Erica Fryer Stockpiling Accolades And Championships
Erica Fryer with the University of Toronto – Photo by Seyran Mammadov
Erica Fryer had an incredible run in her first two seasons in net for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues women’s hockey team.
Last year, Fryer earned a USports Athlete of the Month nod in January, and was named to the OUA All-Rookie Team.
This season, she followed that up by capturing an OUA championship winning OUA McCaw Cup with 3-1 victory over the York University Lions. Fryer made 33 saves in the victory, earning CCM Player Of The Game honours. She was also named an OUA Second Team All-Star.
“It is hard to put into words how happy I was when we won the McCaw Cup,” said Fryer. “It was also extra special as we got to do it in front of our fans, friends, and family. It was a goal of my team and I to get to the OUA finals and Nationals again this year. And we were going for gold. The University of Toronto hasn’t won the McCaw since 2002,” she continued.
“We put in a lot of hard work both on and off the ice this season to have gotten where we are now. Throughout the season we focused on one game at a time. When I was playing, I simplified the game down even more by focusing on one shot at a time. It’s all the little things that helps make you successful and that what my team and I focused on all year. Going into playoffs we also talked about facing adversity, and how we would handle the different situations we may be faced with. Throughout playoffs we definitely faced some adversity, as we won all our games in OT or double OT. Also, during the second round in playoffs we had even lost the first game of the series. We didn’t let these bumps bring us down. We stuck together and pulled through as a team.”
After all of that, the Amherstburg product, and Villanova graduate said the feeling of seeing that work turn into a cancelled National championship was surreal.
“Honestly, it didn’t feel real. Going to Nationals no one would have expected this ending. We were all really sad and in shock as everything was happening so fast.”
Prior to the University of Toronto, Fryer spent two seasons in the PWHL with the London Devilettes, and was a member of the Chatham Outlaws Midget ‘AA’ team prior to that.
“I really enjoyed my year in Chatham,” said Fryer of her experience with the Outlaws. “This was my first year transitioning to girls hockey. We had a great group of girls and a great coaching staff. I learned a lot about being disciplined and always putting in 100%. We were a hard working team. I remember no one expected our team to do anything but we stuck together, worked hard, and ended up winning the league championship. Something I will never forget.”
With an ever growing list of championships and accolades, Fryer looks destined to continue compiling unforgettable experiences through sport.