hello Calgary it’s very cool for me to be here today to speak to all of you a
be here today to speak to all of you a
be here today to speak to all of you a lot of people look at me and think of me
lot of people look at me and think of me
lot of people look at me and think of me as a pioneer in hockey in women’s hockey
as a pioneer in hockey in women’s hockey
as a pioneer in hockey in women’s hockey but I’m not a pioneer these women were
but I’m not a pioneer these women were
but I’m not a pioneer these women were pioneers as far back as late 1800s
pioneers as far back as late 1800s
pioneers as far back as late 1800s women’s hockey was documented being
women’s hockey was documented being
women’s hockey was documented being played and right here in Canada
played and right here in Canada
played and right here in Canada Lord Stanley Preston the Governor
Lord Stanley Preston the Governor
Lord Stanley Preston the Governor General of Canada and hence the Stanley
General of Canada and hence the Stanley
General of Canada and hence the Stanley Cup
Cup
Cup his daughter Isabel was one of the first
his daughter Isabel was one of the first
his daughter Isabel was one of the first filmed and photographed female hockey
filmed and photographed female hockey
filmed and photographed female hockey players in this country in the early
players in this country in the early
players in this country in the early 1900s when the men went off to war for
1900s when the men went off to war for
1900s when the men went off to war for World War one in World War two some
World War one in World War two some
World War one in World War two some smart entrepreneurial businessmen
smart entrepreneurial businessmen
smart entrepreneurial businessmen decided that it would be great to keep
decided that it would be great to keep
decided that it would be great to keep the hockey spirit alive in this country
the hockey spirit alive in this country
the hockey spirit alive in this country and have women play and so the eastern
and have women play and so the eastern
and have women play and so the eastern ladies hockey league was formed and they
ladies hockey league was formed and they
ladies hockey league was formed and they called them Ladyhawke iasts I can’t
called them Ladyhawke iasts I can’t
called them Ladyhawke iasts I can’t imagine being called the lady Hawk iasts
imagine being called the lady Hawk iasts
imagine being called the lady Hawk iasts but they were and so these women played
but they were and so these women played
but they were and so these women played every Monday night across the eastern
every Monday night across the eastern
every Monday night across the eastern seaboard and filled the ranks of up to
seaboard and filled the ranks of up to
seaboard and filled the ranks of up to 3,200 people and entertain people during
3,200 people and entertain people during
3,200 people and entertain people during the wartime you could argue back then
the wartime you could argue back then
the wartime you could argue back then that women’s hockey was more popular
that women’s hockey was more popular
that women’s hockey was more popular then than it might be today
then than it might be today
then than it might be today now when the war ended and the men came
now when the war ended and the men came
now when the war ended and the men came back from war women’s hockey sort of
back from war women’s hockey sort of
back from war women’s hockey sort of died until the 1960s until another group
died until the 1960s until another group
died until the 1960s until another group of pioneers came along and inspired
of pioneers came along and inspired
of pioneers came along and inspired someone like myself but that’s not my
someone like myself but that’s not my
someone like myself but that’s not my story
story
story this is my story just a little
this is my story just a little
this is my story just a little five-year-old kid growing up in Sean
five-year-old kid growing up in Sean
five-year-old kid growing up in Sean ‘van Saskatchewan who watched my mom and
‘van Saskatchewan who watched my mom and
‘van Saskatchewan who watched my mom and dad hang out at the rink because that’s
dad hang out at the rink because that’s
dad hang out at the rink because that’s all there really was to do in the little
all there really was to do in the little
all there really was to do in the little town that I came from they were
town that I came from they were
town that I came from they were schoolteachers and my dad played
schoolteachers and my dad played
schoolteachers and my dad played old-timers hockey and I watched him play
old-timers hockey and I watched him play
old-timers hockey and I watched him play and one day I said well I’d like to play
and one day I said well I’d like to play
and one day I said well I’d like to play and luckily for me I had two parents who
and luckily for me I had two parents who
and luckily for me I had two parents who believed that a girl could do anything
believed that a girl could do anything
