When I got word that I’d have the opportunity to sit down with Boston University forward Sydney Healey and chat with her, I have to be honest and say that I could barely contain my excitement.

Over the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to cover many different aspects of the women’s game. Whether it's the draft, an international tournament, or something closer to home with my local Ottawa Charge, I count myself very lucky to be able to do what I do. One of those opportunities was the Beanpot, a Boston-area tournament where four collegiate programs (Boston University, Boston College, Harvard, and Northeastern) compete head-to-head for bragging rights as the best program in town. This is where I first discovered Sydney Healey.

The way she plays the game is special. She’s fast, dynamic, creative, persistent and unafraid. She plays the game in a way few others I’ve seen do, which made her stand out to me game after game during the two Beanpot tournaments that I’ve covered.

Sitting down and speaking with her showcased her personality, without a doubt, as well as her perspective on her game and the state of the women’s game more broadly. Her enthusiasm and passion are infectious, and her drive is undeniable, making her a player and person who's easy to root for.

This conversation took place before the PWHL Draft and gave us a chance to discuss what her professional future might look like, as well as an opportunity for her to share her appreciation for the players who came before her. It’s a really unique experience to speak with someone who idolized so many of these players and is now looking at, one day, joining them.

This was a really enjoyable conversation, and one I have been looking forward to sharing. It was another one of those “pinch me” moments where I sit down with a player I’ve watched on TV, and now I’m somehow in an almost hour-long, one-on-one conversation with them, asking myself, “Is this real life?” 

Our full conversation is also available on YouTube here.

Katie DeSa has long been one of my favourite NCAA players. Sure, what stands out about her career certainly is the accolades, which at this point may just be tipping over the awards cabinet back home. But it’s actually more than that.

You see, Katie brings an authenticity that I believe comes through in our conversation. She’s real, honest, vulnerable, especially when it comes to how important the mental side of the game is to an athlete. That’s an aspect of a player’s career that doesn’t get discussed often enough, and being able to have that dialogue is exactly why I started Rinkside Rundown.

As has been the case over the past few weeks, this conversation was recorded before the 2026 PWHL Draft where Katie was selected 37th overall by the Vancouver Goldeneyes. While we didn’t know that at the time, hearing about the people she was likely thinking about on draft night and the emotions that stirred up for Katie highlighted why these conversations are so important. These athletes, these players, these people, have put in so many hours, worked so hard, and have so many people in their lives who have sacrificed in the pursuit of their dreams. It’s fascinating to hear about those individuals: the cancelled vacations, the long road trips, the late nights sleeping in motel rooms. And now that Katie is about to embark on her professional career, it feels all the more important to remind ourselves of the support systems we have in place that help carry us and navigate us through the ups and downs of life.

This episode was one I’ll forever feel immense gratitude for being able to be a part of, and one I’ll never forget. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, and I hope you'll join me in celebrating every milestone Katie DeSa achieves in what will undoubtedly be a long and successful professional career in the PWHL.

Our full conversation is also available on YouTube here.

I still remember the moment that India logged on to the call. Before we even started recording. She had a giant smile on her face and was so well-spoken. It was a first impression that I’ll never forget and a theme of our entire conversation. After the recording finished, I told her that if she was looking for a career after hockey, the media would be a fantastic fit for her.

So many aspects of India’s story stand out. From how she benefited from being a multi-sport athlete growing up to winning speech competitions and leading at every level of the game. Her confidence is matched only by her humility and gratitude for the people who have helped her achieve her goals.

Editing this episode, recorded before the 2026 PWHL Draft, reminded me how different and unique these stories are, and how important it is to share them. India McDadi is a name I knew before I hit that record button, and one I’ll never forget. She’s easy to root for, and our conversation echoes that in droves.

You can also watch the full conversation on YouTube here.

Sometimes you have the fortune of meeting someone who is unbelievably easy to root for. Maybe it’s because their story resonates with you, or maybe it’s because you’re aware of the obstacles they’ve had to overcome to get to where they are. In the case of Colgate University defender Casey Borgiel, it’s not only because she’s one of the most exciting offensive defenders in the NCAA, but also because of the way she approaches the mental side of the game.

You can watch our full conversation on YouTube here.

