Rising Nova Scotia hockey star heading to under-18 world championships

You can forgive 17-year-old Brette Pettet if her concentration drifts off over the Christmas break.

The rising young hockey star from Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley has returned home from school in Minnesota and she's already dreaming about where she'll be playing next month.

Pettet has been named to Canada's under-18 girls team and will be playing for her country at the 2017 IIHF Women's World U18 Championship in Czech Republic.

"I don't think I could be any more thrilled and it's an absolute honour and privilege to play for my country," said the Kentville, N.S., native, speaking from an airport in Minneapolis just before boarding a flight to bring her home.

"I've never been to Europe so I'm looking forward to seeing the Czech Republic and all it has to offer."

Pettet is in her fifth season playing at a prep school in the U.S. The forward attends Shattuck-St.Mary's in Faribault, Minn., and has played on three national championship teams in her four seasons.

Same school as Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon

Her team is currently the top ranked team in the country so another national title could be in the works.

The school is the same one once attended by Cole Harbour hockey stars Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon.

"I just felt it was an opportunity I just couldn't pass up," said Pettet. "The school has been able to provide me with so many opportunities and experiences over the last five years, so I'm really happy with my decision to go there."

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Heading stateside to pursue her education and hockey career is proving to be a good decision for Pettet.

Being selected to the team going to the Czech Republic proves she is on Hockey Canada's radar. As she continues to gain experience she will get closer to reaching her personal goal of playing for Canada's women's senior team in the Olympics.

'One of my hardest working players'

Next season Pettet will take her hockey skills to the University of Wisconsin where she has been given a scholarship.

"I actually start this summer taking some classes and doing some training with my team," said Pettet. "I'll be playing there for four years with their Division 1 hockey team and hopefully I will continue to stay in relations with Hockey Canada."

Growing up in Kentville, Brette Pettet always played minor hockey on boys teams.

Her last coach in peewee was Dennis Vial, a former NHL player with the Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers and Ottawa Senators, who now lives in Berwick.

"She was always one of my hardest working players on the ice and she was really easy to coach," said Vial. "I could tell that she was going to be wearing a Team Canada jersey one day."