The Hockey Dream...

In late 2014 I went for an ice skate at my local rink with a friend. A colleague I worked with at the time saw my photo and invited me to come watch her husband play ice hockey.

Ice hockey, I wondered…. I had no idea what to expect.

Later that night, I was officially an ice hockey fan and looking for gear to start playing.

In 2015 I made reserve for my local women’s team and got to train with them and play a dozen games during the season.

From there my love and passion for the sport has grown. I have played mixed comps, women’s leagues, tier 2 competition, week-long tournaments and 3v3 mini tournaments.

I have had the opportunity to meet and play alongside of so many different people. With ages that range from young to older, and experience from beginners to advanced and even some who have represented NSW and Australia in the world level.

We’ve had players from Canada come over and have some friendly games and international imports for our top league step out and run training sessions with us.

Fast forward to 2022 and the new seasons are ahead of us.

As an anxious person that plays sport, I have gained great clarity and control over my mental health from the elements of exercise and working within a team setting. To control anxiety can be tricky, but in a supportive environment surrounded by people in your corner cheering you on, it is empowering.

I have seen the benefit first hand how having positive people creating a strong mindset amongst players on the bench, and how encouraging teammates lifts them. So, this year, it’s time to go a step further from being just a player. Time to be that person people can look to for that encouragement and support.

Understanding mindset and mindfulness has been a personal mission of mine for quite some time. When I became aware of where my weaknesses sat, I worked on how to improve it all and find the tools to enable success.

I decided recently, why do it for myself when I can learn and show others, so, it’s time to share more of what I’ve learnt with the community that has gifted me so much. My hockey family.

With the new rep season ahead of us, I participated in the level 1 coaching certification recently, and the referee course is coming up. I get to work with our young players aged 8-13 as well as stepping onto the bench to be a coach and mentor to our division 4 teams who are all learning the game.

We have a wonderful family culture in our hockey rink, including a number of actual families that play from the 7-year-old kids right through to the 60+ year old parents.

The opportunity to grow and enhance our sport through being a mindful coach and official excites me. Being able to set an example for how to be a good teammate, coach and official is an important place. Kids from the 7 year old’s right through to the 17 year old’s are influenced by the adults around them, and it is a responsibility I do not take for granted.

I get to start my coaching career in hockey with the kids. I am excited, and a little nervous, to help them grow into being great teammates, and players, and to watch them thrive in a sport that is loved world-wide.

I believe working within this environment teaches everyone, especially the kids, life skills to take into their life, school, and other activities they participate in outside of the rink.

I see 2022 being a year to help my teams and my kids flourish in all their hockey goals, with that ultimately leading to my own and I can’t wait!