believed that a girl could do anything that a boy could do and so
and so they put me in the game but the
and so they put me in the game but the story of my childhood was a little
story of my childhood was a little
story of my childhood was a little different than the average boy growing
different than the average boy growing
different than the average boy growing up in Sean of in Saskatchewan when I was
up in Sean of in Saskatchewan when I was
up in Sean of in Saskatchewan when I was five and six years old the narrative for
five and six years old the narrative for
five and six years old the narrative for girls playing hockey in my town and in
girls playing hockey in my town and in
girls playing hockey in my town and in the world really was girls don’t play
the world really was girls don’t play
the world really was girls don’t play hockey and luckily for me there were two
hockey and luckily for me there were two
hockey and luckily for me there were two reasons why I played my mom and dad who
reasons why I played my mom and dad who
reasons why I played my mom and dad who sheltered me from a lot of the abuse and
sheltered me from a lot of the abuse and
sheltered me from a lot of the abuse and the criticism that was dealt my way and
the criticism that was dealt my way and
the criticism that was dealt my way and the fact that in a very small town you
the fact that in a very small town you
the fact that in a very small town you needed warm bodies to fill a team and so
needed warm bodies to fill a team and so
needed warm bodies to fill a team and so they were happy to have me when I got a
they were happy to have me when I got a
they were happy to have me when I got a little older it was a little tougher I
little older it was a little tougher I
little older it was a little tougher I was changing in places like boiler rooms
was changing in places like boiler rooms
was changing in places like boiler rooms the backseat of the car the bathroom
the backseat of the car the bathroom
the backseat of the car the bathroom stall while mums from the other team
stall while mums from the other team
stall while mums from the other team would chatter about the girl on the
would chatter about the girl on the
would chatter about the girl on the other team and it wasn’t easy when I
other team and it wasn’t easy when I
other team and it wasn’t easy when I became a teenager the narrative changed
became a teenager the narrative changed
became a teenager the narrative changed again now here you see me in this was
again now here you see me in this was
again now here you see me in this was 1998 1999 I was attending the
1998 1999 I was attending the
1998 1999 I was attending the Philadelphia Flyers development camp
Philadelphia Flyers development camp
Philadelphia Flyers development camp because in the 98 Olympics when I was 18
because in the 98 Olympics when I was 18
because in the 98 Olympics when I was 18 years old Bobby Clarke who is the
years old Bobby Clarke who is the
years old Bobby Clarke who is the general manager of the Philadelphia
general manager of the Philadelphia
general manager of the Philadelphia Flyers watched me play in those Olympic
Flyers watched me play in those Olympic
Flyers watched me play in those Olympic games he liked the way that I played and
games he liked the way that I played and
games he liked the way that I played and he invited me to camp but just three
he invited me to camp but just three
he invited me to camp but just three years prior to stepping into an NHL
years prior to stepping into an NHL
years prior to stepping into an NHL level camp I was playing midget triple-a
level camp I was playing midget triple-a
level camp I was playing midget triple-a hockey right here in Calgary and I tried
hockey right here in Calgary and I tried
hockey right here in Calgary and I tried out for the team on the boys side I
out for the team on the boys side I
out for the team on the boys side I believe I’m the only girl that’s ever
believe I’m the only girl that’s ever
believe I’m the only girl that’s ever made a mid to triple-a boys hockey
made a mid to triple-a boys hockey
made a mid to triple-a boys hockey league in the city since and I’m and I
league in the city since and I’m and I
league in the city since and I’m and I played and 15 games into the season we
played and 15 games into the season we
played and 15 games into the season we went on a road trip to Medicine Hat
went on a road trip to Medicine Hat
went on a road trip to Medicine Hat Alberta and I had a really good
Alberta and I had a really good
Alberta and I had a really good tournament maybe one of my better
tournament maybe one of my better
tournament maybe one of my better performances at the time and I was very
performances at the time and I was very
performances at the time and I was very excited about solidifying myself on the
excited about solidifying myself on the
excited about solidifying myself on the team being part of the team finally and
