Shelby Wignall is playing for Team Ontario Blue at the U18 national women's hockey championship.

Shelby Wignall is heading out west next week to play some of the biggest games of her life.

As a member of one of Ontario's two teams, she'll spend three days — five if her team makes it to the medal round — playing the top players of each province at the under 18 national women’s hockey championship, which begins Wednesday.

Wignall, 17, says she had been a little nervous, but that has subsided as the tournament nears.

“I think I’m ready for it," she says. “I’m excited about the challenge.”

The east Mountain resident and Grade 12 student at St. Thomas More first strapped on skates at age three.

She played her first league game two years later and eventually chose hockey over soccer as her main sport.

Until a few years ago, Wignall played on boys rep teams to help her improve her ability.

“It’s something I've always had a passion for,” she says of her sport of choice. “When I get to the arena, it's kind of like my happy place. It’s something I love doing.”

Wignall is one of three Stoney Creek Junior Sabres heading to the national tournament — Melanie Desrochers of Welland and and Rylee Smith of Hagersville are also on Team Ontario Blue — but is the only Hamilton resident who made the cut.

It’s her second year with the Junior Sabres of the Provincial Women's Hockey League. She credits the team, which is undefeated so far this season, with helping to raise her game.

“The coaches (and) the program offer so much for players to develop and get better,” says Wignall.

“It’s a great team chemistry, too.”

The defenceman says she styles herself after her favourite player, Ray Bourque, who she got to know through watching video of the legendary Boston Bruin with her father, Brian.

Wignall is eying a hockey scholarship at a U. S. school and plans to become an English teacher down the road.

Earlier this week, she was at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn., for a tour of the campus and to meet the team.

The U18 national championship runs Nov. 4-8.