In the aftermath of a highly memorable 2016, one which saw Carly Dyck attain the pinnacle of both a championship in the Western Women’s Canadian Football League (WWCFL) and a Canadian national title with Team Saskatchewan, such milestones have laid the foundation for a 2017 that promises to reach even greater heights. From the outset, Dyck’s gridiron journey included being named to Canada’s national women’s football team. Adding to this jubilation is the fact that Canada shall be the host country for the 2017 IFAF Women’s World Championships.

One of eight Valkyries named to Canada’s roster (in addition to a pair of Valkyries named to the Reserves), Dyck is also among 32 new faces that shall make their international debut with Team Canada at the 2017 IFAF Worlds. This new generation of world-class talent for Canada is testament to the hard work, dedication and sacrifice of such remarkable women.

As Dyck’s efforts comprise a fascinating yet equally exciting time for the growth of the female game in Canada, a key factor in her ascension to national team competitor can also be attributed in part to the positive influence of the Women’s World Football Games (WWFG).

An annual event since its inception in 2014, Dyck is one of several Canadian stars throughout the years, including fellow Team Canada rookies Lisa Gomes and Tanya Henderson, along with the highly accomplished Alex Black, returning to Team Canada for the third time in 2017, who have graced the gridiron at the WWFG. Entering this year’s Games with the Team Canada milestone to add to her amazing football resume, it also added to her self-assurance,

“My confidence level sky-rocketed when I found out I was selected to play for Team Canada. Goal-setting has never been a strength of mine, but last season I set two very specific goals, and one of them was making Team Canada.

I knew I had a lot of work that needed to be done, and I figured that special teams would probably give me a competitive edge so I borrowed a bag of footballs and kept them in my car with a pair of cleats, my kicking tee and ball holder.

Any time the weather was decent and I drove past a field with uprights I would pull over and get reps at kicking and punting. It means a lot knowing that I have amazing football coaches who believe in me, which has heightened my ability to believe in myself.”

With Dyck returning to the WWFG in 2017, the event held a whole new meaning for her. Hosted at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports facility in Orlando, Florida, there was an incredible feeling of momentum at this world-class venue, experiencing an unprecedented level of achievement.

Taking into account that the week in Orlando would culminate with the National Football League’s annual AFC-NFC Pro Bowl event, the venue represented a nirvana of football. With no shortage of fans in the area, it provided Dyck with the opportunity to make some new fans, while contributing towards a cherished highlight that broke barriers.

Although this highlight did not take place during the Games themselves, it was an important milestone for women’s football. Providing Dyck with her favorite memory from Orlando, it was an opportunity to raise awareness for the sport, while providing some young fans with the opportunity to appreciate the growing sport of women’s football and the impact that women can have as sporting heroes.

“My favorite memory of this year’s WWFG was actually not related to the Games, but more so a result of being at the ESPN Sports Center during the Pro Bowl week. That facility has fields all over the place and was packed with football loving kids and families.

The day before my game I was walking around after practice and a group of kids were on our practice field trying to kick some field goals. They were not having a lot of success, so I walked over and asked if they would like to learn the proper field goal kicking technique.

The oldest boy, who was maybe 13, asked me if I played football, and I proudly responded with, ‘Yes, I am the kicker for Team Canada!’ All three kids were impressed and agreed to let me teach them the steps.

After going through my field goal prep with them several times they asked me to kick one for them, and I said, ‘Sure, but not from this close.’ We were standing only on the ten-yard line so I went back to about the 20-yard line and set myself up. After making the kick, the oldest boy shrieked with excitement and grabbed my ball holder and moved back to the 30-yard line and asked me to kick another one.

Keep in mind that this is an American field and the uprights were at the back of the end zone, which is ten yards farther back than I’m used to.

My friend Tolu, took a video of me kicking this field goal, and it does not matter to me that you cannot witness the ball going in, because the best part of the video is the boy yelling, ‘WOW! Oh my GOSH! Did you see that?’

After I went to retrieve my ball, he told Tolu how lucky she was to have a famous kicker as her best friend, which made both of us laugh. This entire moment was not about me wanting to show off, but I kept thinking to myself that I needed to make that kick for women’s football.

I needed those little kids to believe in the sport, especially the little girl who was timidly watched from behind her older brother. Sharing my love of what I do with these kids was by far my favorite memory from attending WWFG.”

Joining Dyck in the Sunshine State was Gomes, whose heroics as a running back for the Calgary Rage, coupled by a solid work ethic, added to the strong sense of Canadian pride at the Games. Having both attended the previous edition in 2016, where it was hosted at the practice facility of the NFL’s New Orleans Saints, the two have grown as friends and distinguished competitors.

This year, the WWFG featured another proud element of support from an NFL club. Graciously featuring action photos of the event on their website, the Indianapolis Colts allowed the empowering competitors of the WWFG the opportunity to gain a major league feeling. Among the players whose action images were featured on the Colts site included both Dyck and Gomes.

“Receiving support from an NFL team was pretty exciting. Women’s football deserves more publicity that it often receives, so to have some professional recognition that women’s football is the real deal was nice to see.”

While Dyck was featured on the Colts web site wearing the Team Red jersey, Gomes image consisted of her garbed in Team Blue. Although Dyck had played against Gomes when she was a member of the Lethbridge Steel, one of the WWCFL’s Western Conference teams (there is no interleague play during the regular season), this was just the continuation of a unique aspect in their careers.

During the summer of 2016, the two renewed a respectful rivalry. In spite of both competing on offense, there is still the element of bragging rights. The most recent chapter that took place north of the border saw Dyck donning the Team Saskatchewan trademark green jersey, as Gomes suited up for Team Alberta at the Canadian national women’s football championships. While Saskatchewan emerged with the gold medal, providing Dyck with her second major championship of the season, Gomes was not empty handed, as Alberta gained the bronze medal.

Undoubtedly, the WWFG allowed for a friendship and mutual respect to germinate between the two. Having each made the WWFG an integral component of their football calendar, it is only fitting that the two shall gain the opportunity to experience another proud milestone, calling each other teammates at the 2017 IFAF Women’s Worlds. In the meanwhile, Orlando allowed each to experience another landmark in their careers, as both were competitors in the advanced-level skill game, in contrast to the intermediate-level skill game, testament to their talents.

“Lisa and I used to play against each other when I was a member of the Lethbridge Steel, and we had the honor of playing against each other again at Nationals last summer.

When we attended WWFG this year and were once again placed on opposing teams it brought on the familiar, friendly taunting that we are used to. With both of us being on offence, we do not really get to play against each other directly, but we do get to watch one another.

It was probably more exciting for us when we found out that we were in the advanced-level game, as opposed to the intermediate-level game like we were at WWFG3. Being placed in the Advanced game kind of reassured me that I could play at the same level as the American players.”

“All quotes obtained first hand unless otherwise indicated”