This week on Rinkside Rundown, I sit down with Casey as she shares her story. She talks about the impact a program like Little Caesars had on her junior career and what she learned at Holy Cross that helped her become even more successful at Colgate University. She also shares how, despite the intimidation of joining a program like Colgate’s, she turned it around and used it as extra motivation to drive success during her tenure. And that’s another part of what makes Casey such an easy person to root for and a strong role model: she understands that while life can throw you challenges, it’s how you turn them into experiences and then lean on them to become better.

This conversation was recorded before the 2026 PWHL Draft, where she heard her name called by her hometown club, PWHL Detroit, who selected her 22nd overall. In doing so, she became the organization’s first-ever draft pick from the state of Michigan. On August 14, 2026, Casey signed her first professional contract, inking a one-year deal with Detroit ahead of the 2026-27 season.

“It’s a dream come true to come home and play in the same arena that helped me fall in love with hockey and find my passion for the game,” Casey said via team release.

I’m really excited for Detroit fans, as they got one heck of a player, and an even better person, heading their way this fall.

If you’re enjoying these conversations, subscribe and share Rinkside Rundown with your fellow women’s hockey fans. New episodes drop every Thursday at 3:00 p.m. ET, featuring players from across the women’s game, from youth and college to the pros.

I count myself as beyond fortunate to have connected with so many inspiring players, coaches, and voices helping push the women’s game forward and elevate it in ways long overdue. And sometimes, I'm even luckier because I get to reconnect with that same person. That’s what happened with Megan McKay, defender and graduate of Clarkson University.

We last spoke way back on Episode 96 of the show, where I learned about Megan’s childhood and her drive to be the absolute best version of herself. And speaking of drive, learning that she won Driver of the Year during her racing days back home in Indianapolis. Still incredible to think of.

Megan is a great example of someone who never settles or backs down from a challenge, while also being humble and genuine. She wants to achieve the best for herself as well as each and every person around her, and that once again came through in our conversation. We also had a chance to speak about her new podcast, Her Shift with Megan McKay, as well as her work in the broadcast booth during games on the men’s side at Clarkson University. Both experiences have given Megan a chance to connect with the broader hockey community on a deeper level and share many great stories from a unique insider perspective.

Our conversation took place before both the 2026 PWHL Draft and league expansion, but it still offers a unique perspective on how she’s preparing for life in the professional ranks. Since we spoke, Megan has accepted a camp invite to San Jose, and I can’t wait to cheer her on as she chases those dreams.

The full conversation with Megan McKay is available on YouTube here.

In this clip, she talks about trading in figure skates for a brother's pair of hockey skates and finding her place in youth hockey.

Check out the full conversation on Rinkside Rundown, available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and on YouTube, and hit subscribe for weekly women's hockey interviews.

There are times in your life when you’re met with the opportunity to speak with someone who is so contagiously positive that you completely forget to keep track of the time. That was the scenario in my conversation with Penn State graduate and newest member of the Minnesota Frost, Maddy Christian.

During our conversation, one of the many things that stood out to me was her vulnerability and how that ran perfectly alongside her maturity. Maddy is proud of her Elk River, Minnesota community and has never stopped reminding herself of where she came from, and that shines through during this episode.

This conversation was recorded before the 2026 PWHL Draft, where she was selected 33rd overall by her hometown Minnesota Frost. Even though we spoke before the draft, it really did help lend perspective to how she was preparing, especially mentally, and what it would mean to her to be able to lead this next generation in a time where women’s sports are finally getting the spotlight they deserve.

This episode, and our conversation, is one that will stick with me and one that I’ll forever be grateful to have been able to take part in. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, and if you do, please consider subscribing for more weekly episodes, just like this one, from across the world of women’s hockey.

Our full conversation is also available on YouTube here

From playing at TD Garden and the Beanpot to inspiring young fans in the stands, the atmosphere in Boston offered a level of support that transformed their collegiate careers at Boston University. Lilli and Luisa Welcke were able to see that first hand.

Check out the full conversation on Rinkside Rundown, available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and on YouTube, and hit subscribe for weekly women’s hockey interviews.

Long before reaching the collegiate level, Lilli and Luisa Welcke faced the realities of playing in male-dominated youth hockey systems in Germany and trying to find coaches who supported girls in the sport.

