Before Gwyneth Philips ever stepped into the PWHL spotlight, she learned how to wait - and how to...

Before Gwyneth Philips ever stepped into the PWHL spotlight, she learned how to wait - and how to be ready when the moment came. She spent the majority of her college career at Northeastern behind Aerin Frankel, a Patty Kazmaier Award winner and one of the most dominant goaltenders in NCAA history. Philips stayed, studied, and quietly built a legacy of her own. When she was finally named starter, she carved her name on the NCAA record books.She's doing the same in Ottawa.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Philips opened her rookie season as the backup to veteran and Canadian Olympian Emerance Maschmeyer. But when Maschmeyer went down with a lower-body injury in March, it was Philips who took the net - and she hasn't let go.She's been nearly unbeatable since stepping in. The 24-year-old closed the regular season with a .919 save percentage and has been the backbone of Ottawa's run to the PWHL Finals. In the first round of the playoffs, she led the league with a 0.957 save percentage as Ottawa bullied its way past Montreal in four games."She's been phenomenal. She's been great all year," Ottawa captain Brianne Jenner said. "We kind of knew that, practicing against her, how lucky we are to have the goalies we have in our hockey club. It's great to see her come in and play the way she's been playing and we have so much confidence in front of her."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786738/cropped_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_1_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_8__2025_01__1_.jpg?ts=1747853450" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786738/w220xh124_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_1_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_8__2025_01__1_.jpg?ts=1747853450 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786738/w320xh180_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_1_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_8__2025_01__1_.jpg?ts=1747853450 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786738/w640xh360_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_1_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_8__2025_01__1_.jpg?ts=1747853450 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786738/w768xh432_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_1_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_8__2025_01__1_.jpg?ts=1747853450 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786738/w1080xh607_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_1_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_8__2025_01__1_.jpg?ts=1747853450 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> PWHL</figcaption></figure>That confidence is well earned. A two-time All-American and the 2023 National Goaltender of the Year, Philips left Northeastern after five seasons as the NCAA's all-time leader in career save percentage (.958). In her two years as a starter, she managed to also set program records: she holds the top spot for wins (34) and games played (38), which she achieved in her final season."It's at her core," longtime Northeastern coach Dave Flint said. “She's always, like, just steady - her emotions don't get too high, they don't get too low. It's a really good quality to have when you're a goalie. She's not too hard on herself when things aren't going well, and she's very humble when she's playing well."Her choice to stay at Northeastern despite years as a backup says plenty about her mindset. Rather than leave in search of more minutes, she spent most of her college career betting on herself and seeing the opportunity others might have missed."A lot of kids, especially with the transfer portal now, would have just decided to go somewhere else," Flint said. "It just shows the level of maturity that she had at that time. She liked the school. She was an engineering major. She understood the value of her education. She also understood she was going to get her time."When that time finally came - after Frankel graduated - Philips was more than ready. She was determined to set a new standard."She got tired of hearing early on, 'Are you going to be able to live up to what Aerin accomplished?'" Flint said. "She wanted to carve her own path and be her own person. She just doesn't get rattled."That unshakable presence has followed her into the pros. Even in high-pressure moments like a four-overtime marathon loss against Montreal earlier in the playoffs, Philips has remained steady. She apologized to her teammates after that game, saying she needed to be better."You made 54 saves and gave your team a chance to win," Flint said, laughing. "She's always very team first. She'll take the blame, even when she shouldn't."That blend of composure and drive has earned her the trust of Ottawa's coaching staff."She just loves saving the puck," Charge head coach Carla MacLeod said in a call with reporters before the PWHL Finals began. "She's athletic, she enjoys the job that she's got. And obviously she brings a skill set and a mindset to it that's complementary. She's incredibly competitive, enjoys it."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786736/cropped_Credit_PWHL_-_MIN_at_OTT_-_Game_1_-_May_20__202521.jpg?ts=1747853425" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786736/w220xh124_Credit_PWHL_-_MIN_at_OTT_-_Game_1_-_May_20__202521.jpg?ts=1747853425 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786736/w320xh180_Credit_PWHL_-_MIN_at_OTT_-_Game_1_-_May_20__202521.jpg?ts=1747853425 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786736/w640xh360_Credit_PWHL_-_MIN_at_OTT_-_Game_1_-_May_20__202521.jpg?ts=1747853425 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786736/w768xh432_Credit_PWHL_-_MIN_at_OTT_-_Game_1_-_May_20__202521.jpg?ts=1747853425 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786736/w1080xh607_Credit_PWHL_-_MIN_at_OTT_-_Game_1_-_May_20__202521.jpg?ts=1747853425 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> PWHL</figcaption></figure>Philips' relentlessness around the crease has become her calling card. "I think it's just her tracking and her fight on every puck, every rebound," MacLeod said. "She doesn't really give up on a play until there's a whistle. I think when she's at her best, she's rising in those moments and really embracing them and enjoying them."Today, Philips is the face of a playoff run that could end with Ottawa hoisting the Walter Cup. The Charge scored in overtime against defending champion Minnesota to open the series, leaving them only two wins away from claiming the league's top prize. Philips' former coach isn't surprised."I think she deserves it. She's an amazing goalie and an even better person," Flint said. "It's nice to see she's getting some recognition."Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

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From backup to backbone: Gwyneth Philips' breakout year

Britta Curl-Salemme scored Minnesota's first goal of the 2025 playoffs. Less than a minute later,...

Britta Curl-Salemme scored Minnesota's first goal of the 2025 playoffs. Less than a minute later, she became the first player ejected from them. In the second period of Game 1 against Toronto, Curl-Salemme was assessed a five-minute major for a hit to the head of Toronto defender Renata Fast, resulting in a game misconduct and ultimately, a one-game suspension. It came 41 seconds after she had scored on a power play. It was the third suspension of her rookie season. <div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The hit reignited a season-long conversation about Curl-Salemme's edge - and where it crosses the line. When it comes to physicality, her adjustment to the professional game has been steep. She played five seasons at the University of Wisconsin, where she won three national championships and captained the Badgers in back-to-back years. She left school as the program's all-time leader in games played with 181, and she is eighth all time in points with 179."She's a great player, great person, she plays extremely hard, and she's an asset to our team as she would be to any team," Minnesota coach Ken Klee said during a media availability. But NCAA hockey doesn't allow full contact the way the PWHL does. That shift, Klee noted, is a key part of adapting to the top pro league."Players coming out of college have never been allowed full contact, if that's what you want to call it," he said. "It is a learning curve." <figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_fkMiALkaK4?si=DWT0HDHZXmQwYtnj" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>The PWHL numbers reflect her impact and her edge. As a rookie, the 25-year-old from Bismarck, North Dakota, scored nine goals (tied for second on the team) and added six assists in 28 regular-season games. She registered 24 penalty minutes, one minute less than fellow Frost rookie Brooke McQuigge, who led the team. Both finished in the top 10 in the league.It's not the volume of Curl-Salemme's penalty minutes that has drawn the most scrutiny, it's the severity of the calls against her. She served two regular-season one-game suspensions: the first for high-sticking in a Jan. 2 game against Boston and the second for an illegal check to the head March 9 in Toronto.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VaZsTxp-01I?si=3zttUt7V73RfD2FE" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>Curl-Salemme's presence in the league has drawn criticism beyond her on-ice play. After she was selected ninth overall by Minnesota in the 2024 draft, fans reacted to transphobic and racist <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/britta-curl-apologizes-to-pwhl-fans-and-community">social media activity</a>. Curl-Salemme addressed the backlash in a video posted to X, saying, "I specifically recognize that my social media activity has resulted in hurt being felt across communities including LGBTQ+ and BIPOC individuals. I just want to apologize and take ownership of that." She added: "To those of you who may still have reservations, I hope you can extend me the grace to prove to you who I really am."Clashes among women's pro sports athletes over trans inclusion are not unprecedented. The U.S. Women's National Team faced a similar situation around midfielder Korbin Albert's social media activity. Albert had shared and liked posts that were considered anti-LGBTQ+, including one that mocked teammate Megan Rapinoe's injury. The incident prompted public apologies from Albert and statements from team veterans such as Alex Morgan and Lindsey Heaps (nee Horan), who emphasized the team's commitment to inclusivity. The USWNT Players Association also issued a statement reaffirming support for LGBTQIA+ rights, similar to how the PWHL handled Curl-Salemme's controversy.For a player who publicly asked fans for grace, Curl-Salemme hasn't exactly played it safe on the ice. Her physical style has pushed the limits all season, testing not just the rulebook but the patience of opponents and officials. "I just know we're trying to get those high hits or any contact to the head out of the game," Toronto head coach Troy Ryan said in a call with reporters. "So I'm just glad (the referees) were able to watch it on video and kept it as a major."<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d-BlI_3sG28?si=v6o3W7bJPrJKFP2H" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>Klee has consistently defended her intent. "Britta's a hard player," Klee said. "There are other players in the league who play hard as well. Other players have had multiple incidents. Poulin is one of the top players in the league, she's had multiple incidents. So, players who play hard and play aggressive - sometimes it's tough. It's happening in a split second." He added that Curl-Salemme had just been cross-checked before delivering the hit on Fast. "So, plays happen," Klee said. "For me, it's one of those hockey plays. It's nothing malicious. Obviously, it's a stiff penalty she received, and it was tough, but I think she's trying to learn from it and keep knowing where that line is." It's a line the PWHL is still defining. Curl-Salemme will likely also be looking to define that line as the Frost head into the Walter Cup Finals for the second consecutive year, after beating Toronto 3-1 in the semifinal series."I think everyone's trying to learn and adjust to the rule book - players, officials, staff, whoever it is," Minnesota forward Kelly Pannek said. "I think they've been trying to make the rules clearer for players as to what is allowed and what isn't. That's something the league has emphasized - we don't want the physicality to take over. We want it to be an added element. How that looks, I think will continue to evolve." Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

LAVAL, CANADA - JANUARY 17: Britta Curl-Salemme #77 of the Minnesota Frost smiles at the direction of goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens #35 of the Montreal Victoire during the third period at Place Bell on January 17, 2025 in Laval, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Victoire defeated the Minnesota Frost 4-2.

