After overcoming 'very nasty injury,' young P.E.I. figure skater named Canada Games alternate

Rowyn Reed-Jones will not be representing Team P.E.I. at the upcoming Canada Winter Games, but not for any lack of trying. 

The 13-year-old suffered an avulsion fracture of the hamstring tendons that broke part of their pelvis 16 months ago, meaning no training for six months. 

Rowyn returned to skating in the spring of 2022, and competed all fall with excellent results, but fell during the final skate of the selection competition, meaning they will now be the alternate behind two other Island skaters, Brenley Bissett and Daisy Li.

"The injury happened the second day into last season, so it was October 2021. They were out there practising, and Rowyn went into a sit spin and all of a sudden couldn't get up," said Rowyn's mother, Rebecca Reed-Jones. 

"Over the course of about six weeks in physio and following some X-rays, we actually found out that the hamstring muscles had broken off a part of Rowyn's pelvis," Reed-Jones said.

"Unfortunately, it's a very nasty injury. It requires an extensive amount of time. It took six months to heal."

Throughout that time of rehabilitation, Rowyn and the family knew that the time was ticking toward the Canada Winter Games.

The COVID-19 pandemic had already thrown a loop at young skaters hoping to compete in 2023, with many doing virtual at-home off-ice training program to keep in shape. 

Then, for Rowyn, there was the injury.

"It was horrible. It was the worst possible timing," said Rebecca Reed-Jones. "Rowyn was in a great place for being at the level for Canada Games, and then it took the entire season away. In that situation, you're looking at a loss of conditioning and skills."

Rowyn was back on the ice in March 2022, but everyone knew there was a high risk of re-injury. 

"We had to