Check out the full conversation on Rinkside Rundown, available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and on YouTube, and hit subscribe for weekly women’s hockey interviews.

That’s what happened to Lilli and Luisa Welcke at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, as they had the opportunity to represent Germany on the world’s biggest stage. They reflect on the overwhelming reality of walking into the Olympic village and taking part in the opening ceremony.

Check out the full conversation on Rinkside Rundown, available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and on YouTube, and hit subscribe for weekly women’s hockey interviews.

Lilli and Luisa did just that when they moved away home as teenagers to chase hockey dreams. They talk about what it took to navigate that transition together at just 16 years old.

Check out the full conversation on Rinkside Rundown, available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and on YouTube, and hit subscribe for weekly women’s hockey interviews.

There are so many reasons why this was such an exciting interview for me. I’ve been following Boston University forwards Luisa and Lilli Welcke over the past couple of years through my coverage of the Beanpot, an annual tournament in the Boston area that sees each of the Boston universities (Harvard, Boston College, Boston University, and Northeastern) go head-to-head. Every shift, the twins were noticeable as they created dynamic plays and were often two of the most dangerous players out on the ice.

In this conversation, which took place following their participation in the 2026 Winter Olympics and before their declaration in the 2026 PWHL Draft, we spoke about how they started to learn to skate at Christmas markets back home in Heidelberg, Germany, the obstacles they both faced when it came to the perception of girls playing hockey, and their decision to leave home and come to North America. We also talk about their growth at Boston University and the future of women’s hockey with the growth of the Professional Women’s Hockey League.

One of the many things that stood out to me about this conversation was their honesty. Both Luisa and Lilli were upfront about how challenging it was early on for them back in Germany, as well as what ultimately made Boston University feel like such a good fit both on and off the ice.

Both Luisa and Lilli Welcke will be heading to PWHL camps this fall as camp invitees, and it’s easy to see why. Here’s a breakdown of their collegiate careers.

Luisa played in 87 career games with BU, recording 17 goals and 38 points, and was named to the Hockey East All-Academic Team twice (2022-23 and 2023-24) and crowned Hockey East Champion in 2024-25.

Lilli recorded 12 goals and 35 points over her 86 career games at BU while also being named to the Hockey East All-Academic Team and Hockey East Champion, just like her sister.

This was a conversation I dreamed of when I first started Rinkside Rundown, so I’m thrilled to finally share it with everyone. Luisa and Lilli Welcke have a tremendous professional career ahead of them, and I cannot wait to cheer them on.

You can watch the full interview on YouTube here.

Discover Sara Stewart’s hockey story on the latest episode of Rinkside Rundown, available now.

Long before she was inspiring the next generation of female hockey players, more broadly, and East Coast girls, more specifically, Sara Stewart was just a young girl who looked forward to getting home after school because it meant going outside to play street hockey with her brothers and neighbours. And snow days, where school would be cancelled? Those were the best days.

Our full conversation is also available on YouTube here.

“The local rink was a five-minute walk from my house, and it would stay open,” Sara said. “So we’d make the trek down and just play hockey all day on the ice. Whoever could make it there was welcome to do so. I feel like those little experiences drew me into the sport.” That’s exactly what made the sport so much fun for Sara: it was about connecting with her community and sharing in those very experiences, no matter how big or small they were.

Community is a through line that comes up often in Sara’s story because, you see, hockey is embedded in the Antigonish community. They stand behind you, support and encourage you, and are always looking out for what’s best for you. That makes for an incredibly powerful motivator and serves as a fountain of inspiration and pride for Sara. “I feel like there’s so many talented players that just took a while for people to get their looks on the East Coast,” she said. “Being a part of that group of hardworking players is something to be super proud of.”

Sara played her early hockey career alongside boys in the Nova Scotia U15 Major Hockey League before joining the Northern Selects, where she finally had the chance to play with girls. “It was my first time playing female hockey,” she said. “I felt a sense of community and found a new home. I feel like it made me gain a ton of confidence being so close with those around me.” In her final junior season with the Selects, Sara would see her point total more than double to 26 goals and 44 points, showcasing the offensive abilities that lay right below the surface of an otherwise very strong defensive-minded forward. That time with the Selects stands out on Sara’s resume not only because of an impressive stat line, but also as an opportunity to grow into the leader that she is today.