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PWHL's most suspended player: Can Curl-Salemme cool it in the final?

They were five hours in. Muscles seizing. Legs spent. On the Ottawa bench, a strange sight: musta...

They were five hours in. Muscles seizing. Legs spent. On the Ottawa bench, a strange sight: mustard packets, taped in rows like emergency rations.The now-viral image captured by reporter Kelly Greig showed what it took to survive the longest game in PWHL history - a five-hour, 34-minute epic clash between Ottawa and Montreal that stretched into quadruple overtime and pushed players to their absolute limits. Montreal's win evened the best-of-five series at one apiece.The goal on the bench: Delay muscle cramps as long as possible to retain a competitive edge.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"There are two things that have been rooted in evidence-based practice, and it's pickle juice and mustard," Ottawa head athletic therapist Amanda Deluca said. She usually packs both for team road trips, but this time she didn't. When it became apparent the game was going long, she texted a shopping list to the Charge's front office, who scoured Place Bell for the goods.Soon enough, they were delivered to the Charge locker room. They weren't allowed to have pickle juice on the bench, but the mustard packets were OK. To start, Ottawa's athletic therapists kept them in their pockets. It was the equipment manager who realized it'd be easier for the players to tape them to the glass.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The <a href="https://twitter.com/PWHL_Ottawa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PWHL_Ottawa</a> trainers have started taping packs of mustard to the bench. Apparently eating mustard can prevent cramping after playing for this long. <a href="https://t.co/Wk8PKjwvaS">pic.twitter.com/Wk8PKjwvaS</a>— Kelly Greig (@KellyGreig) <a href="https://twitter.com/KellyGreig/status/1921709030294090020?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>"It was a true team effort because not only did we have all of that going, we also had our strength coach and our massage therapist also working behind the scenes, making peanut butter and Nutella or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for fast, easy, digestible carbs to just keep their energy levels up," Deluca said. She picked up these tricks in her five years as an athletic therapist in the CFL, which included a trip to the Grey Cup in 2022 with the Toronto Argonauts.Gatorade is usually her first line of defense. "The sugar and the salt and the carbs in Gatorade are going to delay muscle cramps and going to give you the energy you need to keep going. It wasn't until they were almost tired of drinking Gatorade, or we needed something extra, that I switched to the mustard," Deluca said.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785314/cropped_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_2_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_11__20252.jpg?ts=1747086872" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785314/w220xh124_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_2_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_11__20252.jpg?ts=1747086872 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785314/w320xh180_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_2_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_11__20252.jpg?ts=1747086872 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785314/w640xh360_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_2_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_11__20252.jpg?ts=1747086872 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785314/w768xh432_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_2_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_11__20252.jpg?ts=1747086872 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785314/w1080xh607_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_2_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_11__20252.jpg?ts=1747086872 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> PWHL</figcaption></figure>Both mustard and pickle juice disrupt the transient receptor potential channels to delay cramps by interrupting the body's communication system. "Anything with a strong taste, like wasabi, could do the same," Deluca said. "It just delays the onset of exertional muscle cramps."Montreal also jumped on the pickle juice remedy. "We were just trying to fuel and hydrate as much as possible," said Montreal forward Kristin O'Neill, who opened the scoring early in the first period and assisted on Catherine Dubois' game-winning goal. "Pickle juice was definitely out there. That was kind of a unique one … I definitely tried it to avoid muscle cramps."Events like the one that unfolded at Place Bell on Sunday aren't just a war of attrition on the day, they become a test of how fast you can recover when you've essentially played two full games and have less than 48 hours before the puck drops for Game 3 on Tuesday.The Charge drove back to Ottawa after Sunday's game, and Deluca and her staff spent more than 12 hours administering treatments at the team facility. "They've all been put on a good nutrition regime - they're all individually looked after with our team nutritionist to help decrease the amount of inflammation in their body," Deluca said. "(Monday) is just strictly a recovery day."The Victoire also used Monday for recovery and travel. "There's nothing too special that I wouldn't be doing after a game anyways," O'Neill said. "With the tight turnaround, just getting as much rest and sleep as possible is super important. And using Normatec, massage therapists, and ice baths."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785315/cropped_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_2_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_11__202514.jpg?ts=1747086883" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785315/w220xh124_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_2_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_11__202514.jpg?ts=1747086883 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785315/w320xh180_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_2_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_11__202514.jpg?ts=1747086883 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785315/w640xh360_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_2_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_11__202514.jpg?ts=1747086883 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785315/w768xh432_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_2_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_11__202514.jpg?ts=1747086883 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785315/w1080xh607_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_2_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_11__202514.jpg?ts=1747086883 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> PWHL</figcaption></figure>Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie said the team was given the day off - only players who did not skate in Game 2 attended practice. "We want the players to be rested, physically, emotionally, mentally, and ready to go for (Game 3). So you know, less hockey talk, and more recovery for them," she said.Cheverie felt her team got stronger as the overtimes wore on. "We started to narrow our focus. We started to talk less about all the X's and O's and more about a mindset," she said. "By the time we got going into that fourth overtime, we certainly had narrowed and just wanted to allow them to rest and recover as much as they possibly could. And the same for our staff … In order for us to be sharp on the bench, it was important for us to refuel and energize ourselves."For Montreal, the ending was also a kind of redemption. Exactly 365 days earlier, they were on the losing side of the longest game in league history - a triple-overtime heartbreaker against Boston."We're one more year experienced as a team, one more year experienced as a coaching staff," Cheverie said. "We've worked really hard on the mental preparation side of what this could look like."Even though that game stretched into the history books, it's unlikely players from either side will dwell on it for long. "Especially in this playoff world where games are so close together, I think it's important to celebrate after the game, but soon after we have to move on and be focused for the next," O'Neill said.Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31276165/related

Mustard, pickle juice, and 334 minutes of PWHL history

There will be signs. That much is guaranteed at any PWHL playoff game. They're pressed against th...

There will be signs. That much is guaranteed at any PWHL playoff game. They're pressed against the glass during warmups and waved for the arena video board during the game. Some are carefully stenciled, while others are scribbled in permanent marker minutes before puck drop. But they all say the same thing: This matters to me, personally.Fans show up to PWHL games not just to watch, but to participate - and signs are a big part of how they do it. In a league still building its fan culture, those handmade signs are starting to represent something more than just supportive slogans. "The signs thing - we can talk about it for a long time," Montreal's Marie-Philip Poulin told reporters on a pre-playoff conference call. "For us, jumping on the ice during warmup, you take that time during that 15-minute warmup and just take a look around. There are so many signs. There are a lot of clever ones that make you giggle."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Signs have become one of the most visible traditions in a league that’s still new enough for every fan action to matter immensely. The posters, like the people holding them, don’t all look the same. That’s the point. The act of making a sign - of bringing it to the rink and holding it up - becomes a way to be part of the group while still saying something personal and connecting with the players. "I think the sign culture is probably the funnest thing," Amy Scheer, PWHL senior vice president of business operations, said via conference call. "Seeing how creative the kids are with their signs - whether they're simple from, 'I want a team, and 'I want to be a PWHL player,' to really creative signs addressing our players - it's been wonderful to see our fans bring a culture to life. And it's not just with signs, but now, as we introduce team names and big brand identities, how they've gone about incorporating those into the signs and into the way they come to the games dressed."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784369/cropped_GettyImages-2205501557.jpg?ts=1746563440" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784369/w220xh124_GettyImages-2205501557.jpg?ts=1746563440 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784369/w320xh180_GettyImages-2205501557.jpg?ts=1746563440 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784369/w640xh360_GettyImages-2205501557.jpg?ts=1746563440 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784369/w768xh432_GettyImages-2205501557.jpg?ts=1746563440 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784369/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2205501557.jpg?ts=1746563440 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Informa Plus Photo Agency / LightRocket / Getty Images</figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784374/cropped_GettyImages-2008854267.jpg?ts=1746563846" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784374/w220xh124_GettyImages-2008854267.jpg?ts=1746563846 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784374/w320xh180_GettyImages-2008854267.jpg?ts=1746563846 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784374/w640xh360_GettyImages-2008854267.jpg?ts=1746563846 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784374/w768xh432_GettyImages-2008854267.jpg?ts=1746563846 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784374/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2008854267.jpg?ts=1746563846 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mark Blinch / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Sign culture is prevalent in the NHL, too, but the PWHL is embracing it. The league is providing pregame sign-making materials for fans, including pre-cut poster boards and markers, at the three Canadian arenas with assistance from Canadian Tire. Some locations even have full sign-making stations set up, which have become fixtures of the gameday flow.Sceptres fan Jackie Vandinther, who has been attending games regularly since the team's inception, used the station for the first time last month during the team's Pride Night. It wasn’t just the supplies - it was the vibe. “We finished making our sign and the volunteers at the sign station were appreciative and thanking us for making it,” she said. Vandinther said that moment stuck with her - not just the encouragement, but the underlying message. "There's certainly a connection that I feel when I walk into a PWHL game that I haven't felt at a men's sporting event, and I don't know if that's because there are more women in the room - there are actually visibly more women - or, I don't know, if there seems to be visibly more queer people as well, especially on Pride Night," she said. "I think it's the representation and the visibility. I'm not saying that you can't see those things at men's sporting games, but they just seem to be way more visible and out in the open, loud and proud, at PWHL games."She added that the sign station, like the tickets themselves, reinforced what drew her to the league in the first place - that it feels open. "It just seemed really accessible. … You couldn’t beat it," she said. Vandinther also supports Toronto teams like the Maple Leafs and Raptors but said the cost of attending those games has been prohibitive in recent years. That's what initially got her out to a PWHL game. "Two tickets for under $100 and three or four hours of fun," she said. The atmosphere means she'll want to come back.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784370/cropped_GettyImages-2205501448.jpg?ts=1746563467" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784370/w220xh124_GettyImages-2205501448.jpg?ts=1746563467 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784370/w320xh180_GettyImages-2205501448.jpg?ts=1746563467 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784370/w640xh360_GettyImages-2205501448.jpg?ts=1746563467 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784370/w768xh432_GettyImages-2205501448.jpg?ts=1746563467 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784370/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2205501448.jpg?ts=1746563467 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Informa Plus Photo Agency / LightRocket / Getty Images</figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784371/cropped_GettyImages-2205285403.jpg?ts=1746563530" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784371/w220xh124_GettyImages-2205285403.jpg?ts=1746563530 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784371/w320xh180_GettyImages-2205285403.jpg?ts=1746563530 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784371/w640xh360_GettyImages-2205285403.jpg?ts=1746563530 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784371/w768xh432_GettyImages-2205285403.jpg?ts=1746563530 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784371/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2205285403.jpg?ts=1746563530 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>That sense of encouragement and shared happiness is part of what league leadership sees as a defining feature of the PWHL gameday experience. "We're really proud of the culture and the atmosphere of our games. And I think one of the words that we use when we talk about the in-game experience is pure joy," Scheer said. "You go into our buildings, and it's pure joy. We're proud of that. We're proud of everyone feeling welcome at our games and feeling that they could come and express themselves and enjoy the best hockey in the world." Players have started to anticipate the signs as part of their pregame routines. "Yeah, definitely early in warmup I'll take a peek around, and some of them will give you a good laugh," Ottawa captain Brianne Jenner said. "It's fun to see all the young hockey players, too, holding up their signs. They're pretty proud of being at the game and sharing their signs." Some of the posters even carry enough weight to shift the energy in the building. "At TD Place, our screen is so big that if a good one makes it up there, the crowd goes nuts," Jenner said. "That's a really cool part of the atmosphere, and something I think is pretty unique to our league." <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784372/cropped_GettyImages-2205287041.jpg?ts=1746563714" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784372/w220xh124_GettyImages-2205287041.jpg?ts=1746563714 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784372/w320xh180_GettyImages-2205287041.jpg?ts=1746563714 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784372/w640xh360_GettyImages-2205287041.jpg?ts=1746563714 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784372/w768xh432_GettyImages-2205287041.jpg?ts=1746563714 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784372/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2205287041.jpg?ts=1746563714 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784375/cropped_GettyImages-2204922026.jpg?ts=1746563885" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784375/w220xh124_GettyImages-2204922026.jpg?ts=1746563885 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784375/w320xh180_GettyImages-2204922026.jpg?ts=1746563885 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784375/w640xh360_GettyImages-2204922026.jpg?ts=1746563885 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784375/w768xh432_GettyImages-2204922026.jpg?ts=1746563885 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784375/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2204922026.jpg?ts=1746563885 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Rich Graessle / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>More than anything, the signs represent a feedback loop between players and fans - a relationship that feels closer than it does in many other pro sports environments."To see the participation, to see the fans getting involved, game in and game out in different markets, it's been unbelievable," Poulin said. "And honestly, when you take a look around, when I'm stretching in the warmup, it just reminds me why we're doing it. It's pretty awesome to see. ... Really thankful to have all the fans across the league."Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31218231/related

