Meet CeCe Werner, a Michigan-born hockey player and coach, as she reflects on traveling across Europe with The North – sharing unforgettable memories, cultural discoveries, and a renewed love for the game that continues to shape her journey both on and off the ice, as she prepares to return for another tour in 2025.
Tell the people about yourself:
My name is CeCe Werner, I am from Dearborn, Michigan. I played hockey for the high school I attended before going off to play collegiately. I played college hockey at Adrian College for the ACHA Women’s D1 hockey program where I also obtained a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree. Upon graduating, I started working full-time for a medical equipment company along with coaching various age levels of girls’ hockey! Primarily with a 12U team near home, but also with an organization that puts together tournament teams of elite players that travel all over to compete in tournaments.
Where have you travelled with The North?
With The North, I have travelled to:
- Budapest, Hungary
- Bratislava, Slovakia
- Vienna, Austria
- Klagenfurt, Austria
- Bled, Slovenia
- Ljubljana, Slovenia
We also went to Trieste, Italy for a day trip!
What did you learn about hockey in Europe from your North trip?
Hockey in Europe is awesome! Every team we played, various ages, were all very competitive and super fun to play. They have some very talented players over there and even though it was competitive, we made sure to joke around, have fun and make the most of each game we played. Every player we encountered whether it was before, during, or after the games were so welcoming and excited to have us there.
How has your North experience affected your relationship with hockey?
My North experience has affected my relationship with hockey in the most eye-opening, amazing way. Being able to travel the world, see new places, meet so many new people, and of course play the game of hockey all at the same time was truly remarkable. It opened my eyes to seeing how big the sport of hockey really is. From the younger generation all the way to professional and all around the world.
What’s one moment or memory from your trip(s) that stands out to you?
There are so many moments and memories that I could talk about from my trip, but, I would have to say the one that stands out to me that I will never forget is the sunrise in Budapest. A group of us woke up at about 4 a.m. one morning to head over to the top of the castle to witness the sunrise and let me tell you it was so worth it. It was a sight and moment I will truly never forget. You could almost feel the whole town wake up as the sun slowly rose and it was jaw-dropping beautiful to watch.
“Having the opportunity to play softball on the other side of the world was an experience of a lifetime! I had an amazing time of the trip as it combined my love for softball and traveling into one.”
Jordan Blake
Cases if it’s Highlighted
There are so many moments and memories that I could talk about from my trip, but, I would have to say the one that stands out to me that I will never forget is the sunrise in Budapest. A group of us woke up at about 4 a.m. one morning to head over to the top of the castle to witness the sunrise and let me tell you it was so worth it. It was a sight and moment I will truly never forget. You could almost feel the whole town wake up as the sun slowly rose and it was jaw-dropping beautiful to watch.
