Resilience refers to the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties.

While all great teams face obstacles on route to the top, few teams can say they were able to navigate them as well as Canada’s National Women’s Team.

Through a global pandemic, event cancellations, isolations and so much more, the 2021-22 edition of Team Canada rose above time and time again, staying committed to achieving greatness “our way.”

After COVID-19 wreaked havoc on the 2019-20 season, 2021 looked to provide a sense of normalcy, with the IIHF Women’s World Championship set for April in Halifax and Truro, N.S. But less than two weeks before the puck was set to drop, the Province of Nova Scotia withdrew its support of the event, citing rising COVID-19 numbers.

“I think going into April, we were fully expecting to play, and we felt very prepared,” remembers Blayre Turnbull, a Stellarton, N.S., native and one of two Nova Scotians on the Team Canada roster. “So obviously there was a huge sense of disappointment when things got cancelled, but I think it did really bring the group even closer together. It was a piece of adversity that at the time was devastating, but in hindsight, I think it really helped bond our group, and I think it made us even more grateful for the upcoming camps and tournaments and time that we got to spend and play together.”

Staying adaptable and open-minded proved vital as the team navigated a COVID “bubble” last summer as the rescheduled women’s worlds took shape in Calgary in August. With no fans, friends or family, the team grew even closer away from the rink as their efforts on the ice started to pay off.

Sarah Fillier, who finished with three goals and three assists in her world championship debut, remembers the adjustments she had to make playing in front of an empty arena: “Being able to wear that jersey, one of the things you think about is just your parents and really close friends getting to watch you compete on that international stage.

“The team turned into a family for all of us, and we were trying to adapt to a situation that no one really ever has before, and luckily, we were an incredibly close group.”

Canada hadn’t won women’s worlds gold since 2012—the Americans had claimed the past five world titles, four with wins over the Canadians in the final. That hunger fed Team Canada, which vowed to take back the top spot from their rivals on home ice.

The team captured the hearts and minds of Canadians with their run in Calgary, going undefeated with 34 goals in seven games. The bond between teammates and excitement for the return of women’s hockey was clear as constant smiles, hugs and goal celebrations were accompanied by convincing wins – 5-1 over ROC, 5-0 over Switzerland and 5-1 over the U.S. (Canada’s biggest win over its rival since 2017).

But they saved the best for last. A back-and-forth gold medal game needed overtime after Canada erased an early two-goal deficit, and it was two of the most seasoned veterans that combined on history.

With 25 years on the national team between the two of them, Brianne Jenner and dashed down the ice in 3-on-3 overtime, Jenner connecting with Poulin like the linemates had done so many times before.

The rest is history.

That golden moment was more than a world championship win. It marked the return of hockey not just for Team Canada, but for so many Canadians who in just a few short weeks would getting back on the ice after a lost season of sorts in 2020-21.

The world title was just the beginning, though. With gold medals around their necks, celebrations lasted only a week or so as eyes turned forward toward the next goal—gold at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

“I think everybody really appreciated coming out of the pandemic and having an opportunity to compete for world championships,” says head coach Troy Ryan. “So that was huge. But then to get validated for all the little adjustments and changes that all of us had to make for each other, seeing them get rewarded for all their hard work, you knew that that commitment would remain, heading into the Olympics as well.”

On a journey with even more obstacles ahead, buy-in from the group was crucial, knowing the stress of navigating a pandemic on top of trying to make an Olympic team could break down even the most veteran teams.

“We had many Zoom calls, group texts, so many different conversations about what we thought was best for the team and how we could make the most out of our training camp and our quarantine at the hotel, and really keep girls positive and make sure that everybody knew that although we had just been through so much adversity, we were fully prepared to play and we were fully prepared to win,” Turnbull says. “And I think once we hit the ice, it was really evident that it was going to be hard to stop our team.”

The season began in September with 29 athletes centralized in Calgary. The team faced teams from the B.C. Hockey League and Alberta Junior Hockey League, took to the ice for Rivalry Series matchups against the United States and travelled abroad for a three-game series against Finland as part of their Olympic preparations.

“As a team, we traveled so much, which is super taxing on the body,” says Turnbull, who missed the early part of the season after breaking her ankle in the dog pile following Poulin’s overtime winner at worlds. “We went from Calgary to Finland, to Toronto, Kingston, Ottawa. We were away for so much of the season.”

And with that travel came the increased risk of COVID-19, the team navigating close encounters on top of the stressors of cuts to the centralization roster as the Beijing Games approached.