PWHL's sign culture drives connections with fans

The PWHL playoffs are here, and after a full regular season, there are no secrets. Every team's t...

The PWHL playoffs are here, and after a full regular season, there are no secrets. Every team's tendencies, vulnerabilities, and clutch performers are out in the open, and the first-round, best-of-five matchups are loaded with contrast.Montreal topped the regular-season standings, powered by a relentless possession game and led by the sport's most iconic Canadian player, Marie-Philip Poulin. Toronto enters as the No. 2 seed, deeper and more balanced than they were a year ago and riding the momentum of a dominant second half in which they won 10 of 14 contests since the start of February (7-3-1-3).Ottawa's a gritty, resilient group that's already taken down every other playoff team at least once. Then there's Minnesota, a team that surged late to claw its way into the playoffs on the last day with an 8-1 statement win over Boston - a reminder of how dangerous the defending champions' offense can be when the ice opens up.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Each team has a clear identity. Each matchup brings a clash of styles. In a best-of-five format, small tidal shifts - whether in goaltending, line matchups, or power plays - can swing everything. Here are our predictions for the Walter Cup semifinal series.<h3>Montreal vs. Ottawa </h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784209/cropped_GettyImages-2212571450.jpg?ts=1746480923" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784209/w220xh124_GettyImages-2212571450.jpg?ts=1746480923 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784209/w320xh180_GettyImages-2212571450.jpg?ts=1746480923 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784209/w640xh360_GettyImages-2212571450.jpg?ts=1746480923 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784209/w768xh432_GettyImages-2212571450.jpg?ts=1746480923 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784209/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2212571450.jpg?ts=1746480923 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Laura Stacey reaches for the puck during an April matchup between the Charge and Victoire. Troy Parla / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Montreal, as the top seed, used its ability to select its opponent by choosing No. 3 seed Ottawa for the semifinals. "Proximity came into play," Montreal coach Kori Cheverie said of the choice, admitting the league's parity made every opponent difficult. This is a matchup between control and chaos, and that's part of what makes it so interesting. Montreal plays with structure. The Victoire want to own the puck, dictate the tempo, and trust their systems to create scoring chances. That style has worked against Ottawa, and Montreal has won four of their six matchups this season. The Victoire outshot the Charge in most of them and found consistent offense from Poulin, Jennifer Gardiner, and Erin Ambrose. In goal, Ann-Renee Desbiens led all qualified goalies in wins (15), goals-against average (1.86), and save percentage (.932).Still, they're not expecting an easy shot to the Final. "It's going to be hard, it's going to be whoever is ready to go for 60 minutes - being that consistent team, that relentless, gritty team that's going to be there day in and day out," Poulin said. <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784212/cropped_GettyImages-2212581029.jpg?ts=1746482275" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784212/w220xh124_GettyImages-2212581029.jpg?ts=1746482275 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784212/w320xh180_GettyImages-2212581029.jpg?ts=1746482275 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784212/w640xh360_GettyImages-2212581029.jpg?ts=1746482275 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784212/w768xh432_GettyImages-2212581029.jpg?ts=1746482275 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784212/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2212581029.jpg?ts=1746482275 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Marie-Philip Poulin skates under pressure from Ottawa's Ronja Savolainen. Troy Parla / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Ottawa, on the other hand, is at its best when the game gets unpredictable. The Charge thrive on momentum swings and opportunistic goals from players like Tereza Vanisova, who tied for second in the league with 15 goals, Emily Clark, and Shiann Darkangelo. If rookie goaltender Gwyneth Philips can hold down the fort in place of injured Emerance Maschmeyer, and Ottawa can score first, it can be dangerous. But when the Charge are pinned in their own zone, they struggle to generate sustained pressure."There's a speed component, there's physicality, there's a puck movement piece that, when we know we're on, we can feel it," Ottawa coach Carla MacLeod said. In a short series, control usually wins out. Unless Ottawa can tilt the ice early and disrupt Montreal's rhythm, the edge goes to the Victoire.Prediction: Montreal in four <h3>Toronto vs. Minnesota </h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784210/cropped_GettyImages-2204198679.jpg?ts=1746481182" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784210/w220xh124_GettyImages-2204198679.jpg?ts=1746481182 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784210/w320xh180_GettyImages-2204198679.jpg?ts=1746481182 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784210/w640xh360_GettyImages-2204198679.jpg?ts=1746481182 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784210/w768xh432_GettyImages-2204198679.jpg?ts=1746481182 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784210/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2204198679.jpg?ts=1746481182 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Daryl Watts of Toronto Sceptres skates with the puck against Lee Stecklein of Minnesota Frost. Michael Chisholm / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>This is a rematch from last season's semifinal when Minnesota fell behind 2-0 in the series but reeled off three straight wins to eliminate Toronto in five contests to claim the inaugural Walter Cup. A year later, both teams return more seasoned and with more distinctive identities. Toronto and Minnesota don't just play differently. They win differently, too.Toronto also thrives on control. The Sceptres drive plays, accumulate high shot totals, and capitalize on their power play - which was the best in the league during the regular season at 25.8% efficiency despite being 0-for-19 over the final eight contests. (Minnesota owns the league's worst penalty kill, at 78.4%.) Now, finally healthy, the Sceptres spread their offense across multiple lines. They're stacked with goal scorers: Hannah Miller, Daryl Watts, and Jesse Compher all finished in the top 20 in league scoring. And, while goalie Kristen Campbell had a shaky start to the year, she found her form midseason and has been delivering strong late-game performances since.Toronto hasn't forgotten its postseason defeat at the hands of the Frost last year. "There's definitely a sour taste in my mouth from last year, so (I) want to do better this year for sure," Sceptres defender Allie Munroe said.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784213/cropped_GettyImages-2200931520.jpg?ts=1746482521" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784213/w220xh124_GettyImages-2200931520.jpg?ts=1746482521 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784213/w320xh180_GettyImages-2200931520.jpg?ts=1746482521 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784213/w640xh360_GettyImages-2200931520.jpg?ts=1746482521 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784213/w768xh432_GettyImages-2200931520.jpg?ts=1746482521 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784213/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2200931520.jpg?ts=1746482521 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Minnesota's Dominique Petrie battles with Toronto's Rylind MacKinnon. Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Minnesota, by contrast, led the league with 85 goals and excels at even strength. The Frost had a league-leading 67 goals at even strength, proving they aren't dependent on the power play to win. Taylor Heise, Kendall Coyne Schofield, and Grace Zumwinkle lead Minnesota's arsenal, which pushes pace and punishes mistakes. The Frost are also confident they can tackle some of the deficiencies in their regular-season penalty kill."I think a big strength for us last year was our penalty kill really got dialed in come playoff time, and we had an unbelievable run," Coyne Schofield said. "We need to have that same mindset - when they get their opportunities, we need to do the best we can to shut them down, help our goalies, keep them to the outside, not giving them clean looks."Prediction: Toronto in five Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31207935/related

Predictions for the PWHL semifinal matchups

When you think of 1990s sports memorabilia, there's probably one image burned deep into your subc...