team being part of the team finally and
team being part of the team finally and when the bus pulled up to father David
when the bus pulled up to father David
when the bus pulled up to father David Bower Arena and Calgary the coach called
Bower Arena and Calgary the coach called
Bower Arena and Calgary the coach called me into his office and I thought he was
me into his office and I thought he was
me into his office and I thought he was calling me into his office to say you
calling me into his office to say you
calling me into his office to say you know a great job I’m gonna gonna put you
know a great job I’m gonna gonna put you
know a great job I’m gonna gonna put you on the power play now or whatever it
on the power play now or whatever it
on the power play now or whatever it might be but instead you look
might be but instead you look
might be but instead you look me in the eye and he said you know
me in the eye and he said you know
me in the eye and he said you know you’re a really good hockey player but I
you’re a really good hockey player but I
you’re a really good hockey player but I can’t handle having a girl on the team
can’t handle having a girl on the team
can’t handle having a girl on the team and so I’m gonna let you go so there I
and so I’m gonna let you go so there I
and so I’m gonna let you go so there I was standing and father David Bauer
was standing and father David Bauer
was standing and father David Bauer arena while my mom was waiting in the
arena while my mom was waiting in the
arena while my mom was waiting in the parking lot for me to come out and tell
parking lot for me to come out and tell
parking lot for me to come out and tell her how great the tournament was and
her how great the tournament was and
her how great the tournament was and when I walked outside and I opened the
when I walked outside and I opened the
when I walked outside and I opened the car door and my mom said so how’d it go
car door and my mom said so how’d it go
car door and my mom said so how’d it go I heard you played really well I said I
I heard you played really well I said I
I heard you played really well I said I just got cut and the look in my mom’s
just got cut and the look in my mom’s
just got cut and the look in my mom’s eyes at the time I’ll never forget it
eyes at the time I’ll never forget it
eyes at the time I’ll never forget it because I remember as a kid growing up
because I remember as a kid growing up
because I remember as a kid growing up all the times that my parents had
all the times that my parents had
all the times that my parents had protected me and sheltered me from the
protected me and sheltered me from the
protected me and sheltered me from the things that I had to hear and had to go
things that I had to hear and had to go
things that I had to hear and had to go through
through
through instead of getting irate ly mad or
instead of getting irate ly mad or
instead of getting irate ly mad or flying off the handle she just looked at
flying off the handle she just looked at
flying off the handle she just looked at me in the eye and said are you sure you
me in the eye and said are you sure you
me in the eye and said are you sure you want to keep going because this is
want to keep going because this is
want to keep going because this is getting really hard to watch
getting really hard to watch
getting really hard to watch and so felt pretty sorry for myself for
and so felt pretty sorry for myself for
and so felt pretty sorry for myself for a few minutes and definitely it was
a few minutes and definitely it was
a few minutes and definitely it was devastating but something inside me
devastating but something inside me
devastating but something inside me which is always driven me in my career
which is always driven me in my career
which is always driven me in my career said bucket Bock this
and so I realized that talent alone
and so I realized that talent alone wasn’t gonna get me anywhere in this
wasn’t gonna get me anywhere in this
wasn’t gonna get me anywhere in this game that really talent alone isn’t
game that really talent alone isn’t
game that really talent alone isn’t gonna get anybody anywhere no one owes
gonna get anybody anywhere no one owes
gonna get anybody anywhere no one owes me anything no one owes any of us
me anything no one owes any of us
me anything no one owes any of us anything I was gonna have to figure out
anything I was gonna have to figure out
anything I was gonna have to figure out a way to keep alive in the game and so I
a way to keep alive in the game and so I
a way to keep alive in the game and so I realized at the time that I was
realized at the time that I was
realized at the time that I was overcoming this giant bucket list and on
overcoming this giant bucket list and on
overcoming this giant bucket list and on my bucket list
my bucket list
my bucket list which is not your traditional bucket
which is not your traditional bucket
which is not your traditional bucket list I did not want to jump out of an
