Sault girl enjoys hockey success in New York

Sault Ste. Marie's Charissa Gawant has enjoyed considerable success with the women's hockey team at Elmira College, N.Y. The sophomore centre -- a business major -- has been a part of back-to-back NCAA championships with Elmira, a Division 3 school in New York State. As a matter of fact, Gawant scored the winning goal in Elmira's recent 3-1 win over Manhattanville College for the NCAA crown. Besides centring the second line for two-time champion Soaring Eagles, Gawant recently learned that the stick she used to score the winning goal in this year's NCAA championship game is going to be sent to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Gawant, a St. Basil high school graduate and the daughter of Judy and Fred Gawant of the Sault, isn't the only hockey-playing member of her family. Her older brother Eric, has played four seasons as a defenceman with the University of Windsor Lancers. Naturally, mom is pretty proud. "They're both good students," said Judy. "The fact that they are able to combine hockey with their schooling is an added bonus."