“I feel like being in the leadership group with the (Northern) Selects definitely prepped me for jumping into the leadership role at the next level,” Sara said. “I’m someone who always tries to lead by example, and being put into that leadership role forced me into a position to find my voice in the locker room.” And that growth and development helped her navigate the balancing act of being best friends with her teammates while also looking out for the team's best interests. Valuable lessons as she would take on a leadership role with Colgate University.

During her four-year collegiate career with Colgate, a place she described as a “second home where people cared about me as a player but also as a person,” Sara remained impactful offensively, putting up 75 points in 155 games, while also pursuing a Biology degree and receiving ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team honours in both 2022-23 and 2023-24. And over those four years, which all too often feel like they flew by, she remained certain of one thing in particular: “My career here at Colgate has been everything that I could have asked for and more than I could have asked for.”

Community comes up again when reflecting on her time with the program, whether it’s with the Rising Raiders program, where she connects with young girls and serves as a role model, or her Learn to Skate sessions with neurodiverse individuals. “I think Colgate really gives you that ability to open your eyes and connect with so many people around you.”

Since our conversation before the 2026 PWHL Draft, Sara signed her first professional contract, a one-year deal with MoDo Hockey in the SDHL. “Following the draft, I was looking for somewhere that would help me to develop the most in my hockey journey,” Sara told me. “MoDo ended up being the perfect fit. I know it’ll help my development to play in a professional league which is physical and fast.”

From growing up on the East Coast of Canada to her experiences at Colgate University, which will last a lifetime, Sara Stewart never lost sight of her roots and the importance of community, and she always strove to leave the sport better than she found it. She now embarks on an exciting next chapter, one which will undoubtedly leave young girls back home inspired and more driven than ever.

Our full conversation is also available on YouTube here.

Sometimes, if you’re really lucky, you can recall the exact moment you discovered your passion. Maybe it was on a family vacation; you started taking photos and realized that you have a knack for composition. Or maybe you were unable to take part in high school gym class because of injuries and uncovered an unexpected desire to be on stage in the theatre. That was exactly the case for Belleville’s Zoe Uens.

Our full conversation is also available on YouTube here.

“Both my dad and my brother played hockey,” she recalled. “I remember looking out; we were at the old Memorial Arena in Belleville, Ontario, and I was sitting with my mom and I was like, ‘I want to go play hockey.’” And Zoe, who loved how much of a family event hockey was, never looked back. Family, you’ll find, is a central theme of this inspiring story.

Growing up, Zoe was active in a variety of sports and found this an important aspect of her development as an athlete. In particular, the variety of movements, she said, helps to prevent injuries, which are always a risk in the sport. “To be able to coordinate yourself is so important and it actually helps your hockey in the end,” Zoe said.

As her junior career progressed, Zoe would move on to play with the Kingston Ice Wolves of the Ontario Women’s Hockey League, where she would grow, develop and mature into team captain, providing her with early leadership experience which would be vital during her time at Quinnipiac. Zoe would go on to play in 97 career regular-season games with the Wolves, but one season, her final year with the organization, stood out amongst the rest, as she would record nine goals and 22 points in 27 games. What sparked that remarkable season? It was simple: she could have fun again.

“I think the gratitude that comes with not playing for a season,” she said. “COVID shut everything down, and you just want to have fun again and play hockey. You were just going on the ice, smiling ear to ear because you were actually able to play games, and when you’re having fun, good things happen.”

Following four strong seasons of growth and development within the Kingston organization, it was time for Zoe to consider where to pursue a collegiate career. For her, that meant finding a place that allowed her to pursue both hockey and academics at an elite level. Enter Quinnipiac University.

“When I was talking to Quinnipiac, the coaches gave me a warm feeling like they really cared about you as a person outside of just the hockey player which I really liked,” Zoe said. “It just felt like home, and I knew that was the place that I wanted to go.”

Finding that balance between continuing to develop into the hockey player she strove to be and succeeding in the classroom initially posed a learning curve for Zoe. But as she’s done so consistently throughout her story, Zoe has found a way to turn those obstacles and moments that might discourage you or me into growth opportunities and defining milestones of success. “Our whole spring program is just doing hard things after hard things so that when those hard things come in the games, they’re easier to overcome,” Zoe said. “Towards the end of it, it got a little bit easier, but with the help of those around me, I was able to overcome it.”

