery.
Relocating from England in the midst of the pandemic, Adey’s return to hockey truly encompassed her love of the game. Residing among a chain of islands off the west coast of Scotland’s mainland, the sheltered area results in several means of transportation to attend a game, demonstrating a tremendous dedication.
“I have played at Coventry since I was 13, so (it represented) the majority of my career! When I moved to a little island on the Scottish coast mid-pandemic, I said I was retiring from hockey. Well, I guess I missed it too much as 22 months later; I have just played a season! My friend Mo Muir, who practically started the Sharks, saw I was in Scotland and we got talking! Long story short, I went to one session and signed for the Sharks the next day!
I really had not considered the impact of this choice! I live in the Outer Hebrides so travel was going to be hard! I essentially have to fly to Glasgow and then, my amazing manager Stuart, usually gets me the rest of the way to training!
Many of the girls travel at least a few hours so we all definitely play because we love it! The girls have been amazing and totally understand that I could not be at training every week!”
Worth noting, Adey was among three English players on the Sharks roster. Calling Sheffield Shadows alum Lauren Clark and long-time Blackburn Thunder blueliner Sarah Wilson as teammates, the roster also featured German skater Amanda Murdoch.
Among Adey’s other notable teammates included former British national team competitor Gemma Watt. A former competitor with England’s Newcastle Lady Vipers and Slough Phantoms, among other clubs, the three-time Premier Women’s Champion (2004, 2005, 2006) returned to the WNIHL Division I play in 2019 after a five year absence. As a side note, Watt finished as the Sharks leading scorer for the 2021-22 season, placing 10th overall in WNIHL Division 1 North.
Debuting for the Sharks in an October 30, 2021 win versus the Sheffield Shadows, Adey’s finest performance occurred nearly two months later. Hosting the Grimsby Wolves, Adey shone on offense. One of two Sharks to record a hat trick, joined by Chloe Young, in a convincing 11-2 triumph, the December 11, 2021 triumph marked their biggest margin of victory for the season.
“It is a very different feeling being part of this team; I feel much less pressure than
what I did at Coventry. Maybe it is being new and just playing for the love of hockey! It took me a little while to adjust to the coaching style but I feel very settled now!
The Sharks are just determined and tenacious and they know what they want! We had such a great group of girls this year and I just knew we could compete with the top teams! Our aim was to make the playoffs and we did it! So I am very happy for the team!
The last few years at Coventry, I was a captain or assistant and felt a lot of pressure, which did make it more difficult! Yet, now I have a great bunch of leaders on this team. It is nice to relax into a new team and just play!
I think one of the highlights of the season was scoring a hat trick in my second game and getting Player of the Game recognition! It felt really good to be back to fitness! I probably get on the ice once or twice a month, so I do a lot of office training in the gym and on my inline skates to keep up!”
Although logistical constraints prevented Adey from participating in the first-ever Scottish women’s Ice Hockey Tournament in Dundee, the event served as a seminal moment for the Sharks. Helping raise awareness of the game, while working towards creating more opportunities for women to grace the ice, the most inspiring Shark at the event may have been Amanda Murdoch. In addition to playing in all four of the Sharks tournament games, she served as a referee for 11 other games.
With the Sharks enjoying their best season ever, ranking second in the North Division, Adey’s experience and acumen proved essential towards instilling confidence and providing strong leadership. Bestowed the 2022 Sharks Forward of The Year honors, accentuating an exciting season, which involved a postseason berth, allowed for one of Adey’s most cherished years.
Already committed to play for the upcoming 2022-23 season, the potential to build on the momentum of a breakthrough second-place finish and challenge once again for the league championship provides an enthusiastic Adey with an enthusiastic motivation.
“Overall, we had hoped to win the league this season! We lost one game and that cost us the league title, which was somewhat hard to take! Yet, we kept pushing and ended up as league runners-up.
We then got to play in the playoffs, which is always good! It was a weekend that showcased the best women’s hockey in the UK and I got to see lots of my hockey family! Again, it did not go our way, but we learnt we have to do some more work to get to that next step! So roll on the 22-23 season! We are ready to work hard and take the title!”
“All quotes obtained first hand unless otherwise indicated”
[adrotate group=”1″]
Related Articles
Categories
Recent Posts
[adrotate group=”2″]