When you think of 1990s sports memorabilia, there's probably one image burned deep into your subconscious: the Starter jacket. Think a little longer and you'll probably remember a snapback with a splash logo or maybe even a ceramic mug stamped with a faded team crest. There's a reason why so many symbols of '90s sports marketing are easily identifiable - the era was iconic.For some people, memorabilia from the '90s is about more than looking in a time capsule - it's a pay day. The hunt for these relics is part nostalgia trip, part treasure hunt, and all the proof you need that the loud, logo-heavy style of '90s sportswear and accessories has stood the test of time."I go out hunting for stuff, or I'll look online and I strike out a lot of time. But when I actually, finally, turn over a box, or dig through a pile of stuff and find something, there's no better feeling in the world," said collector Casey Pitocchelli, who owns <a href="https://www.rarevntg.com/">Rare Vntg</a>, an online store devoted to nostalgic sportswear.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>While not everything from the era holds value - Beanie Babies are a prime example of a huge fad that flopped - the '90s were a turning point for apparel like the '80s were for shoes. It's the era when sports merchandising became something more than just fan gear, and fans are still willing to pay big dollars for a piece of it. <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782037/cropped_GettyImages-2185905557.jpg?ts=1745439659" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782037/w220xh124_GettyImages-2185905557.jpg?ts=1745439659 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782037/w320xh180_GettyImages-2185905557.jpg?ts=1745439659 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782037/w640xh360_GettyImages-2185905557.jpg?ts=1745439659 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782037/w768xh432_GettyImages-2185905557.jpg?ts=1745439659 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782037/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2185905557.jpg?ts=1745439659 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Michael Jordan attends a 1992 press conference dressed in typical 1990s fashion. Bongarts / Getty Images</figcaption></figure><h3>The era that changed everything</h3>Part of what makes '90s sports merchandise sought after is the tipping point the decade marked - it's when leagues opened the floodgates to licensing. "Between '88 and '93 - that was considered the boom. That's when the market exploded," said sports memorabilia appraiser Todd Sawatzky. "A lot of people had licensing. It opened up more revenue streams." Starter jackets entered the chat and brands like Mitchell &amp; Ness and Logo Athletic became popular for apparel with massive team logos, bold colors, and oversized fits. Suddenly, a jersey or splash hat wasn't just something to wear to a game - it was part of an identity."The stuff from the mid-to-late '80s through to 1999 let's say - they'll never go away," Pitocchelli said. "That's just because so many teams established their identities then, and some of the pieces they made are just special." This was the decade where even smaller markets felt massive. Teams like the NBA's Charlotte Hornets or the NHL's San Jose Sharks got the full branding treatment - and so did minor-league teams, whose branding later became iconic. For kids who grew up on that, the designs never truly left them."The Hershey Bears - a minor-league team - a hat of theirs sold for more than $700. Sometimes it's the short prints from small areas where people want that super niche design and team," Pitocchelli said. The quality from that era is part of the modern appeal, too. "They're made well," Pitocchelli said of '90s oversized sweatshirts. "They're made so much better than anything you can buy right now." <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782040/GettyImages-584258924.jpg?ts=1745440504" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782040/GettyImages-584258924.jpg?ts=1745440504 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782040/GettyImages-584258924.jpg?ts=1745440504 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782040/GettyImages-584258924.jpg?ts=1745440504 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782040/GettyImages-584258924.jpg?ts=1745440504 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782040/GettyImages-584258924.jpg?ts=1745440504 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">San Jose Sharks fans in team gear outside the arena in 1994. John Biever / Sports Illustrated / Getty Images</figcaption></figure><h3>What's actually valuable?</h3>Starter jackets - especially those tied to cult-favorite teams like the Hornets or Raiders - are the crown jewel. They can fetch anywhere from $150 to more than $500 depending on the condition, team, and style. "It's always been the Starter jacket - the pullover one with the poncho, and late '80s, early '90s satin version that all the old hip-hop artists used to wear," Pitocchelli said.Snapback hats from the '90s are also valuable - especially rare ones tied to defunct teams or minor-league clubs. Styles like the splash, D cut, and sharktooth are collector gold. "I just saw a hat sell for $1,600. It was an old Philadelphia Phantoms minor-league hockey team. There was a Logo Athletic design. It's really popular," Pitocchelli said. Vintage T-shirts and sweatshirts - especially all-over prints with big, loud graphics - also do well in the resale market. And don't overlook the quirky stuff. The '90s were a weird and wonderful time for licensing, and that extended far beyond clothing. "There's ceramic mugs, and the heavier, German-style steins that can fetch in $50 to $60," Sawatzky said. Licensed glassware and barware can still sell, especially if tied to popular teams.While sports cards from the '90s were largely overproduced and have minimal value today, there are still a few gems - if you know what to look for. "Every now and then, there was something like a really super-short print," Sawatzky said. "In hockey, in the first year of Pro Set, there was a Stanley Cup hologram card. That retails in the several hundred. They were also prone to doing a lot of error cards, and corrections. In hockey, there's a Paul Gillis card - the very first run showed him with a bloody nose. That card has a pretty good resale on it."Still, Sawatzky warned that many '90s cards are unlikely to bring in big money unless they're from rare sets or have a specific story behind them. Beanie Babies, too, are largely a bust - unless you've got one of the few that survived the bubble with some value intact. "There are sport Beanie Babies - I have one with Gretzky's number. They did all sorts of different players - hockey, baseball, basketball," Sawatzky said. "But the big one is still the Princess Diana Beanie Baby."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782035/cropped_GettyImages-237348.jpg?ts=1745438803" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782035/w220xh124_GettyImages-237348.jpg?ts=1745438803 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782035/w320xh180_GettyImages-237348.jpg?ts=1745438803 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782035/w640xh360_GettyImages-237348.jpg?ts=1745438803 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782035/w768xh432_GettyImages-237348.jpg?ts=1745438803 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782035/w1080xh607_GettyImages-237348.jpg?ts=1745438803 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Merchandise from the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta draws strong interest from fans and collectors. Matthew Stockman / Getty Images</figcaption></figure><h3>Not always about the money</h3>Justin Higgs grew up in Northern California in the '90s surrounded by 49ers jerseys and Joe Montana posters, but he only had eyes for the Buffalo Bills. The team went to four straight Super Bowls from 1990-93, and even from across the country, he was hooked."I was always hunting and trying to get my parents to buy me Bills clothing," he said. "But as you can imagine, before the internet it wasn't plentiful in Northern California."It was about more than just repping a team. It was about being an individual. Higgs runs a popular '90s memorabilia Instagram account showcasing vintage finds and his individualism still shows up in the way he collects today. "For me, it's always defunct teams that catch my attention. It's teams that no longer exist, that just aren't around anymore. The Montreal Expos, the Quebec Nordiques, the Seattle SuperSonics, the Houston Oilers - teams like that. That stuff is just timeless. The demand for that never goes away. It's more than regional. People have an affinity for stuff that no longer exists," Higgs said.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782034/cropped_GettyImages-1144218640.jpg?ts=1745438583" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782034/w220xh124_GettyImages-1144218640.jpg?ts=1745438583 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782034/w320xh180_GettyImages-1144218640.jpg?ts=1745438583 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782034/w640xh360_GettyImages-1144218640.jpg?ts=1745438583 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782034/w768xh432_GettyImages-1144218640.jpg?ts=1745438583 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782034/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1144218640.jpg?ts=1745438583 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Vendors prepare merchandise during the 1996 NBA Finals between the Seattle SuperSonics and the Chicago Bulls. Randy Belice / NBA / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The same logic applies to the win-loss columns of '90s era teams. Squads that had major championship runs in the '90s typically have more merch that survived, but teams that weren't good in that era produced less, making their merchandise more treasured now. Finding the jersey of an obscure player is even more coveted. "I love to find the more obscure players. If you're wearing that jersey to a game, you don't really care about 20 people coming up to you and saying it's an awesome jersey. You're just looking for that one person to come up to you and say, 'Oh my God, that jersey. I loved that player for the one year he played.'"For Higgs, finding a niche piece of sportswear from his past is about more than the potential resale value - it's about the special connection to his childhood memories. That same emotional pull is what most interests Pitocchelli, too. Prior to the Philadelphia Eagles' 2023 Super Bowl appearance, he was browsing Facebook Marketplace for something unique to wear when something caught his eye: a vintage Eagles jersey, cut short the way his dad used to modify his jerseys to play rec. football. Upon closer examination, he realized it was his dad's old jersey."I told the seller I'd pay whatever she wanted for it. It's priceless to me," Pitocchelli said. His grandmother tailored it. The jersey traveled through strangers' hands only to find its way back to their family. "I gave it to my sister and it was pretty emotional," Pitocchelli said.<h3>Global craze</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782051/GettyImages-105580346.jpg?ts=1745442404" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782051/GettyImages-105580346.jpg?ts=1745442404 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782051/GettyImages-105580346.jpg?ts=1745442404 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782051/GettyImages-105580346.jpg?ts=1745442404 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782051/GettyImages-105580346.jpg?ts=1745442404 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782051/GettyImages-105580346.jpg?ts=1745442404 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Wayne Gretzky sports a ball cap in 1995, showcasing design elements that are emblematic of the era. </figcaption></figure>The demand for '90s sports gear isn't just a North American phenomenon. In some cases, the interest overseas is even more intense than on home soil. "Hats are big internationally," Pitocchelli said. "In the Philippines, Australia, there's a lot in New Zealand, too. They love corduroy hats there for some reason." In those regions, as well as Colombia and some Middle Eastern countries, hats have become a form of cultural currency. Rare styles - especially those with bold designs or team-specific quirks - have developed almost cult-like followings abroad."They just became cult iconic," Sawatzky said. "Some of the stuff is fun, it's cool, or people just like the style." Globally, team apparel isn't always about allegiance to one particular team. It's about the style itself - the bold, bright, '90s-centric designs that never made a second run. That appeal translates everywhere. <h3>You found a jacket, now what?</h3>Forgotten treasure troves in basements, garages, and storage units mean old sports gear from the 1990s keeps resurfacing. Starter jackets, snapbacks, and oversized sweatshirts are now being pulled out of storage again, this time with resale value in mind.But it isn't just about what these items are worth, it's about what they represent: a specific moment in sports culture when team merchandise became mass-produced, culturally significant, and instantly recognizable.The first step in determining its value is to find comparables online. If that isn't helpful, local vintage shops or collectors can help determine an item's worth. "If you're not 100% sure what you have, I always recommend building relationships with shops because that can help a lot," Sawatzky said. From there, it's a matter of deciding whether to keep it, sell it, or pass it down. "I tell that to a lot of people, especially with the Eagles stuff now because I'm from Philadelphia. You go to a game and it's at least 60% retro or vintage. So, you might want to keep what you have," Pitocchelli said. If you don't find any '90s vintage in your searches, don't fear - another wave of nostalgia is cresting. "Y2K stuff is popular," Pitocchelli said. "Ed Hardy and JNCO jeans - it's kind of bizarre." If Ed Hardy and JNCO jeans can make a comeback, maybe there's hope for that old box of Beanie Babies after all.Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31118306/related