Four years at Quinnipiac, including a final season in which she took on an assistant captain role, taught Zoe that she was more than just a hockey player. She discovered who she really was as a person, and that’s a testament to what happens when you choose a program for reasons that go deeper than just the hockey side and how that decision can have such a positive impact on your entire life moving forward.

Since our conversation, Zoe entered the 2026 PWHL Draft where she was selected in the third round, 36th overall, by the Montreal Victoire.

“The draft was a really cool experience. It was in such a beautiful place, and all the fans in Detroit really showed their support. The atmosphere was something that I truly haven’t experienced on a stage like that, and it showed just how far women’s hockey has come.”

Zoe added: “I’m really excited to go to and prove myself at (Montreal’s) camp. We have such a long offseason to get better and work on different areas of our game, and I’m really excited to get to camp and show everything I’ve been doing this summer.”

From backyard rinks in Belleville, Ontario, to the halls of Quinnipiac University, Zoe Uens has grown, developed and matured into a player who will most certainly have an impact at the next level. She will undeniably inspire the next generation by being someone who never forgot where she came from, opened herself up to challenges, and never let an obstacle define who she was. Now that’s the kind of role model the world needs more of, and fans across the league will love to cheer for.

Our full conversation is also available on YouTube here.

The pathway for Angela James was neither simple nor linear. She faced adversity, barriers, obstacles, misogyny, and yet through it all, displayed a level of perseverance and resilience that is difficult to effectively put into words.

You see, Angela grew up in a very difficult neighbourhood, which could have taken her in a much different direction in life. Instead, using hockey as her “saviour,” as she has stated1, Angela pursued a sport despite the sport being resistant to her. No matter the walls she went up against or the number of “no’s” and “you can't’s” she heard, Angela had her sights set on hockey and brought that same tenacity she showed from an early age to each and every game she would end up playing.

Angela’s career really took off when she joined the newly formed Central Ontario Women’s Hockey League, which also featured other familiar names such as Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Jayna Hefford and Vicky Sunohara2. During her time in the COWHL, Angela made a tremendous impact, was named MVP six times, and led the league in scoring eight times from 1980 to 1998.

Her time internationally with Team Canada brought with it both success, in the form of four World Championship gold medals and two gold medals at the 3 Nations Cups, but also controversy. Ahead of the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Angela was left off the team despite consistently being one of the country’s best players, a decision that perplexed many in the hockey world. Canada would end up falling to the Americans and struggling to score throughout the tournament3.

Away from the ice, Angela is also a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, IIHF Hall of Fame, Hockey Canada Hall of Fame, Seneca Hall of Fame, Sport Canada Hall of Fame, as well as an Officer of the Order of Canada and was named to the Order of Hockey in Canada4.

Angela’s story is a reminder of the many players whose impact at the time was undeniable, but lacked the spotlight it deserved. And while this text only scratches the surface of the impact that Angela has had on the world of hockey, it will hopefully act as a jumping-off point for many to discover why Angela James is considered the first superstar of the modern women’s game.

Growing up in Ottawa, Ontario, Alex Therien initially fell in love with the sport while playing road hockey, but her love for the version played on ice took a little longer to develop.

“I was more of a gymnast and soccer player and didn’t really like the game,” Alex recalled. “I grew up around the rink watching my brother’s games, so I think that’s where I told my parents that I wanted to give it another try.” Thanks to her supportive parents, who were open to letting her try hockey again, as well as her grandfather and brother, who played and reminded her of the joy of the game, Alex found that passion, and it’s resulted in a journey few have been fortunate enough to have.

Our full conversation is also available over on YouTube here.

Unlike a growing number of players who have a desire to pursue the game of hockey, Alex was able to play her entire junior career close to home in the nation’s capital, beginning first with the Ottawa Jr 67s organization (formerly known as the Ottawa Lady 67s) before moving to finish out her junior career with the Nepean Jr Wildcats.