Much of the credit, according to Poulin, goes to director of hockey operations Gina Kingsbury and team physician Dr. Tina Atkinson, who handled the pandemic logistics while the team focused on the ice. “I don’t know how much they slept in the past year, to be honest,” Poulin says with a smile. “Gina and Doc were super amazing to work with. They told us what was happening and [were always] on top of things. This group was really adaptable and very resilient.”

The pandemic threw yet another wrench into their season just over a month before the team was due to depart for Beijing, cutting short a late-December road trip in the U.S. and forcing the cancellation of the final leg of the Rivalry Series just as the final Olympic team was to be named.

“After Christmas, it was probably the most stressful time of the year after the team was picked,” Turnbull recounts. “And we were training in Calgary in January with the goal of making it to China as a team but understanding how difficult it was going to be over the next three, four weeks.”

After a few more weeks of isolated training in Calgary, sometimes practicing in masks (as would prove handy in their Olympic showing against ROC), the 23 Olympians set off for Beijing—10 for their first Olympic Games ever—on a mission to be golden once again.

And just like they were in Calgary, Canada was historically good in Beijing.

The Canadians went undefeated again, with Team Canada first-timer Claire Thompson setting a new Olympic record for most points by a defenceman and Sarah Nurse breaking the records for most assists and most points in one Games.

“One of the coolest things that surfaced through [the Olympics] was we didn't know where we would get goals from, we just knew we would get some,” reflects Ryan—who served as an assistant coach when Canada settled for silver at the 2018 Olympics. “Same thing defensively. It wasn't just [Jocelyne] Larocque and [Renata] Fast that did the job, there were other people that stood up.

“There were people breaking individual records at the Olympics. It was almost like they weren't even aware. They didn't get caught up in it. It was like a knuckle tap and a smirk and away you go. To me, that was cool.”

And as the hockey gods would have it, the Canadians would have to go through their storied rivals once again with gold on the line.

Nurse and Poulin scored in the first period, Poulin added another midway through the second and not even a late-game push by the Americans could overpower Team Canada—it was Olympic gold for the fifth time in six Games with Poulin netting the game-winner, making her the only player ever—man or woman—to score in four consecutive Olympic finals.

“I was counting down on the bench, and I remember when we hopped off at the end of the game, I just immediately started crying,” Fillier recalls. “I just remember being speechless, for at least 24 hours, about how I just had this gold medal in my hands.”

The explosion of tears and hugs commemorated more than just another Olympic victory, they were celebrations of every past struggle and challenge, the team’s commitment paying off at last.

“This is the best hockey team that I've ever been a part of,” says Turnbull. “And I'm not including any of the records we set at the Olympics. That's just because of the people in the locker room and the teammates that I got to share so many memories with.”

Through staffing changes, new rosters, cancellations and pandemics, the 2021-22 edition of Canada’s National Women’s Team persevered through the most trying of times, winning hockey’s biggest prizes and doing it their way.

“We started with ‘Our Way’ and we stuck with it all the way to the end,” says Poulin. “We stuck together. The coaching staff, the GM, they had our plan, and for us, we're just following it. Following along and doing our best. Being resilient, buying in and having fun after it all.”

It’s a role Kori Cheverie would prefer not to play in 2022, but someone has to go first, so why not her?

“There’s always a little bit of pressure being the first to do something,” Cheverie explains. “But there are people who have come before me who have paved the path in other ways so I just kind of see myself as someone who is helping out the future of women and female coaches.”

Last week, Hockey Canada announced Cheverie as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team for the IIHF U18 World Championship, the first woman to serve in a coaching role for a national men’s team. But it isn’t the first time Cheverie has broken the gender-divide behind a men’s hockey bench.

In 2016, the New Glasgow, N.S., native was hired as an assistant coach by the Ryerson Rams, becoming the first woman to work full-time with n U SPORTS men’s hockey team. She held that role for five years, until joining Hockey Canada at the start of the 2021-22 season to work with Canada’s National Women’s Team as it prepared for the Olympics.

“I think it can probably be a little bit of an intimidation factor being on the men’s side, but the fact that I have that experience definitely prepares me a little bit more for what to expect,” Cheverie says. “I just see it as another coaching experience for myself and for these athletes.

“I’m sure not many of them have ever been coached by a female.”

