Gosling eyeing full-time role with senior team
She’s played for Canada — at the U18 World Championships and in the U.S. Rivalry Series. But Julia Gosling is still trying to crack her first senior team roster at a major event. Will this be the year?
(Photo: Heather Pollock / Hockey Canada Images).
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It’s a numbers game. But Julia Gosling is doing her part to make sure they add up in her favour.
Despite participating in Hockey Canada’s Centralization Camp in 2021, and serving as an alternate at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, the London native is seemingly still shy of cracking the Senior Women’s National Team.
That may all change this year, however. Through 17 games of her senior season at St. Lawrence University, Gosling has 13 goals and 29 points to lead the Saints and sit as fourth best in the elite ECAC. This output has earned her the opportunity to compete in the Canada-U.S. Rivalry Series for the second straight year.
“My college season has started off really well. I’m hoping to use that momentum,” the former London Devilette said. “I’m excited about these Rivalry Series games. It’s always such an honour playing for Canada, and this is a special group. I’m happy to be part of it.”
The forward didn’t get involved in the scoring in the first two games, as Canada dropped both matchups south of the border, 3-1 in Tempe, Ariz. and 5-2 in Los Angeles, both in November. She’s hoping to make her mark this week – whether she finds the scoresheet or not – as the series continues Dec. 14 in Kitchener and Dec. 16 in Sarnia.
“They’re always intense games. I just try to play my role and make the most of my opportunities, whether I get just a few shifts or if I get more,” said Gosling, who looks to convince the coaching staff she deserves a roster spot for the World Championship in April. “My role has switched around the past couple of years, but I just try to do what the staff wants and improve my game.”
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Though she hasn’t yet played in a major tournament at the senior level, Gosling is no stranger to wearing the Red and White. In fact, some of her best hockey memories to this point have come playing for her country.
In 2018 and 2019, she competed at the IIHF U18 Women’s World Championships. In 2019, the women claimed gold in Japan.
“It was an indescribable feeling. It was a close team. (Canada) hadn’t beaten the U.S. in the finals for five years, so we really wanted to beat them,” she said. “Winning it in overtime was just a crazy experience. There were tears of joy, shocked faces. We just didn't know what to feel. It was a fun experience.”
Two years later, Gosling was one of 28 players invited to Hockey Canada’s Centralization Camp, a program that prepares the next Olympic team, in this case, the 2022 Beijing Games.
In July 2021, she moved to Calgary, putting on hold her university studies. Her time at the Centralization Camp lasted until December 2021. That’s when she was cut. And, so, she headed back to Canton, N.Y., to continue her schooling.
“I took the year off, so I couldn’t play (for the Saints). I didn’t want to waste a year of eligibility just to play 10 games, so I couldn’t train with the team. I just worked out and skated on my own.”
By January 2022, however, COVID was such a significant concern, teams were allowed to bring extra players to the Olympics in case of an outbreak. Gosling got the call to serve as an alternate for Team Canada. It was a strange experience, she said, being at the Olympics but not truly experiencing the Olympics.
“We were basically there in case of COVID. We didn’t get to go in the (Olympic) Village. We were in a random hotel. We trained every day that the team wasn’t there because of strict COVID rules. We got to watch every game.”
She continued, “When they won, we were able to go down to the bench and congratulate them and kind of somewhat be a part of it. So, that was cool.”
It was a far cry from a proper Olympic experience, but Gosling still took away the positives – including the chance to see a Games up close and further her ambitions to return as a full member of the team.
“Being a younger player, it was a good experience in that sense. It wasn’t the full-on thing, but still being there and seeing all the different athletes was a neat experience. Maybe it added some trust from the coaches, putting three weeks of school off and going to the Olympics as backup for the team.”
(Photo: Heather Pollock / Hockey Canada Images).
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Her collegiate career didn’t get off to a great start. Early in her freshman season, Gosling broke her ankle. She returned to play 25 games, tallying 21 points along the way, but it wasn’t the full season she’d been hoping for.
Then the pandemic struck during her sophomore season. The team played just 10 games.
So, strangely, when she returned to campus in fall 2022, after her year away at Centralization Camp, and after her trip to the Olympics, her third year would be her first full season at St. Lawrence. And she made the most of it – 21 goals and 46 points in 39 games were tops on the team. Her goal mark was fifth best in the ECAC, and her point total ranked eighth.
“I felt like I had more confidence going into that year. The (Centralization Camp) experience I went through kind of gave me some more insight, and a lot of new experiences helped me. Plus, just being able to play a full year.”
Gosling also moved into a leadership role in her junior season, being named captain of the squad.
“I try to be a good leader and try to make everyone feel like they’re important on the team,” she said. “I’ve taken what I’ve learned from past leaders, when I was a younger player.”
Still, when the 2023 World Championships came around, hosted in Brampton last spring, she didn’t make the cut.
“It’s hard to crack that roster. I thought maybe because I did well during the (2022) Rivalry Series, and how well my college year went, that I could make it. But you never know. They try to fit a puzzle, and you just hope for the best.”
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Back in New York this fall, Gosling is outdoing even her strong junior season. Her 1.71 point-per-game mark through 17 games, third best in the conference, is the best of her career. It ranks higher than Sarah Fillier (Princeton), a full-time member of Team Canada since 2021.
Now, Gosling is back at the Rivalry Series, trying to show her stuff and prove she’s ready to make the leap to full-time player.
“I haven’t made a World Championship roster yet, and that’s the goal,” she said.
This year’s event will take place in Utica, NY, from April 3-14. After two straight titles in 2021 and 2022, the Canadians lost to Team USA, 6-3, in the gold medal game in Brampton last spring.
Gosling can only control so much – that’s a lesson she’s learned over the years, starting in her days with the Devilettes, all the way through her foray into the international game.
“I just try to keep getting better. That’s been my main focus – playing my college season, becoming a better hockey player, and working on the things (Canada’s coaches) say to work on.
“If it works out with the National Team, that’s great. But focusing just on that would be frustrating. So, my focus is on my game. In the end, if I’m doing my best, that’s all I can really do.”
The defending champion London Lightning begin their title defense Nov. 23 on the road vs. Sudbury, the first of a 34-game schedule that runs thru March. Home opener happens Nov. 28 vs. Newfoundland.