“Every Ottawa junior player has asked themselves, ‘Do I have to go to Toronto to get to where I want to go?’ and I think a few years ago, you would have to say yeah,” Alex said. “I think these Ottawa coaches have done a great job of growing the game for us and creating new teams and new opportunities so we don’t have to go to Toronto, and we can stay home for our last few years of junior.”

Over her final two junior seasons, Alex saw tremendous growth on the ice, as the defender doubled her point total from 11 points in 40 games in 2023-24 to 21 points in 38 games the following season. And in that final junior season, Alex also had the opportunity to put on the Canadian jersey and represent her country at the IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship in Vantaa, Finland in 2025. And in the gold medal game, Alex assisted on the second goal and finished with four points en route to bringing home gold in a 3-0 shutout of the Americans. “It was just such an awesome experience playing with the top players in the country and playing against the top players in other countries,” Alex said.

That experience, and gold medal therein, closed one chapter of Alex’s story and opened another with the University of New Hampshire. It shouldn’t have been a surprise to learn that Alex chose that university considering she spent time hiking and camping in the area while she was growing up, but the decision ran deeper than just that.

“I knew right off the bat when making a decision that I didn’t want to go someplace that was all city,” said Alex. “When I went to New Hampshire, it was just amazing. I fell in love with the campus, the facilities and the coaches. I’ve never met coaches that made me feel so safe and so welcomed. It was just a family right off the bat.”

In her first season in the NCAA, Alex would go on to record seven points over 35 regular-season games with New Hampshire, continuing to make an impact on the ice while learning to balance top-tier academics. “It may have taken a month or two to truly get into the groove of things,” she said, “but I think learning how to do that and setting myself up for success helped me build a mental side that I didn’t know I had before.”

Since our conversation, Alex has transferred to St. Lawrence University, where she’ll begin a new chapter while entering her second NCAA season. She shared that it was a challenging year mentally, but that “I wouldn’t have changed a thing because it taught me a lot and I grew so much as a person both physically and mentally.”

On the decision to transfer, Alex said: “The staff at UNH were great, and I’m grateful for the opportunity I had there. But I realized I needed to be closer to home and closer to family to actually be at my best, both on and off the ice,” Alex would go on to add, “I was lucky to connect with SLU (St. Lawrence University) pretty quickly after the [transfer] portal opened. Talking with them about their program, how I’d fit in, and even realizing how many of the current players I already knew or had played with, it just felt right. The whole thing clicked in a way that gave me a lot of confidence and excitement.”

There’s no doubt that this next chapter will be just as successful as each one before it, and Alex will undoubtedly continue to make an impact on the hockey world with a very exciting St. Lawrence University program.

The city of Ottawa provided the foundation for what has already been a remarkable career for defender Alex Therien, but it’s more than just that. The support she’s had from family along the way, the growth and maturity she’s gone through both on and off the ice, and her dedication to never settle have become the perfect ingredients in creating a player many will want to emulate and a person many will consider a role model.

Our full conversation is also available over on YouTube here.

Growing up in a household full of passionate hockey fans, it seemed only a matter of time before Chloe Glass would follow in those same footsteps.

Our full conversation is also available on YouTube here.

“I have one older brother, and as soon as he was old enough to hit the ice, I was like, ‘Alright, when can I start,” Chloe recalled. “I have three brothers who play, so between the four of us and my dad, it’s just something that is in our family.” And it was that passion and drive that have led Chloe on a lifelong journey in the hockey space, whether on the ice, behind the bench, or educating the next generation.

A graduate of Lebanon Valley College, where she played for five seasons and made the MAC Academic Honour Roll, Chloe also helped set traditions and the foundation for women’s hockey within the program. It was new, having hired its first full-time head coach in her first year with the team, but the experiences helped her to become a better teammate and leader, culminating in being named captain in her senior year.

“Our goal,” Chloe said, “was that we wanted to leave a legacy and make sure that every year after we left was going to be better than when we were there.”

Following her collegiate career, Chloe went overseas to play for EC Bergkamener Bären in the DFEL before ultimately retiring from the game.