In addition to U SPORTS and her time with the women’s team, Cheverie has years of experience working with high-calibre athletes, specifically at the under-18 level. She was an assistant coach at the 2019 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, earning a gold medal. In the same year, she won another gold as head coach of Team Ontario Red at the National Women’s Under-18 Championship.

“We had our first meeting in-person, and she had great reads on all the players,” says Nolan Baumgartner, who is making his own debut as a head coach at the national level. “She’s going to be a huge asset for our team.”

Cheverie will be the eye-in-the-sky for Team Canada, pre-scouting opponents and putting together a plan for each game. It’s a role she’s never had before and is she relishing a new way to see the game. A perfect perch to position herself for future prospects.

“I’ve had a lot of opportunities come my way and I think it’s because I take the approach of just trying to learn and educate myself,” Cheverie says of learning a new coaching role. “Anytime you get the opportunity to work with new athletes and a new coaching staff … it’s always going to be valuable no matter what level it is – under-13 or the NHL.”

At the U18 level, the world championship is a whirlwind event. This year, with no opportunity for a selection camp because of the adjusted Canadian Hockey League schedule, Team Canada will be coming together in Germany just a few days before the first game. Cheverie is revelling in the added pressure of a condensed timeline.

“I really love short-term events as I feel you’re forced to really pull out your character and be the person to form those relationships really fast,” the 34-year-old says. “It’s a really exciting time for these athletes as they’re pushing the threshold of becoming a pro hockey player.”

But first, the players and staff will put their focus on bringing home a gold medal for Canada.

“I got to play in the [IIHF World Junior Championship] and just pulling on the jersey, there is so much pride,” Baumgartner recalls. “And it’s no different being a coach, getting on that bench to lead a group of men to a gold medal and you feel that same pride.

“It’s very exhilarating to know that you’ve got a whole country behind you.”

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. UNITED STATES (FEB. 16)

TV: CBC | Stream: CBC.ca

A rematch four years in the making, Canada’s Women’s Olympic Team faces its long-time rivals from the United States in the gold medal game at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

LAST GAME

Canada got points from 16 different players (including all 13 forwards) and racked up 61 shots on goal in a 10-3 semifinal win over Switzerland. Marie-Philip Poulin scored twice and Sarah Nurse recorded four more assists, tying Hayley Wickenheiser’s 2006 record for helpers in an Olympic tournament with 12. Brianne Jenner made a little history of her own, closing out the scoring with her ninth goal, equalling the Olympic record.

The Americans started slow against the Finns in their semifinal, but Cayla Barnes got the scoring started on the power play early in the second period and the U.S. never looked back, earning a 4-1 victory. Barnes and Hilary Knight finished with a goal and an assist each.

LAST MEETING

In their 163rd all-time meeting just seven days ago, Canada used a second-period flurry to earn a 4-2 victory in the preliminary-round finale. Ann-Renée Desbiens was the big story, making 51 saves to set a Canadian Olympic record for stops in a game (men’s or women’s hockey). Jenner, Jamie Lee Rattray and Poulin (on a penalty shot) scored 5:25 apart late in the middle frame to turn a one-goal deficit into a two-goal lead. Jenner finished with a pair of goals, Poulin added a goal and a helper and the Canadians killed five of six U.S. power plays.

WHAT TO WATCH

While the talk has been mostly focused on Canada’s outstanding offensive production – the team tops the tournament in goals (54), shooting percentage (17.4%) and power play (45.5%) – it’s the rookie-laden defence that has been the secret weapon. Claire Thompson and Erin Ambrose are the highest-scoring defencemen ever in a single women’s Olympic tournament (Thompson – 2-10—12; Ambrose – 4-5—9) and all seven D have at least two points. Their ability to generate offence from the blue line has been a major contributor to Canada’s success, but against the scoring threat the Americans pose, Canada’s defensive line will be critical.

The Americans will need to either slow down the record-setting Canadian offence, or keep up. The U.S. has been getting offence from up and down the lineup, with the usual suspects of Knight (5-4—9), Amanda Kessel (2-5—7) and Kendall Coyne Schofield (3-3—6) leading the way. That balanced production (seven players averaging at least a point a game) will need to continue if the U.S. hopes to defend its 2018 gold.

A LOOK BACK

While Canada has the all-time edge with 92 wins in 163 games, this rivalry is about as even as they come. Need proof? In the last 12 meetings between the rivals, six of those games have needed overtime (Canada has won four, with Poulin getting the GWG in three), and since the 2018 Olympics, the teams have split their 22 matchups almost down the middle (Canada has an 12-10 edge).