list I did not want to jump out of an
list I did not want to jump out of an airplane or climb Everest no I was
airplane or climb Everest no I was
airplane or climb Everest no I was actually bucking it and the things that
actually bucking it and the things that
actually bucking it and the things that I had to buck were things like gender
I had to buck were things like gender
I had to buck were things like gender girls don’t play hockey well guess what
girls don’t play hockey well guess what
girls don’t play hockey well guess what a hundred thousand girls in this country
a hundred thousand girls in this country
a hundred thousand girls in this country play hockey right now
tradition the tradition of hockey is
tradition the tradition of hockey is very steeped in the male-dominated world
very steeped in the male-dominated world
very steeped in the male-dominated world very difficult to overcome the fear of
very difficult to overcome the fear of
very difficult to overcome the fear of failure because for me as a young girl
failure because for me as a young girl
failure because for me as a young girl failing was not an option and it wasn’t
failing was not an option and it wasn’t
failing was not an option and it wasn’t an option because it was the only way I
an option because it was the only way I
an option because it was the only way I was going to be long
was going to be long
was going to be long I put an intense amount of pressure on
I put an intense amount of pressure on
I put an intense amount of pressure on myself and I was intensely afraid of
myself and I was intensely afraid of
myself and I was intensely afraid of failing and the status quo the status
failing and the status quo the status
failing and the status quo the status quo was very hard at the time no one
quo was very hard at the time no one
quo was very hard at the time no one stood up in that midget triple-a
stood up in that midget triple-a
stood up in that midget triple-a organization and said this is not right
organization and said this is not right
organization and said this is not right even though I made that team and lastly
even though I made that team and lastly
even though I made that team and lastly don’t rock the boat mentality because
don’t rock the boat mentality because
don’t rock the boat mentality because sometimes it’s easier to just sit back
sometimes it’s easier to just sit back
sometimes it’s easier to just sit back and do nothing than to put yourself out
and do nothing than to put yourself out
and do nothing than to put yourself out there now I want you guys to all close
there now I want you guys to all close
there now I want you guys to all close your eyes for a second and I want you to
your eyes for a second and I want you to
your eyes for a second and I want you to imagine you’re in your high school
imagine you’re in your high school
imagine you’re in your high school parking lot and two kids two boys or two
parking lot and two kids two boys or two
parking lot and two kids two boys or two girls it doesn’t really matter they’re
girls it doesn’t really matter they’re
girls it doesn’t really matter they’re about to fight now do you see a crowd of
about to fight now do you see a crowd of
about to fight now do you see a crowd of people around these kids
people around these kids
people around these kids chances are you you probably do now what
chances are you you probably do now what
chances are you you probably do now what if that crowd wasn’t there would those
if that crowd wasn’t there would those
if that crowd wasn’t there would those kids still fight what if one kid in the
kids still fight what if one kid in the
kids still fight what if one kid in the crowd decided to step up and say this
crowd decided to step up and say this
crowd decided to step up and say this isn’t right and break up the fight what
isn’t right and break up the fight what
isn’t right and break up the fight what might happen to that kid because the
might happen to that kid because the
might happen to that kid because the reality in today’s world is that the
reality in today’s world is that the
reality in today’s world is that the herd mentality is really dangerous and
herd mentality is really dangerous and
herd mentality is really dangerous and the world needs less sheep and by less
the world needs less sheep and by less
the world needs less sheep and by less sheep I mean if you imagine sheep what
sheep I mean if you imagine sheep what
sheep I mean if you imagine sheep what happens when sheep go in a herd and they
happens when sheep go in a herd and they
happens when sheep go in a herd and they follow the leader they do anything that
follow the leader they do anything that
follow the leader they do anything that the leader does and sometimes that means
the leader does and sometimes that means
the leader does and sometimes that means even going right over a cliff and don’t
even going right over a cliff and don’t
even going right over a cliff and don’t we see that in today’s world over and
