Schurfield, Norsten Turn From Hockey Players To Olympic Rugby 7s Athletes

It was only a few seasons ago when Saskatchewan's Carissa Norsten was still playing competitive hockey. The same can be said for Alberta's Krissy Schurfield.

In 2017-2018, Norsten scored 16 points in 20 games for the Debden Jets in the Saskatchewan Female Hockey League. In 2018 she played for Lakeland at the Saskatchewan Winter Games. Norsten also played for the Warman Wildcats.

During the 2022 Winter Olympics, commercials were regularly seen on television advertising the RBC Training Ground, looking for top athletes, and Norsten tried out. Not only did she tryout, she was identified as a top athlete, earning RBC Future Olympian funding along with a multi-year commitment from Rugby Canada. Immediately, Norsten started training with Rugby Canada’s Maple Leaf Academy development program, and now, she's a successful product of the RBC program as she'll be making her Olympic debut with Canada's Rugby 7s team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Schurfield played at an even higher level playing CSSHL hockey for Banff Hockey Academy and then 'AAA' women's hockey for the Rocky Mountain Raiders until 2020-2021.

"I'm really physical in hockey and that was kind of like a downside because I would always get penalties and stuff, but in rugby it's what you're meant to do," Schurfield told the Rocky Mountain Outlook .

Soon, Norsten and Schurfield were teammates with the Maple Leaf Academy, and now will make their Olympic debut together with Canada's Rugby 7s team in Paris.

Growing up in Canada, sometimes the focus can be all about hockey. As Schurfield said, s he dreamed of the Olympics , whether it be summer or winter. Now she'll reach that goal.

“I always wanted to be an Olympian, whether it was Summer or Winter. It’s just a dream come true to be where I am now,” she said.

Canada's rugby 7s team will open their 2024 Olympics with a pair of games on July 28 facing Fiji and New Zealand.