There have been nine Olympic meetings since 1998, with the Canadians winning six of those. Canada and the U.S. split their 2018 contests – Genevieve Lacasse made 44 saves in a 2-1 prelim win, before the Canadians dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker in shootout in the gold medal game.

All-time record: Canada leads 92-70-1 (20-17 in OT/SO)
Canada goals: 448
United States goals: 395

EDMONTON & RED DEER, Alta. – Following conversations between Hockey Canada and USA Hockey, the final two games of the Rivalry Series, originally scheduled for Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta., on Jan. 3 and Jan. 6, respectively, have been cancelled.

With several players and staff from Canada’s National Women’s Team currently in COVID-19 protocol, Hockey Canada and USA Hockey have agreed that the games will not be able to be played.

“The risk associated with playing the final two Rivalry Series games with less than one month before our teams are set to compete in the 2022 Olympics is too high to finish our series with the United States,” said Gina Kingsbury, director of hockey operations with Hockey Canada. “Changing our schedule and not being able to play the United States is always difficult, as our players and staff want to play against international competition and put on a great show for hockey fans. Unfortunately, we need do what is right for our athletes from a health perspective and for our team preparation in order to ensure everyone remains healthy and eligible for Beijing.”

All ticket holders will receive a refund in January through Ticketmaster for the Edmonton game or Tickets Alberta for the Red Deer game.

The 2022 Olympic Winter Games kick off on Feb. 3, 2022, in Beijing, China, with all competing countries and athletes required to meet a series of COVID-19 protocols leading into the Games.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

St. Paul, Minn. – The following is a statement on behalf of Hockey Canada from Tom Renney, chief executive officer, and Scott Smith, president and chief operating officer.

“Regrettably, due to ongoing concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Women’s Team game against the United States scheduled for Monday night in St. Paul has been cancelled. Team Canada was to play the seventh game of the Rivalry Series, the final one played in the U.S., tonight before the series shifts back to Canada for the final two games, Jan. 3 in Edmonton and Jan. 6 in Red Deer, Alta.

While it is disappointing to not be able to play the game, the priority remains the health and safety of the athletes, staff and the community at large.

As per Hockey Canada’s safety protocols, all players, coaches and staff members took mandatory COVID-19 tests prior to departure on Dec. 13 and have continued to be tested daily throughout the week while in the United States. The medical staff also continues to follow all protocols as outlined by health authorities and is continuing to monitor the situation closely.”

In addition to the cancellation of tonight’s game, Hockey Canada has also postponed the Women’s Olympic Team roster announcement to a yet-to-be-determined date.”

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or following along through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and by using #OurGameIsBack.

The goaltenders representing Canada at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship will also be representing their counterparts from Canada’s National Women’s Team with new masks commissioned as part of the Janes ALL IN program.

What do all six goaltenders think of the helmets and what it means to be part of Team Canada?

How do you feel being featured on a mask at World Juniors?

Kristen Campbell (KC): The Canadian hockey tradition growing up is watching the World Juniors and the country really rallies around it, so it’s an honour to be recognized and a part of this year’s World Juniors.

Emerance Maschmeyer (EM): Last year there were six trailblazers of women’s hockey that were honoured on the masks, so to be in this year’s edition, it’s pretty incredible to even be put in the category that they are in.

What does it mean to wear a mask featuring the women’s goalies?

Sebastian Cossa (SC): Hockey is for everybody, male or female it doesn’t matter who, so respecting and appreciating the women’s game is important.

Brett Brochu (BB): Credit is due to women’s hockey; they deserve a lot more attention from fans and professional leagues.

Dylan Garand (DG): It’s great hockey that the women play and they’re just as talented as we are, so it’s cool to be able to share this experience with them and have them be a part of it.

What message do you hope young players take from the masks?

Ann-Renée Desbiens (AD): We’re trying to raise awareness of women’s hockey and most Canadians during the holidays are going to be watching World Juniors, so it’s a good discussion starter … it brings a lot of exposure to women’s hockey and it’s nice to have the support of the men’s side.

EM: The visibility of the men’s game is a lot more than the women’s game, so having that platform and having us on their masks for all those young girls who are watching the World Juniors [is important]. Maybe some young girls don’t even know it’s possible to play at the level we’re playing at.

KC: [Whether] we all started playing boys’ hockey or girls’ hockey, it doesn’t matter, and we got to where we are. I think it just shows that you can pave your own road and end up reaching your goals in the end.