we see that in today’s world over and
we see that in today’s world over and over again when I became an adult in the
over again when I became an adult in the
over again when I became an adult in the game of hockey the narrative change from
game of hockey the narrative change from
game of hockey the narrative change from as a teenager you’re a girl you’re
as a teenager you’re a girl you’re
as a teenager you’re a girl you’re pretty good we don’t want you to now
pretty good we don’t want you to now
pretty good we don’t want you to now what are we gonna do with you because
what are we gonna do with you because
what are we gonna do with you because not only was there me playing hockey
not only was there me playing hockey
not only was there me playing hockey there was a whole slew of other women in
there was a whole slew of other women in
there was a whole slew of other women in Canada and around the world with their
Canada and around the world with their
Canada and around the world with their bucket lists and now we had a national
bucket lists and now we had a national
bucket lists and now we had a national team of women playing Hawk
team of women playing Hawk
team of women playing Hawk and I have to say in what other country
and I have to say in what other country
and I have to say in what other country in the world would you see an image like
in the world would you see an image like
in the world would you see an image like this and know that that was a bunch of
this and know that that was a bunch of
this and know that that was a bunch of women on the ice and that they were able
women on the ice and that they were able
women on the ice and that they were able to play the game I think the world needs
to play the game I think the world needs
to play the game I think the world needs more Canada
but the narrative change and the
but the narrative change and the establishment didn’t like it
establishment didn’t like it
establishment didn’t like it the Hockey Canada is the hockey USA is
the Hockey Canada is the hockey USA is
the Hockey Canada is the hockey USA is Swedish hockey you name it they were
Swedish hockey you name it they were
Swedish hockey you name it they were uncomfortable with a bunch of women that
uncomfortable with a bunch of women that
uncomfortable with a bunch of women that had demands and wanted to play the game
had demands and wanted to play the game
had demands and wanted to play the game and actually might actually want to get
and actually might actually want to get
and actually might actually want to get paid for playing it what were we gonna
paid for playing it what were we gonna
paid for playing it what were we gonna do now but the thing with a bucket list
do now but the thing with a bucket list
do now but the thing with a bucket list is that you don’t just buck it to be
is that you don’t just buck it to be
is that you don’t just buck it to be cool or be a rebel about it without a
cool or be a rebel about it without a
cool or be a rebel about it without a cause you bucket because there’s
cause you bucket because there’s
cause you bucket because there’s something wrong people are being
something wrong people are being
something wrong people are being persecuted they’re not getting the
persecuted they’re not getting the
persecuted they’re not getting the opportunities that they should the
opportunities that they should the
opportunities that they should the status quo isn’t okay I’ll give you
status quo isn’t okay I’ll give you
status quo isn’t okay I’ll give you three examples of where the status quo
three examples of where the status quo
three examples of where the status quo wasn’t okay Martin Luther King jr. the
wasn’t okay Martin Luther King jr. the
wasn’t okay Martin Luther King jr. the 1960s he changed the way that we look at
1960s he changed the way that we look at
1960s he changed the way that we look at civil rights today by civil disobedience
civil rights today by civil disobedience
civil rights today by civil disobedience and peaceful protesting and inspired
and peaceful protesting and inspired
and peaceful protesting and inspired millions around the world Warren Buffett
millions around the world Warren Buffett
millions around the world Warren Buffett who the richest man in the world created
who the richest man in the world created
who the richest man in the world created the Giving Pledge and chose to give away
the Giving Pledge and chose to give away
the Giving Pledge and chose to give away 99% of his wealth inspiring over 30
99% of his wealth inspiring over 30
99% of his wealth inspiring over 30 other billionaires like Bill Gates and
other billionaires like Bill Gates and
other billionaires like Bill Gates and Elon Musk to do the same he decided that
Elon Musk to do the same he decided that
Elon Musk to do the same he decided that the disparity between rich and poor is
the disparity between rich and poor is
the disparity between rich and poor is too great in this world and he did