Buried treasure: The lasting value of '90s sports apparel

Gerry McNamara, who was general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs for seven seasons in the 1980s...

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30946833/related

Gerry McNamara finds his place again in Maple Leafs lore

An unknowing bystander watching players skating victory laps in the empty Oakland Coliseum Arena ...

An unknowing bystander watching players skating victory laps in the empty Oakland Coliseum Arena on March 28, 1975, might have assumed they had just set a record. The NHLers, who were in various stages of undress following a 5-3 win over the California Golden Seals, were taking turns hoisting an old, green garbage bin overhead and ceremoniously presenting it to one another after each lap. Closer examination of the makeshift trophy would have revealed it was signed by each of them.The skaters: Doug Mohns, Tommy Williams, Yvon Labre, Ron Lalonde, and the rest of the Washington Capitals' inaugural roster. Indeed, they had just capped a record - one that stood for nearly two decades. Washington's ragtag expansion team had just ended an NHL-worst 17-game losing streak that wasn't broken until 2004. The winless run helped them to an 8-67-5 record that still stands as the worst in NHL history.But that moment was about love of the game. <div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"They'd already turned all the lights off in the arena, but we still had our skates on, and we went back out," Lalonde recalls. "That was our Stanley Cup." Fifty years before Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin would become immortalized as the NHL's all-time leading scorer, and long before the organization's players lifted the real Stanley Cup for the first time in 2018, small but monumental wins created the framework for hockey to flourish in Washington. <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779505/cropped_GettyImages-696711332.jpg?ts=1744134706" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779505/w220xh124_GettyImages-696711332.jpg?ts=1744134706 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779505/w320xh180_GettyImages-696711332.jpg?ts=1744134706 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779505/w640xh360_GettyImages-696711332.jpg?ts=1744134706 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779505/w768xh432_GettyImages-696711332.jpg?ts=1744134706 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779505/w1080xh607_GettyImages-696711332.jpg?ts=1744134706 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Yvon Labre takes down Charlie Simmer of the California Golden Seals while securing the 5-3 Capitals win that snapped their 17-game losing streak. Bettmann / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>"We were getting clobbered most nights," Lalonde says. "But you knew that at some point this franchise was going to turn around. The fans were great. They just wanted to see players hustle and give it their best. They weren't expecting us to win every night, and they showed up." Numerous factors worked against the Capitals that first season. "Expansion in 1974 wasn't the same as expansion when Las Vegas came in," Lalonde says. More generous expansion draft rules allowed the Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken to ice competitive teams right away. But in 1974 the talent pool had been diluted by the World Hockey Association, and NHL teams had not yet begun to sign European imports.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Worst NHL seasons" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-AlggM" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/AlggM/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="511" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();</script></figure>Complicating matters, the Capitals were on the tail end of a 1970s expansion boom that impacted how the league ran its expansion draft. In 1970, the NHL expanded to 14 teams by adding the Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks; in 1972, the New York Islanders and Atlanta Flames joined; and in 1974, the Capitals were added alongside the Kansas City Scouts (later New Jersey Devils). Because of previous expansion drafts, the existing owners in 1974 convinced the league to allow them to protect 15 players from their roster. For every player that was picked, teams could add one more to the protected list. In later years, the Capitals and Scouts would be forgiven more than half of their $6-million expansion fee because of the debacle."We got the 18th- or 19th-best player on each team in the expansion draft," Lalonde says. "And unfortunately for Washington, they took a number of older players."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779537/Lalonde-1974.jpg?ts=1744139986" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779537/Lalonde-1974.jpg?ts=1744139986 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779537/Lalonde-1974.jpg?ts=1744139986 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779537/Lalonde-1974.jpg?ts=1744139986 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779537/Lalonde-1974.jpg?ts=1744139986 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779537/Lalonde-1974.jpg?ts=1744139986 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Ron Lalonde skated in 397 NHL games for the Penguins and Capitals. Steve Babineau / NHL / Getty Images </figcaption></figure>Not every player arrived in Washington with the positive mindset Lalonde came with after being traded from the Penguins that December. "There were other players who were angry they weren't on the teams that had let them go and never really cared about putting out an effort," says hockey writer and historian Glenn Dreyfuss, who documented the team's early days in his 2020 book, "<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53398696-the-legends-of-landover">The Legends of Landover</a>.""There's a story about one of the first-season Capitals, Dave Kryskow," Dreyfuss told theScore. "He had a pregame conversation with Larry Robinson of the Canadiens. He said to Larry, 'What's the over-under on this game?' Robinson said 10. Guess what? The Canadiens won the game 10-0." Starting goalie Ron Low let in nine of those goals, followed by Michel Belhumeur who played the third period. Belhumeur still holds the league record for most games played without a win. (He was 0-24-3 in 35 games in 1974-75.)<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779538/cropped_GettyImages-82721527.jpg?ts=1744140343" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779538/w220xh124_GettyImages-82721527.jpg?ts=1744140343 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779538/w320xh180_GettyImages-82721527.jpg?ts=1744140343 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779538/w640xh360_GettyImages-82721527.jpg?ts=1744140343 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779538/w768xh432_GettyImages-82721527.jpg?ts=1744140343 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779538/w1080xh607_GettyImages-82721527.jpg?ts=1744140343 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Michel Belhumeur clears a puck behind his net. After going 0-24-3 in 1974-75, he was 0-5-1 in seven games the next season. Bruce Bennett / Bennett Collection / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The team also endured turmoil on the bench that first season, going through three head coaches: Jim Anderson, Red Sullivan, and Milt Schmidt. "It was a long year for the coaches," Lalonde says. He particularly remembers Sullivan, the Capitals scout turned coach, who announced at his introductory press conference he intended to be the coach of the Capitals for 10 years. Sullivan quit after 18 games, 16 of which were losses."Poor Red. I mean, he was a fiery, competitive, driven, individual player. He just couldn't take it behind the bench. He wanted to get out there and drill somebody when we were down a goal," Lalonde says.Within this context of failure, players were expected to be part of creating a fan base. "Playing in the National Hockey League for an expansion team, it was our job to try and sell hockey in those early days," Lalonde says. "Nobody would know who we were, and hockey was sort of a strange thing. I remember one mall appearance that we had, they thought we were air hockey players."Still, their efforts had an effect on at least one young fan in the stands. Dreyfuss was 14 years old when he asked for hockey tickets for his birthday in the Capitals' first season. He still remembers going with his dad - the tickets were third row from the glass and $8.50 each. "The Capitals won eight games that season. Out of 80. They happened to win that game. It was the first shutout," Dreyfuss says of the 3-0 victory over the fellow expansion team from Kansas City. Somehow, Dreyfuss found himself hooked on the Capitals, much like the rest of the small but devoted fan base that had begun showing up to games."They became like the New York Mets of the NHL. They were the lovable losers," Dreyfuss says. "In the 18,000-seat Capital Center, the 10,000 people who would show up would sound like 18,000. They didn't all know what they were watching, but they loved their team. There really was a love affair. That's most of the reason that the franchise survived." <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779507/cropped_GettyImages-2177295774.jpg?ts=1744135037" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779507/w220xh124_GettyImages-2177295774.jpg?ts=1744135037 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779507/w320xh180_GettyImages-2177295774.jpg?ts=1744135037 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779507/w640xh360_GettyImages-2177295774.jpg?ts=1744135037 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779507/w768xh432_GettyImages-2177295774.jpg?ts=1744135037 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779507/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2177295774.jpg?ts=1744135037 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Yvon Labre, left, talks with Capitals team owner Ted Leonsis during celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the hockey team. The Washington Post / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The players who were able to see the season as an opportunity became legends. Just two days after skating that garbage can trophy around the ice, Lalonde etched his name in the record books by becoming the first player to record a hat trick in a Capitals jersey."That record is still there, that's one that Ovechkin can't break, no matter how much he does," Lalonde jokes.Now, when he goes to Capitals games, he's amazed at the way the fan base has embraced the team. "I couldn't believe every fan coming to the game was dressed in a red Cap sweater - usually with the No. 8 on the back. That wasn't the case when we played."Far from being embarrassed about the losing record in those early days, Lalonde is proud of the franchise's longevity. "When I see the fans now and how enthusiastic they are ... we must have done something right despite how poor our record was," he says.Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30941033/related

How it started: 50 years ago, the Capitals were expansion jesters

During Women's History Month in March, theScore is publishing stories that illustrate how women i...