What is your favourite part of the mask?

DG: Designing a mask is a unique and personal thing, but I’m not very good at it myself … so to have a mask designed by Emerance is pretty cool. There are some personal things of hers on there that are creative, like the outdoor rink, I like that a lot.

SB: I think the maple syrup is a good touch with being Canadian and especially since Ann-Renée is from Quebec. And then with [the highlighted word] ‘Family’, family to me is everything.

BB: They did a really good job on the mask and the designs are really cool. I love the picture of Kristen. It would definitely be pretty special to have a helmet with you on it.

GAME STATISTICS | LIVE GAME BLOG

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Marie-Philip Poulin (Beauceville, Que.) scored the winner in overtime for the second consecutive game as Canada’s National Women’s Team earned a 3-2 victory over the United States in Game 6 of the Rivalry Series on Friday night at the Centene Community Ice Center.

• Poulin finished with a goal and an assist.
• Sarah Fillier (Georgetown, Ont.) and Emily Clark (Saskatoon, Sask.) added Canada’s other goals.
• Brianne Jenner (Oakville, Ont.) had a pair of assists in the win.
• Mélodie Daoust (Valleyfield, Que.) and Jocelyne Larocque (Ste. Anne, Man.) added an assist each.
• Emerance Maschmeyer (Bruderheim, Alta.) turned aside 28 shots.
• Canada narrowly outshot the U.S. 31-30.

Next Game:
Canada vs. United States – Monday, Dec. 20 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT

Quotes:
“As the game went on, we got a bit better breaking the puck out of our end. I thought our defence did a better job getting the puck in the forwards’ hands and obviously it’s nice to see Poulin score another big goal; she’s definitely a special player.”

“I thought Emerance was outstanding; there were times we were scrambling in our defensive zone and she came up with some big saves. She did a good job moving the puck and getting us going on offence, and gave us the opportunity to get the win.”
- Head coach Troy Ryan (Spryfield, N.S.) on his team’s performance

“I think it was a great play by Joce [Larocque] and [Brianne] Jenner, I think I’ve said that a couple of times. They make it easy for me, it was a great drive by Jenner, Joce was hard on her stick and lucky enough I was in the slot. Shift after shift we kind of had momentum during the overtime, we kept possession, the goal happened and it was a great feeling getting the win for sure.”
- Poulin on scoring the game-winning goal

“Any game against the U.S. is going to be tight. Being able to rise to the high-pressure situation as a group, and especially having our captain lead the way – it’s huge for us. She’s the heartbeat of our team; a couple of special days for her, but it’s a big group effort as well.”
- Clark on back-to-back overtime victories

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

GAME STATISTICS | LIVE GAME BLOG

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Canada’s National Women’s Team got a pair of goals from captain Marie-Philip Poulin (Beauceville, Que.) to earn a 2-1 overtime victory over the United States on Wednesday night at the Centene Community Ice Center.

• Poulin scored the game-winner at 3:51 of overtime. She opened the scoring with power-play goal at 8:44 of the second period.
• Erin Ambrose (Keswick, Ont.), Rebecca Johnston (Sudbury, Ont.) and Jocelyne Larocque (Ste. Anne, Man.) recorded an assist each.
• Ann-Renée Desbiens (La Malbaie, Que.) turned aside 31 shots.
• The U.S. outshot Canada 32-26.

Next Game:
Canada vs. United States – Friday, Dec. 17 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT

Quotes:
“At the start we looked a little bit slow and sloppy, but as we got our legs under us, I thought the game started to come together. Our penalty kill did a good job, obviously we did let one in at the end of the five-on-three, but our power play found a way to get in done, so all in all, we’ll take the win.”
- Head coach Troy Ryan (Spryfield, N.S.) on his takeaways from the game

“It was a great face-off by Blayre [Turnbull], she got the puck and we were able to get it out of the zone. Joce [Larocque], she’s a great skater, she was with me on the two-on-one, I gave it to her, put my head down and I knew she was going to hit my stick. It was a great play by her and it’s a great feeling. We’ve been working for this moment and waiting for this game since the last two in Ottawa and Kingston where we lost, and this was a great time to turn it around and get the win.”
- Poulin on the game-winning goal

“The atmosphere is very intense any time we get to play the U.S. We stop counting how many times we go to overtime against them, but tonight we showed a lot of composure. The five-on-three in the third, we did a great job making sure we blocked shots and got out of that. When we needed it, Poulin scored another amazing goal. We just stay composed and find ways to win.”
- Desbiens on the intensity of the rivalry with the United States

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Every member of Canada’s National Women’s Team began their careers the same way: by playing at the grassroots of our game. Along the way, they had coaches that helped to shape their playing style and boost their love of hockey.

