Dani Robb is No. 5 on Valley’s Youth Athlete of the Year Countdown for 2009

By Don Bodger. Photo credit: Andrew Leong, Cowichan News Leader Pictorial.

Dani Robb is No. 5 on the Valley’s Youth Athlete of the Year countdown for 2009.
Robb, a Grade 11 student, was presented with her certificate by Olympic swimmer Ryan Cochrane during the Cowichan News Leader Pictorial’s Athlete of the Year banquet Sunday at Cowichan Golf and Country Club.
Brentwood College rugby coach Marius Felix has the highest regard for Robb.
“I would rank her as possibly the best natural athlete I have ever coached — fast, smart, strong, agile, tough, possesses vision,’’ noted Felix.
“Add to this her terrific attitude, willingness to improve, incredible receptiveness to coaching that is remarkable and a true team player and you have a complete package.’’
Robb plays what are considered her secondary sports at Brentwood — rugby and field hockey.
“Brentwood has offered me some great opportunities but the coaching and support they have offered me has been a big help,’’ she praised.
Robb led the Brentwood senior girls’ rugby team to the provincial AA gold medal in Williams Lake, scoring nine tries in four games even while being subbed off during convincing victories. She also was a valuable member of the Brentwood field hockey team that placed sixth in the provincials.
Despite her great success in those two sports, it’s ice hockey where Robb’s heart lies and the best of her achievements.
“It has been a great year for me both in school and in sports complete with personal victories and disappointments,’’ Robb indicated.
“This in a weird sort of way is how I was asked to play for the only women’s junior team in B.C., though, so I guess with the bad comes some good.’’
The silver lining in the cloud for the Kerry Park Islanders Midget AA player has been taking her game through the Under 18 B.C. program to the final camp in Nanaimo before being cut that ultimately led to an affiliate position with the Pacific Steelers from the Lower Mainland for a trip to Boston.
One of the parent/coaches connected with the Steelers saw Robb watching the Under 18 women’s B.C. team at the nationals in Surrey and wondered why she wasn’t on it. The Steelers certainly thought she deserved to be.
“Playing at Harvard was definitely at the top of cool places to play for me,’’ Robb noted.
She had previously gone to St. Mary’s in Minnesota on a recruiting trip so she’s well-placed for a future in the U.S. university ranks if that’s the course she chooses. Robb tested third in fitness overall.
With her Kerry Park team, it’s also been a rewarding year, winning one big tournament and beating some of the top contenders at that level in the province along the way.
Robb also has a background in track and that might explain some of the electrifying speed she has developed in the other sports.
Ultimately, Robb could try any sport and make an impact. The change of pace has been good for her.
“I really liked rugby,’’ she pointed out. “It was fast like hockey, was a great team sport and our team had success that made it even more fun.’’
A second season of field hockey made a big difference for Robb.
“I felt better about the game itself, understanding it, and the strategies. It has been an easy transition with the stick and playing with the ball. However, the rules and strategies are so different from ice hockey that I really appreciate all the help I received from my friends and coaches.’’
Through it all, Robb is focused on making the B.C. Under 18 women’s ice hockey team in 2010 and no one’s betting against her.