During Women's History Month in March, theScore is publishing stories that illustrate how women in sports lead, inspire change, and navigate their careers.In the game of inches, even the smallest edge can decide everything. That's why Denver Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton has developed a reputation among the organization's strength coaches for being the "guinea pig" when it comes to new workouts. He'll take any opportunity to find an advantage. "Anything that you can do to take your game to the next level, I'm willing to try," Singleton said. <div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Four years ago, it was hot yoga. "Some guys on the team were like, 'Dude, you go to hot yoga? That's the lamest thing I've ever heard,'" Singleton remembers. He's also tried Pilates and almost any strength training ideas his coaches can offer. But through the years, none of them had the impact he'd hoped for."In the weight room, it's only strength," Singleton said. "Then a lot of coaches will say the best thing you can do is stretch for two to three hours a day on your own - but no one ever does that." Singleton has spent six seasons in the NFL. He played for the Eagles from 2019-21 and the Broncos since 2022. Before that, he had a three-season CFL stint with the Calgary Stampeders from 2016-18. He wanted something that would offer both strength and mobility training. Last offseason, he found it. He was introduced to a workout method called True Movement by a strength coach for the Broncos, and he's been hooked ever since.He credits it with helping him become the strongest he's ever been and speeding up his recovery from ACL surgery after a Week 3 injury last season. He's even helped his wife use the platform in postpartum recovery after the birth of their first child six weeks ago.The Broncos are so impressed with the results that they've become the first NFL team to partner with True Movement to bring its founder to their team facility one week a month, starting in April and running until the end of next season.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777736/cropped_GettyImages-2167602729.jpg?ts=1743185542" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777736/w220xh124_GettyImages-2167602729.jpg?ts=1743185542 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777736/w320xh180_GettyImages-2167602729.jpg?ts=1743185542 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777736/w640xh360_GettyImages-2167602729.jpg?ts=1743185542 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777736/w768xh432_GettyImages-2167602729.jpg?ts=1743185542 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777736/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2167602729.jpg?ts=1743185542 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Perry Knotts / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>"People believe in Pilates, they believe in yoga, they believe in strength training - but they've never done it together. And not in male-dominated sports," Singleton said. "Your hips and your lower abs, groin, glutes - those are ready to work together. The second you can turn that switch on, which True Movement does, it instantly fires at a whole new level." Though it doesn't have a lot of public recognition, True Movement has been steadily building a devout following of professional hockey and football players. Its next phase of growth could propel it into a household name.True Movement, which was founded in Edmonton in 2012, has mostly grown like many of the best things do - through word of mouth. The company has quietly been developing a reputation as one of the best-kept secrets of hockey players who spend their offseason in the area, as well as football players on the CFL's Edmonton Elks. That's how Singleton first heard of it - the strength coach who used him as a test subject was Korey Jones, a former Edmonton Elk who used the platform locally before moving to Denver.The method involves a proprietary machine with a triple spring load and split carriage that allows athletes to build strength while holding positions that are impossible in a squat rack. That translates to training that more closely simulates game-day scenarios. <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777720/cropped_IMG_6865.jpg?ts=1743179315" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777720/w220xh124_IMG_6865.jpg?ts=1743179315 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777720/w320xh180_IMG_6865.jpg?ts=1743179315 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777720/w640xh360_IMG_6865.jpg?ts=1743179315 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777720/w768xh432_IMG_6865.jpg?ts=1743179315 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777720/w1080xh607_IMG_6865.jpg?ts=1743179315 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">True Movement's proprietary machine allows athletes to improve mobility and strength at the same time. Supplied</figcaption></figure>"The game of football is so unpredictable with your movement, you're moving out of every different direction," Singleton said. "With the platform, I'm able to train in all these different planes. Whether its single leg, double leg, feet elevated, foot rotated out, butt rotated in, hip rotated out, hip rotated in, all these different planes that you'll have to play in. So, you're not just training in just a bilateral squat, you're able to get a full range of movement." For most of its existence, the company operated out of leftover space at the back of a local law firm near Edmonton's downtown. "We actually got evicted because too many hockey players were using the parking lot, and they didn't care when they would get parking tickets," founder Erin Baker said. That eviction didn't bother her too much - after taking on an equity partner, she's built a state-of-the-art facility while pivoting to a franchise business model that will launch this fall with the debut of the company's first American location in Chicago.The $20,000 platform is also quietly being introduced across the continent in pro locker rooms and training facilities - like Prentiss Human Performance in Stamford, Connecticut. "When athletes go back to their teams after the summer, they miss having access to the platform, so some of them have bought their own or have worked with their team to get one," Baker said.That's similar to Singleton's case. After his surgery, he moved his True Movement platform from his home into the team facility. The players and staff have been so impressed with it that they're partnering with Baker to train the rest of the team on the device and program workouts during her monthly visits next season.The steady growth, with relatively little attention paid to marketing the product so far, has Baker dreaming big. She envisions the platform eventually becoming as ubiquitous as a squat rack. "In the beginning, it was almost like no one wanted to be first to try it, and now it seems like no one wants to be last," she said.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777721/cropped_IMG_2907.jpg?ts=1743179105" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777721/w220xh124_IMG_2907.jpg?ts=1743179105 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777721/w320xh180_IMG_2907.jpg?ts=1743179105 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777721/w640xh360_IMG_2907.jpg?ts=1743179105 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777721/w768xh432_IMG_2907.jpg?ts=1743179105 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777721/w1080xh607_IMG_2907.jpg?ts=1743179105 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Erin Baker founded True Movement in 2012. Supplied</figcaption></figure>"Everybody's looking for the Holy Grail, but this is actually the answer," said longtime hockey agent Gerry Johannson, CEO of The Sports Corporation. "You're talking about trying to keep your pro athletes healthy - there's no downside to this. And when you think about the investment people are making in their athletes, this is completely worth it." Johannson has been sending his clients to Baker for years, but became especially convinced of the platform's merits after Baker worked with Golden Knights goalie Adin Hill to help him build strength in his groin and hips after years of repeated injuries. After integrating True Movement workouts into his offseason plan last summer and continuing with a platform at the team facility in Vegas throughout the year, Hill has been able to make it through this season without injury and signed a six-year contract extension with the team in March."I've been in hockey for probably 40 years now. I've watched every training evolution - from roller blades to running stairs. This is the most important development in training I've seen in my lifetime," Johannson said. "Think about the money in sports. Think about how much athletes make and how much they're worth. What does it cost to keep them healthy? This is a no-brainer for a team or an athlete to invest in."The platform's success is in addressing one of the biggest challenges for elite athletes: overuse injuries. "These athletes are always in the same position," Johannson explained. "It can start to be a little bit of a maze to figure out what's going on. That's what happened with Adin. We had many doctors look at him and try to figure out what it was. Nothing ever seemed to work." <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768841/cropped_GettyImages-2098079927.jpg?ts=1743185620" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768841/w220xh124_GettyImages-2098079927.jpg?ts=1743185620 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768841/w320xh180_GettyImages-2098079927.jpg?ts=1743185620 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768841/w640xh360_GettyImages-2098079927.jpg?ts=1743185620 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768841/w768xh432_GettyImages-2098079927.jpg?ts=1743185620 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768841/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2098079927.jpg?ts=1743185620 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Zak Krill / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Goalies are ripe for overuse injuries because they hold the same position for so long, but Baker explains that the platform also helps skaters in all positions. Hockey players are typically thought of as having big glute muscles that power their strides. "They might have somewhat bigger glutes, but they also have lordotic pelvises," Baker said, referring to a posture where the pelvis tilts forward. "When we go in and train them, we find their glutes don't fire properly because of that. Plus, when they're strength training, they're typically pushing weight up and down, which doesn't necessarily correlate to firing forward on the ice."In those cases, Baker programs athletes' workouts to activate their glutes by pushing and pulling weight horizontally. "It teaches you, even though you're going forward on the ice, you still have to think about keeping the back ribs wide. For a lot of these players, if they don't do that, they're going so fast when they hit the ice that there's a tendency to just let their ribs lead the way, or their chin. As soon as you do that, you slip into a lordotic tilt, because you have to offset."Some of the shifts in movement patterns are subtle, but they have a major impact. "The magic is in the details," Baker said. "Even shifting a quarter of an inch changes whether your glutes help you or your quads. Your body is working more efficiently, and you're not using the wrong muscles to get there."For athletes like Singleton, one of the upsides of the platform is how quickly the results begin to show. "That was the most shocking thing to me," he said. "It's not one of those things where you need six-to-eight weeks. Give me two weeks and you'll completely notice a difference."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777719/cropped_P1216629.jpg?ts=1743179068" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777719/w220xh124_P1216629.jpg?ts=1743179068 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777719/w320xh180_P1216629.jpg?ts=1743179068 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777719/w640xh360_P1216629.jpg?ts=1743179068 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777719/w768xh432_P1216629.jpg?ts=1743179068 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777719/w1080xh607_P1216629.jpg?ts=1743179068 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">True Movement's public classes are scalable for all ability levels. Supplied</figcaption></figure>While True Movement has been a hit with professional athletes, Baker intends to expand its reach to users of all abilities. Her flagship facility in Alberta is open to the public for daily full-body conditioning classes, and her franchise plans would eventually expand the company to include 1,000 locations across the continent."We work with everyone from 11-year-olds to elite athletes to 85-year-olds with hip replacements," she said. "The sports side is actually a small part of it; most of our classes are for the everyday person who doesn't want to live with pain and wants to stay strong without putting more compression on their joints."Baker believes the approach works for anyone because of the very design of the platform itself. "We were very aware when we launched the brand that we didn't want it to be a cookie-cutter way to train," she said. "We're not Pilates or yoga or CrossFit. We train movement. We help restore posture and increase mobility, which leads to performance."Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

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The workout hack taking over pro sports