Here’s a look at two players, two coaches and two lasting impressions.

Kristen Campbell and Bill Brown

Bill Brown coached goaltender Kristen Campbell alongside his daughter through the Brandon Minor Hockey Association. Brown noticed Campbell’s talent early on and worked hard to grow the game in the province for her and other girls coming through the program.

Hockey Canada (HC): You started coaching Kristen at a very young age. What are some of your memories of her as a player back then?

Bill Brown (BB): I can remember when we did our draft, the fellow I was volunteering with, he said we have a girl and she wants to be goalie. It was perfect because we were [rotating through] everybody at the time. But Kristen, right from day one, she was a goalie and that's what she wanted to be. Being the old goalie that I was, I had someone in love with the sport who’s is in love with the position. The first thing I saw with Kristen, even at that very, very young age was just so much natural ability. It was things I was showing her about stance and gloves and how to hold your stick. It was like ‘Oh, she's already doing that.’ So, there’s just that natural ability.

HC: Is there anything that stood out to you about Kristen?

BB: When she was playing U18 and then she went to a prep school in Winnipeg, she initiated that change because she saw it as a way to make herself better. And then when [the University of North Dakota] folded [its women’s hockey program] and she was there, I remember messaging her at that time, ‘You'll keep going kid.’ Of course, she found a home [at the University of Wisconsin] and it turned out to be very, very good. But I think the one thing that I tried to pass on to my kids is if you want something, go get it. She's a shining example of wanting something and having the support in order to do it. All of us are so proud of her but she's done so much of it herself.

HC: Bill, what message would you give to Kristen?

BB: Enjoy the moment. Live in the moment, keep working hard and have fun because those moments, they're here and then they're gone. Enjoy the hard work you put in and where it's taken you and see how far it can take you now.

HC: Kristen, what message would you give to Bill?

Kristen Campbell: I would just thank him for everything he did for me when I was younger. I think he recognized potential in me from a young age, and he really pushed me to be better and knew that I wanted to get to the highest level possible.

Emma Maltais and Bradi Cochrane

After an injury during her NCAA hockey career, Bradi Cochrane transitioned into coaching to stay connected with the game. Cochrane helped the Oakville Hornets establish their high-performance program, where she coached forward Emma Maltais from U15 AA through to the Provincial Women’s Hockey League (PWHL).

HC: Can you talk about how you started coaching Emma?

Bradi Cochrane (BC): We were trying to develop this high-performance program with our U15, U18, and U22 programs and Emma was playing U13 boys at the time and we knew she'd be around the transition [age] to come over to girls. We got lucky enough to have her in our U15 program. I'm coaching [in the PWHL] at the time and she was so talented, she played 22 games with me as a U15. So right from a young age when we first got her to the Hornets program, she was [playing in the PWHL]. And then she was with me for three years.

HC: When you first began coaching Emma, what qualities stood out to you?

BC: There's a word that always jumps to my head when I think of Emma and it's the word relentless. She's just relentless in everything she does. I honestly can't tell you that she’s ever had a bad practice. You fight the puck and all that type of stuff, but her effort level and her intensity never changes. And I think that's a special piece; obviously it's special because she is where she is right now. But yeah, relentless. Her work ethic on and off the ice. She's a gym rat, she loves to be in the gym. She loves hard workouts. She's just so passionate about anything she does. I personally feel blessed that I had an opportunity to help her develop.

HC: Bradi, what message would you give to Emma?

BC: First and foremost, I'm just so proud of her. I'm proud of the person and player that she's become. But I see so much more for her in the future, too. I feel like her national team career is really, truly just beginning. If my little [son] can grow up to be like Emma, I'd be pretty happy.

HC: Emma, is there a message you would like to give Bradi?

Emma Maltais: She's incredible. I still talk to her all the time. She's such a good hockey brain, just always watching the game. She really taught me not only how to play the game, but how to think the game. And that's really helped me moving forward into college and into the national level. I think she saw something in me and pushed me to look farther into the game, and look farther into my own future, to believe in myself so I could make it one day.

Looking to get involved behind the bench in your community? Contact your local hockey association and visit HockeyCanada.ca/Coaching for more information.