too great in this world and he did
too great in this world and he did something about it and the last example
something about it and the last example
something about it and the last example in the most recent example is the USA
in the most recent example is the USA
in the most recent example is the USA women’s national hockey team who just a
women’s national hockey team who just a
women’s national hockey team who just a few months ago decided to bucket and
few months ago decided to bucket and
few months ago decided to bucket and buck the status quo by fighting for a
buck the status quo by fighting for a
buck the status quo by fighting for a pay raise they were getting paid $6,000
pay raise they were getting paid $6,000
pay raise they were getting paid $6,000 per year per player from USA Hockey and
per year per player from USA Hockey and
per year per player from USA Hockey and with a massive media movement and 18 US
with a massive media movement and 18 US
with a massive media movement and 18 US senators writing letters and a host of
senators writing letters and a host of
senators writing letters and a host of other people around the world supporting
other people around the world supporting
other people around the world supporting them they went from a pay raise of
them they went from a pay raise of
them they went from a pay raise of $6,000 a year to $70,000 per player with
$6,000 a year to $70,000 per player with
$6,000 a year to $70,000 per player with bonuses pretty impressive
and super inspiring and it’s gonna make
and super inspiring and it’s gonna make it much easier for any other female
it much easier for any other female
it much easier for any other female athlete in any other sport to get paid
athlete in any other sport to get paid
athlete in any other sport to get paid one day and so for me although my life
one day and so for me although my life
one day and so for me although my life in hockey is is over as a player the
in hockey is is over as a player the
in hockey is is over as a player the next path that I hope to blaze one day
next path that I hope to blaze one day
next path that I hope to blaze one day will hopefully be a career in medicine
will hopefully be a career in medicine
will hopefully be a career in medicine and maybe someday as a doctor now the
and maybe someday as a doctor now the
and maybe someday as a doctor now the cool thing about me standing up here
cool thing about me standing up here
cool thing about me standing up here telling all of you guys that I want to
telling all of you guys that I want to
telling all of you guys that I want to be a doctor is that probably none of you
be a doctor is that probably none of you
be a doctor is that probably none of you thought to yourself Wow
thought to yourself Wow
thought to yourself Wow she wants to be a doctor maybe you
she wants to be a doctor maybe you
she wants to be a doctor maybe you thought to yourself oh my god she’s so
thought to yourself oh my god she’s so
thought to yourself oh my god she’s so old why she going to medical school now
but I hardly think many of you thought
but I hardly think many of you thought she wants to be a doctor and the reason
she wants to be a doctor and the reason
she wants to be a doctor and the reason why is about a hundred years ago there
why is about a hundred years ago there
why is about a hundred years ago there was a woman named Emily Howard Stowe and
was a woman named Emily Howard Stowe and
was a woman named Emily Howard Stowe and she decided that she wanted to be a
she decided that she wanted to be a
she decided that she wanted to be a doctor and she became Canada’s first
doctor and she became Canada’s first
doctor and she became Canada’s first female physician she bucked it she
female physician she bucked it she
female physician she bucked it she bucked the status quo and so my hope for
bucked the status quo and so my hope for
bucked the status quo and so my hope for all of you today when you leave is that
all of you today when you leave is that
all of you today when you leave is that if you don’t already have your own
if you don’t already have your own
if you don’t already have your own bucket list that you make one and that
bucket list that you make one and that
bucket list that you make one and that the next time you’re in an environment
the next time you’re in an environment
the next time you’re in an environment where someone says you can’t do
where someone says you can’t do
where someone says you can’t do something because of your gender your
something because of your gender your
something because of your gender your race your religion your sexual
race your religion your sexual
race your religion your sexual orientation or or or that you stand up
orientation or or or that you stand up
orientation or or or that you stand up and you say bucket bucket thank you very
and you say bucket bucket thank you very
and you say bucket bucket thank you very much Calgary have a great day
”
Be First to Comment