During Women's History Month in March, theScore is publishing stories that illustrate how women in sports lead, inspire change, and navigate their careers.Kristin Della Rovere never imagined her hockey journey would take her to the Italian Alps, especially after she was part of the PWHL's history-making inaugural season.The Italian stands aren't packed like they are in North America, and there's no roaring crowd like her former team, the Ottawa Charge, drew at TD Place arena. Women's hockey looks different in Europe, but Della Rovere's chasing a different dream now. With the Milan Winter Games under a year away, the 24-year-old from Caledon, Ontario, is using her family's Italian heritage to earn a spot on the Olympic team. But to be considered, she must first play in Italy for a full season. And while she's doing that with the Bozen Eagles in Bolzano, she's come to appreciate there's something about being there that makes her feel connected. Not just to the game but to a deeper part of herself.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>It wasn't an easy choice to leave the PWHL as it was finding its stride, but Della Rovere saw an opportunity to aim for the world's biggest stage. She knows now she made the right call. "The PWHL will hopefully be there forever," she said. "This opportunity was now or never."Della Rovere leaned on the support of family and friends to make the decision, weighing the kind of choice that could alter her career's trajectory. The PWHL is the pinnacle of women's hockey in North America, an undeniable stage for the best in the world. But Italy offered something different: an opportunity to expand her game, embrace her heritage, and play a leadership role in a growing hockey culture."My brother was the one who said, 'Just because you're making one decision doesn't mean you're closing the door on something else,'" she said.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776259/cropped_GettyImages-1978647809.jpg?ts=1742507378" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776259/w220xh124_GettyImages-1978647809.jpg?ts=1742507378 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776259/w320xh180_GettyImages-1978647809.jpg?ts=1742507378 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776259/w640xh360_GettyImages-1978647809.jpg?ts=1742507378 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776259/w768xh432_GettyImages-1978647809.jpg?ts=1742507378 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776259/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1978647809.jpg?ts=1742507378 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Della Rovere celebrates with teammates after her line scored a goal during the PWHL's inaugural season. Icon Sportswire / Getty</figcaption></figure>Her new team plays both in the 11-team European Women's Hockey League (<a href="https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/ewhl-w">EWHL</a>) and the eight-team Italian domestic league. She led the EWHL in scoring with 22 goals and 48 points in 20 regular-season games as Bozen finished third and lost in the playoff semifinals. But her primary goal is clear: "Right now, the hope is just to crack the (Olympic) roster and earn that honor." While she does that, she's raising the bar for the athletes around her. "She came in with the professionalism and high standards that come from North American hockey," said teammate Jacquie Pierri, a 34-year-old from New Jersey who, like Della Rovere, played college hockey in the Ivy League (at Brown)."When I heard Kristin was going to play with us, I was surprised, but obviously very excited to be able to coach such a high-level player," her coach Stefano Dapra said via email.That surprise wasn't unwarranted. Della Rovere established herself in North America. She was captain at Harvard, where she played for five years, before moving to Ottawa for the PWHL's first season with her childhood best friend <a href="https://www.thescore.com/pwhl/news/2818900">Zoe Boyd</a>. Despite a season-ending injury last year, Della Rovere developed a reputation for contributing grit to Ottawa's depth. She was a player expected to thrive in North America's growing professional women's hockey ecosystem.In Italy, she plays a different role. "In my opinion, she can make Italian women's hockey grow a lot," Dapra said. "Not only for those who play on the same team, but also for the other players who see the level that can be reached - not only with talent but with sacrifice and great work ethic." While Della Rovere mainly centered Ottawa's fourth line during her PWHL season, in Italy she's on the top line. "Della adapted immediately to the new technical reality, showing great commitment and seriousness despite coming from a top technical background like the PWHL," Dapra said. "Playing in the EWHL allowed her to keep a good level and make a decisive impact on the team results and her personal performance."Her line alone accounted for over 120 points in 20 games. Her vision, her ability to create opportunities, and her relentless work ethic haven't just been lifting her own game - they're transforming those around her."It's not just about skill; it's the way she approaches every practice, every shift, every interaction with her teammates," Pierri says. "She brings a lot of offensive prowess that the team really needs. And experience and poise."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776257/cropped_Screenshot_2025-03-20_at_3.29.43_PM.jpg?ts=1742569142" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776257/w220xh124_Screenshot_2025-03-20_at_3.29.43_PM.jpg?ts=1742569142 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776257/w320xh180_Screenshot_2025-03-20_at_3.29.43_PM.jpg?ts=1742569142 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776257/w640xh360_Screenshot_2025-03-20_at_3.29.43_PM.jpg?ts=1742569142 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776257/w768xh432_Screenshot_2025-03-20_at_3.29.43_PM.jpg?ts=1742569142 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776257/w1080xh607_Screenshot_2025-03-20_at_3.29.43_PM.jpg?ts=1742569142 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Della Rovere's Italian teammates. From left to right: Pierri, Kristen Guerriero, Della Rovere, and Justine Reyes. Supplied</figcaption></figure>While Della Rovere's contributing to Italian hockey, the country's giving something back to her. Her dad's family is from Italy's south and many extended family members are still there. But it wasn't until she moved to Italy that she truly felt that heritage and understood how the culture fits into her own childhood memories and the person she's becoming."It's really cute seeing all the nonnas (Italian grandmothers) over here. There are a lot of things I've realized from this culture and living here that are things my nonna brought into our household growing up," Della Rovere said. "She lived with us and spoke broken English and one thing she would always do is keep tissues in her sleeve. It's not something I see a lot of people in North America doing. But here, I notice it all the time. It's those little things that remind me of her." Della Rovere's immediate family has also taken the opportunity to revisit its roots. "My family's been able to visit, and we share those moments together sometimes," she said. "I can connect with my roots and my nonna and my dad on a different level now."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776744/cropped_GettyImages-1978914373.jpg?ts=1742726313" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776744/w220xh124_GettyImages-1978914373.jpg?ts=1742726313 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776744/w320xh180_GettyImages-1978914373.jpg?ts=1742726313 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776744/w640xh360_GettyImages-1978914373.jpg?ts=1742726313 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776744/w768xh432_GettyImages-1978914373.jpg?ts=1742726313 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776744/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1978914373.jpg?ts=1742726313 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</figcaption></figure>In her travels playing in the EWHL, Della Rovere meets female athletes from across Europe and a lot of them want to know: what's the PWHL like?"They see the fans, the lights, the skill - I always get questions about the level of hockey and how hard it is," she said. "And some of the girls went to train in North America over the summer so they always ask me if I got to play against (Marie-Philip) Poulin." For Della Rovere, those questions allow her to see the bigger picture of the growth in women's hockey. "In the moment last year, there were a lot of hard moments. Being here and hearing the excitement from other people, I know that not only is the game growing in North America, but it's growing in the world." Della Rovere's part of that growth, but the true test for her chances with the senior Italian team will come at the Division I (Group B) world championship in Scotland in April - her official debut for Italy in an IIHF tournament. Italy's been in Division I since 2012 but hasn't been able to rise to the top division with Canada and the United States."I think she's really going to crush it," Pierri said. After that, the Olympics loom. And while Italy isn't yet a powerhouse in the women's game, there's still national pride on the line, especially as host nation. The last time Italy hosted in 2006, the women's team scored only one goal (vs. Russia) in its three pool-play games and was trounced 16-0 by Canada, registering only five shots on goal in the defeat. "For the national team, with the Olympics on the horizon, it's very important to have six or seven players of Kristin's level," Dapra said. "Certainly, Della will be one of the strengths of our team at the Olympics. Her experience and skills will allow her to be an important reference point for her teammates and a leader on the ice."Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

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Forza Italia: One player's bold Olympic hockey move