“I’ve never not finished a hockey season before and I’ve never not known what I was going to do the next season,” she said. “So it was really difficult transitioning out of playing and just not knowing what my next move was.” Despite the uncertainty, Chloe ended up with an opportunity to move behind the bench as a coach for U-14 through U-19 ages. That experience helped spark the earliest seeds of the Girls and Women’s Hockey Academy. You see, Chloe ended up gaining a new perspective from coaching, including how important things like nutrition were in ensuring the players were properly fuelled for each practice. But more than just talking to her players about such topics, Chloe wanted experts to teach and educate them.

“I want them to have the best people available to talk to,” said Chloe, “because it’s great if there’s coaches talking about it, but the coaches may not always realize what they’re talking about, which was my experience.” Enter the Girls and Women’s Hockey Academy, whose mission is to empower “female hockey players through webinars, camps, and team workshops all led by professional athletes and coaches.”

“It really started with ‘if I were to put something like this together, I wonder what people are out there that we could assemble,” Chloe said. “And it’s not just about having these experts in their fields but also having people who can serve as good role models for girls hockey players.”

The Girls and Women’s Hockey Academy offers programs on nutrition, mental performance, injury prevention and recovery, hockey recruiting education, and so much more. And what’s important about the work they do is that it’s an all-women team that understands that a “one size fits all” approach is not successful in either the short or long term. “We’re just here to serve the next generation of hockey players in whatever way makes the most sense for them,” said Chloe.

Those programs, which will resume next month and include virtual options, are selected based on feedback from players, coaches and parents, making the process collaborative for both facilitators and participants.

“When people reach out saying ‘Oh, I’m interested in this topic,’” Chloe said, “it’s typically just a matter of reaching out to one of my coaches and saying, ‘Hey, are you interested in covering this? ‘” Do you think this is something that you could talk on? Let’s figure out a time.’” And these seminars, whether virtual or in person, such as February’s alongside the PWHL’s New York Sirens, continue to demonstrate how large a gap there is in ensuring that female hockey players truly have the resources to be successful. And it underscores the importance of organizations such as the Girls and Women’s Hockey Academy in connecting the best athletes, coaches, and industry leaders with the next generation, providing them with the tools, resources, and habits that will help ensure a long, successful career, both on and off the ice.

A passion for Chloe Glass, which started all those years ago while she was on the ice with her brothers and her dad and remains one of her fondest hockey memories, has transformed into an organization that has already impacted the lives of so many. And the best part? She’s only just getting started.

Our full conversation is also available on YouTube here.

Margot Page enjoyed a playing career that saw her bring home gold medals while playing alongside many of the game’s most recognizable names, and a coaching career that has spanned nearly thirty years. And it’s through those lessons learned during her playing days that have helped provide perspective as she swapped the skates for the coach’s whistle.

Our full conversation is available on YouTube here.

It’s a story that starts as many Canadian hockey players’ stories do: on a frozen lake, in the cold depths of winter, inspired by the passion of a sibling.

“We’d walk down to the lake, clear it off and play,” said Margot. “And it was my brother and myself and my older sister. My brother played the game, and I would follow him into the rinks, and I’d just sit there. I sat and watched and absolutely loved it, and I wanted to play. That was probably when I was seven, eight or nine years old.”

But it was the transition from playing on the outdoor rink to playing in a league that led Margot to encounter her first hurdle. At that time, girls just didn’t play hockey; they weren’t allowed to. So that forced Margot to enrol in gymnastics, track and field, and other sports that, sure, she enjoyed, but it just wasn’t the same as hockey. But that all changed when, at around the age of 11, Margot’s dad, who was a bank manager, came home and informed her that the family was moving, something they’d done many times before.

“I was pretty upset because I had friends and everything like that there,” she said. “But then he told me that he had done some research, and where we were moving to, there are some girls’ hockey teams I could join.” It didn’t take any more convincing at that point for Margot to be on board. This is where she got her first taste of being part of a team with the Tiverton Big Reds.

And as Margot put it, “That was sort of the beginning, and I haven’t stopped since.”

Margot would go on to have a playing career defined by the colour gold. As a member of the Canadian National women’s ice hockey team from 1989 to 1994, Margot would win three gold medals at the IIHF Women’s World Hockey Championships (1990, 1992, 1994). And those experiences, and the lessons learned while playing alongside players like Angela James, Geraldine Heaney and Hayley Wickenheiser, helped provide perspective on what it takes to win, both on and off the ice. One of those was the importance of being humble.

