Shannon Coulter
In the small community of Bay Roberts, Newfoundland and Labrador, hockey is everything.
“Everyone that I’ve grown up with has been surrounded with hockey,” says Marissa Dawson. “Everyone knows everybody because it’s such a small town, so all my cousins, all my friends, we’ve all grown up together playing hockey.”
The community’s love of hockey makes it even more special that the 17-year-old will be representing Team Atlantic at the 2025 U18 Women’s National Championship down the road—just over 60 kilometres—in Conception Bay South and Mount Pearl.
“I’m absolutely blown away,” Dawson says. “Being able to go back to
Newfoundland and play is just an amazing experience. I can’t wait to be
there and have the crowd be able to cheer us all on and support us.”
Spending time at the rink to watch her younger brother’s practices inspired Dawson to start playing hockey herself. The game certainly runs in her family—Dawson is cousins and neighbours with New Jersey Devils’ forward and Team Canada alumnus, Dawson Mercer, and has played alongside Mercer’s sister, Jessica.
Soon enough, Dawson was playing on three separate teams throughout the season, including both boys’ and girls’ hockey.
“I’d never have an off weekend. I’d always either be going back and forth for boys’ and girls’ games,” Dawson explains. “My parents were often split in directions across the province, whether it was my dad with me or my mom with me, and the other with my little brother.”
Even with the extensive travel across the island, Dawson still had some very special experiences in her home rink, including winning provincials in double overtime with her U15 boys’ team.
“My whole town was there cheering us on. Our rink is a little barn, so the
barn was packed,” Dawson says. “It was a really proud moment for me to show
my whole town what we could do and win a provincial banner in our home
barn.”
Dawson has a few familiar faces joining her on Team Atlantic, including three teammates—Rhea Culligan, Emily Thomas and Sophie Urquhart—and head coach Jordan DeLong from Rothesay Netherwood School.
“Marissa is a fun kid to coach. She loves the game, plays hard and she enjoys the process. Great teammate, great person,” DeLong says. “Her skating is phenomenal. She competes hard, but she wants everyone else to get better. She cares about her teammates.”
Dawson is one of six returning players to Team Atlantic. With the tournament in Quispamsis, New Brunswick, last year—only eight kilometres from Rothesay Netherwood—her teammates were able to come watch the games and show their support.
With a year of experience under her belt, Dawson is happy to share wisdom and advice with her new Atlantic teammates.
“They’ve asked me a lot of questions [about what to expect],” Dawson says. “I’m grateful that I’ve had the experience to be able to support them and help them along their first time being here.”
“I think she has a great opportunity to lead and really be an impact player this year,” DeLong says. “I think she’s going to contribute offensively, and I think she’s a great 200-foot player. She’s going to help us on the PK and defensive scenarios, too. She can really show us what we need to do to compete and have success this week.”
After three seasons playing out of province, Dawson is thrilled to be playing back home in front of her family and friends.
“I have a really big family, and so far, everyone said they’re coming,” Dawson says. “I’m hoping that, in true Newfie fashion, they’re going to bring their all.”
With the support of Newfoundland and Labrador behind them, Team Atlantic hopes to use home ice to its advantage.
“Generally, we’re a pretty loud group,” Dawson says. “I hope the crowd brings in a wicked amount of energy and gets us going.