Hayley Wickenheiser. Marie-Philip Poulin. Natalie Spooner. As a female hockey player, these are names I grew up idolizing.
But unlike my male friends who grew up religiously watching their NHL icons on TV, I counted myself lucky to watch my heroes once every four years at the Olympics.
While I’ve long since given up my professional hockey dreams, seeing the PWHL come to life gave me a renewed sense of hope for the next generation of young female hockey players.
Their female idols will be more than just names that pop into the public eye every four years. They’ll be common household names. Young girls can grow up alongside their hockey heroes, too.
Do you have those moments where you remember exactly where you were when something happened?
I remember sitting in my Grade 5 classroom in February 2014, when my teacher came into the room wheeling a bulky cube TV on a black metal stand.
The 2010s relic flickered to life and the Olympic gold-medal hockey game, live from Sochi, filled the screen.
And much to my excitement, there were ponytails flowing from the players’ helmets.
I was instantly enthralled by this new interpretation of hockey. The speed. The technique. Always thinking one move ahead. It was like nothing I had seen before.
This must be the same adrenaline rush my friends must get watching NHL games. I saw myself in those women and dreamt that one day, that would be me on the ice.
But as my teacher rolled the TV out of the classroom that day, the Canadian women’s short moments of fame faded alongside my hockey dreams.
While the boys in my class continued proudly sporting their Sidney Crosby jerseys and talking about the latest NHL score, my idols were only preserved in my memory.
As I got older, I quickly realized professional hockey as a female athlete was a pipe dream — and that reality bites.
Like many others experiencing the same reality check, I embraced my future of late-night “beer league” hockey.
For me, there was never a chance for something bigger. But for the next generation of female hockey players, there is.
I went to my first-ever PWHL game at a sold-out TD Place Arena on Jan. 17. As soon as the women hit the ice, ponytails proudly flowing from their helmets, I could feel that inner 10 year-old within me jump up and down with glee.
And the excitement was just as clear on the players’ faces as massive smiles peeked out from beneath the cages on their helmets.
I was instantly transported right back to that Grade 5 classroom, overwhelmed by that same rush of adrenaline that I felt watching Poulin score her golden overtime goal.
I looked over at the girl sitting beside me — who couldn’t have been older than 10 — as she cheered as loud as she could while undoubtedly experiencing that very same rush.
Proudly sporting her own hockey jersey and transfixed by the game unfolding in front of her, it was clear she saw herself in these players, just like I saw myself in those 2014 Olympians.
Seeing the PWHL come to life has revived my hockey dreams — not for myself, but for young female hockey players just like her.
This little girl can watch women’s hockey on TV every night. She can wear her favourite PWHL jersey in the hallways at school with pride. She can grow up alongside her hockey idols.
Nobody will tell her that aspiring to play professional hockey is impossible.
This little girl can dream.
Featured image by Natasha Baldin.