“You might think you’re a great hockey player and then you go in there, and you’re a fourth line player, and you still have to be there for your teammates,” she said. “I get it because I was one of those players, so you can feel for them as to what they’re going through.”

And those valuable insights and discoveries from her playing career, along with a background and passion for teaching, helped Margot make the successful transition from the ice to the bench.

Her first coaching position was with Niagara University's Purple Eagles women’s ice hockey program, where she was named the first coach and would go on to spend 10 seasons. During that time, she also led the National Women’s Under-22 team to gold medals at the 2003 and 2004 Air Canada Cup and 2010 MLP Cup. Margot would also help lead the women’s national team to gold at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy, as an assistant coach. Additionally, Margot spent four years with Switzerland’s Under-18 national team, serving as an assistant coach.

Throughout her coaching career, Margot has been uniquely positioned to witness firsthand the growth of women’s hockey, particularly at the USPORTS level.

“That first national team in 1990, we had to pay to try out for our national team,” she said. “So it’s come a long way, which is really neat. And I’m excited to see where it is now.” And with that growth comes the understanding that, to be sustainable in the long term, systems are needed to develop players at all levels.

As it stands, the PWHL is primarily “fed” through the NCAA, with only some exceptions made for the SDHL, and even fewer still through USPORTS. “I would just like to see some sort of link between them,” Margot said, “so that more people who still want to be competitive coming out of the NCAA or USPORTS can still look to develop.”

While that work will be crucial to ensuring the success of professional women’s hockey, Margot knows that the passion is there, the funding opportunities continue to grow, and the sky is the limit for what can be achieved.

From first lacing up her skates on the frozen lakes back home to joining her first team, to being a part of Canada’s gold medal-winning legacy, Margot Page is a name that’s synonymous with women’s hockey, and is a story that has, and will continue to be, an inspiration for so many young girls who will continue to grow the sport.

Our full conversation is available on YouTube here.

Kim Davis has been a Senior Managing Director, President of the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, and was named to The Business Journal’s 100 Most Influential Women and Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in Business. Through every role and accolade, Kim has remained a vocal advocate of diversity, equality and inclusion within sports.

“I’ve always been a proponent, throughout my entire career and my life, of women in leadership roles,” Davis said in an interview with NHL.com’s Christopher Detwiler. “And so the importance of understanding the intersection of gender, race and ethnicity as it relates to women of colour, to be able to see the representation here both as fans, as employees on and off the ice, it tells me that despite what might be appearing to be in some ways setbacks in our country and even across the globe that we should still be very encouraged by what opportunities lie in front of us for women and women of colour.”

Named the Executive Vice President, Social Impact, Growth Initiatives & Legislative Affairs for the NHL on November 27, 2017, and officially joining later that year on December 4, Kim has been working to bring more diversity to the league and create awareness through community engagement and initiatives, such as hosting the NHL Unites Pride Cup and the Hockey is for Everyone campaign and working with the Black Girl Hockey Club.

“Kim’s professional experience uniquely qualifies her to ensure that our League is continuing to improve lives and strengthen and build vibrant communities through hockey as well as provide a safe, positive and inclusive environment for anyone associated with our League,” Commissioner Gary Bettman said via league release at the time of hiring.

Kim’s list of accolades includes:

• Hockey News’ 2019 & 2020 Top 100 Most Influential Leaders in the sport

• Adweek’s 30 Most Powerful Women in Sports

• Sports Business Journal’s GameChangers

• Savoy Magazine’s Most Influential Women in Corporate America

• Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in Business

• Essence magazine’s 28 Most Influential Black Women in America (with First Lady Michelle Obama)

Sports have long remained stuck in the values and perspectives of the past, and it’s through individuals like Kim Davis that we will see meaningful change, helping to create spaces that feel more diverse and inclusive. That’s what makes Kim Davis, the NHL’s Executive Vice President, Social Impact, Growth Initiatives & Legislative Affairs, a pioneer.

To learn more, here are some resources:

• Meet the woman making the NHL more inclusive - espn.com

• NHL exec Davis drops puck before PWHL game, shows support for women’s hockey - nhl.com

• Meet Kim Davis, The Black Woman Pushing The National Hockey League Forward - becauseofthemwecan.com