During Women's History Month in March, theScore is publishing stories that illustrate how women in sports lead, inspire change, and navigate their careers. The Toronto Tempo are months away from building a roster for their debut WNBA season, but the organization is already assembling a stacked team around president Teresa Resch. Most recently, the franchise announced Serena Williams as part owner, joining Kilmer Sports Ventures chairman Larry Tanenbaum."Anytime you get to associate with such greatness, it is incredible," Resch said via email in a follow-up to our conversation for this month's sports leadership Q&amp;A. "We feel very lucky to have the GOAT in our court."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>For Resch, working with Williams has also been an opportunity to learn. "Serena brings incredible insights into how to be a champion and compete at the highest level year after year. Even just as our relationship is getting started, I'm really excited to be able to tap into that knowledge to help build the Tempo into the championship team I know it will be," she said.Part of that is because Williams and Resch's Tempo have aligned values. "Serena exemplifies the very best of what the Tempo stands for, having earned every bit of her incredible success with hard work, tenacity and determination in the face of countless challenges," Resch said. "She’s set the bar for women in sport, business and the world - and her commitment to using that success to create opportunities for other women is inspiring."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774852/cropped_GettyImages-2198617600.jpg?ts=1741800596" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774852/w220xh124_GettyImages-2198617600.jpg?ts=1741800596 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774852/w320xh180_GettyImages-2198617600.jpg?ts=1741800596 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774852/w640xh360_GettyImages-2198617600.jpg?ts=1741800596 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774852/w768xh432_GettyImages-2198617600.jpg?ts=1741800596 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774852/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2198617600.jpg?ts=1741800596 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Kevin Mazur / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Resch knows a thing or two about competing at the highest level. For 11 seasons she worked in a senior position within the NBA's Toronto Raptors. Her accomplishments include leading the completion of the Raptors' training facility and launching their G League affiliate. Prior to joining the Raptors, Resch worked at the NBA league office to establish international basketball camps as part of the league's efforts to grow worldwide.Those experiences have shaped her management style, one that Resch is unafraid to examine. After being asked to describe her leadership style, she went a step further and did an informal poll of her team for adjectives that describe the way she leads. "In a short survey, the people that work with me described my leadership style as direct, forthcoming, inclusive, and ambitious," Resch wrote.Because of her forward-thinking leadership, we've selected Resch for this installment of our Leaders Q&amp;A - a list of personality questions posed to leaders across sport.This interview has been edited for length and clarity.theScore: When were you most fulfilled?Resch: I'm an operations person at heart, so seeing something tangible and finished is very, very rewarding and fulfilling. Building the Raptors' practice facility or starting Raptors 905, seeing that first tip - super fulfilling. I think as I've advanced in my career, you have less and less of those types of projects that you get a chance to work on.Recently, I went back to a Raptors game and met with someone that I had been managing. While I was there I'd pushed them to make a change that they didn't want to do. It was really, really difficult at the time. But now he came back to me and said, it's the best thing that I ever did. So, that's really fulfilling to know that you've pushed someone to a place they didn't feel comfortable, and it was painful in the moment, but ultimately, it was really great to see them grow and take on something new that they're good at. To succinctly answer your question: seeing those people around you grow. theScore: Describe your mindset currently.Resch: It is definitely like I'm using my GSD degree - get shit done. It's very focused on moving the needle. But the other thing that's on my mind often as we're building this is, how are we building a foundation that can be scalable, that can operationalize for years to come? How are we making sure that we're getting off on the right foot?<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774847/cropped_GettyImages-2200036359.jpg?ts=1741799187" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774847/w220xh124_GettyImages-2200036359.jpg?ts=1741799187 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774847/w320xh180_GettyImages-2200036359.jpg?ts=1741799187 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774847/w640xh360_GettyImages-2200036359.jpg?ts=1741799187 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774847/w768xh432_GettyImages-2200036359.jpg?ts=1741799187 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774847/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2200036359.jpg?ts=1741799187 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Resch has been responsible for key hires within the Tempo, including its first general manager. R.J. Johnston / Toronto Star / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>theScore: What's the biggest intellectual challenge you've encountered in your career?Resch: Working in sports, you're in the business of people, and people are so wonderful to work with but also the variables that you have to deal with are way different than if you made widgets or are trying to sell widgets. Inherently, that we're dealing with people comes along with so many considerations and so many variables. Just because something worked in one situation doesn't mean it's going to work the same in the next. You constantly have to be taking in all the different information and knowledge that you have of the people, of the culture, of the place, of the time, and be trying to understand how that's going to impact decision making.I think it's the part of your brain that's empathy, putting yourself in someone else's shoes, trying to gain perspective of an experience that you've never been in yourself. There's no operations manual for that, right? There is no one way to do things. It's always something that you have to contemplate. theScore: What's the biggest risk you've taken in your career? Would you say this role is your biggest risk?Resch: It's probably the biggest risk, but it's also the one that I feel most prepared for. When I left grad school, I moved to New York City to work for the NBA league office. I'd never lived in New York City before. I had no idea how the sports industry worked. That was a risk, but it wasn't as big of a risk because there wasn't as much at stake. I think my lack of information and lack of knowledge going into it probably was the most risky part of it.This last move from the Raptors, from a very established organization, into a place where we weren't even awarded a team, and we weren't guaranteed anything, was a very big risk because there was so much at stake. But I had a much better understanding of the industry, the marketplace that I was in, and the trajectory of women's sports. My knowledge base was so much more robust in order to make that decision. theScore: Who do you respect most in the sports business?Resch: There's those people that I know really, really well and respect them because I know exactly how they work, and I spent countless days and a lot of energy with them. Like Masai (Ujiri) and Bobby (Webster) and Dan (Tolzman) at the Raptors and even people at MLSE. ... I respect those people a lot because I've seen firsthand what they're capable of and how they think.But then there's those people that you don't know at all but you see some of the moves that they make, and you're really intrigued by how they think. It also helps you continue to be curious. I look at a lot of the venture groups and how they're investing in different areas and how they're seeing what the future is and getting on board before it happens. <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774849/cropped_GettyImages-2153723009.jpg?ts=1741800740" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774849/w220xh124_GettyImages-2153723009.jpg?ts=1741800740 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774849/w320xh180_GettyImages-2153723009.jpg?ts=1741800740 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774849/w640xh360_GettyImages-2153723009.jpg?ts=1741800740 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774849/w768xh432_GettyImages-2153723009.jpg?ts=1741800740 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774849/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2153723009.jpg?ts=1741800740 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Teresa Resch talks to reporters at the Toronto WNBA expansion news conference in May. Vaughn Ridley / NBA / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>theScore: What's something you recently learned from someone below you in your organization?Resch: This sounds so old, but anything to do with technology. Today, I was like, just need to figure out this Excel sheet. But I think it's also embracing some of the AI like ChatGPT and Copilot and finding efficiencies. It's quite incredible the resources we have available. Those are things that I've learned from the people that are working below me because they're using it every single day, and I'm not utilizing some of those things that didn't exist when I was at that stage.theScore: What do you think is the most underrated quality in WNBA players today?Resch: In the W, you only have 12 roster spots. A lot of teams only carry 11. So, the stars and the ones that carry the team - you want to make sure you have one of those, but then the fit of those other players is so important. So, I think underrated is maybe understanding the skill set and having the self-awareness to understand their role in a team. That is probably really, really valuable.Then just physically, the game is getting bigger and stronger. It's incredible to see the people who are running the point. They're so tall and so strong. It's pretty incredible to see what they're capable of. The athleticism within - I would say that's not really underrated because it's well known, but just to see that continued evolution of the game has been incredible.theScore: What do you think makes a team iconic?Resch: First and foremost, winning. I think that teams become iconic because they win, and they consistently perform at a high level. There's also something to be said about traditions and different things - whether in the fandom or the team itself. You buy into part of their ethos and their identity. I think that there are always iconic teams that stand for something that's bigger than themselves. They transcend sport. That's what iconic teams really do.theScore: You mentioned tradition. With a brand-new team, is that something that you guys are going to be trying to focus on - how to create those traditions and touchpoints?Resch: Yeah, absolutely. It will be interesting because, as everyone can see, you can't necessarily predict what's going to catch on and become those traditions. But you can build an environment where those things are welcomed and encouraged. That's what we're going to try to do - build an environment on and off the court, within fandom, within communities, within our marketplace, where it's really encouraging people to start their own traditions and see what sticks and what resonates with everyone.theScore: How do you do that? How do you encourage that? Is it the messaging, or is it activations, or something else?Resch: It's not really one thing. We don't have it figured out yet either. We're going to be trying a lot of different things, but I guarantee it's not one magic bullet. It's a culmination of a lot of things coming together at one time to kind of capture lightning in a bottle. And what we need to do is just be, like I said, open to it. It's reading the signs, being open to things that are maybe outside of your purview.theScore: What would you consider the most important aspect of a winning team?Resch: You can't win without talent. That's just baseline. You have to have enough talent in order to compete at that level. But how you get that talent to achieve a championship - it's a very clear and unified vision, direction, and plan. And maybe one more thing - extreme focus. The ability to shut off all distractions because you can't eliminate them. They're always going to be there, but just be able to be laser-focused on what that vision, direction, and plan is.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774853/cropped_GettyImages-2181011807.jpg?ts=1741801174" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774853/w220xh124_GettyImages-2181011807.jpg?ts=1741801174 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774853/w320xh180_GettyImages-2181011807.jpg?ts=1741801174 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774853/w640xh360_GettyImages-2181011807.jpg?ts=1741801174 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774853/w768xh432_GettyImages-2181011807.jpg?ts=1741801174 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774853/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2181011807.jpg?ts=1741801174 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones celebrate after the New York Liberty won the WNBA championship in 2024. Elsa / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>theScore: What about off the court? What about on your front-office team?Resch: I don't think it differs that much. You have to have the talent, right? You can't get to the mountaintop with underperformers. And then you have to have a great alignment and focus on those things that are going to get you to the mountaintop. Make sure there's an identification of what the things that we need to be sending our time and energy on are - versus those things that are not as valuable. There are so many things that we can be doing now. There are not enough hours in a day guaranteed. So, how are we making sure that we're focusing on the things that need our attention the most that can get us to our ultimate goals?theScore: How would you describe your leadership style?Resch: I'll say collaborative leadership. I like to talk things through. I like to think about all the different angles and all the different sides. I'm not one to make a direct decision in the moment without processing it or thinking through it.Also, I don't know the right word for this, but I like to push people outside their comfort zone. Somebody will bring me an idea or something they want to do and I'm going to ask a thousand questions about it for my own curiosity, but then also to hopefully push you in a way that you haven't thought about yet. I also like to think I'm a joyful leader. I try to have fun. There are a lot of serious points and big decisions that we have to make. But if you're not finding joy in it, then it's not worth doing.theScore: What's the last good book you read?Resch: I've been reading more fiction lately, just as an escape. It's been a while since I read it, but "Shantaram" (by Gregory David Roberts) is one that I thought was really, really good. And there's another one called "I Am Pilgrim," (by Terry Hayes). It's been a couple years since I read those, but they really stick in my head as incredible stories.theScore: What is your motto?Resch: I don't really have a motto. I would say one thing I definitely believe in - there's no such thing as luck. Luck is just when preparation meets opportunity. I think everybody is seeing that saying everywhere but it's very true. You make your own luck by being prepared and seeking out opportunities.Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

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Toronto Tempo president Teresa Resch takes theScore's leadership Q&A

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PWHL expansion: Where will the league go next?

When Hockey Canada announced the appointment of Katherine Henderson as its new CEO in September 2...

When Hockey Canada announced the appointment of Katherine Henderson as its new CEO in September 2023, the organization was having a leadership crisis. Its image had been tarnished by its handling of a sexual assault scandal stemming from the 2018 World Junior Championship team and by multiple assault allegations dating back to 2003. Henderson, who had led Curling Canada for seven years prior, inherited the complexities of the aftermath of those scandals as well as the responsibility of restoring the reputation of Canada's national sport.It was a job she was prepared for. <div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"When it comes to curling or hockey, Canadians have high expectations," says Nolan Thiessen, who replaced Henderson as CEO of Curling Canada and had worked with her since 2016. "Canadians expect us to compete. They expect us to win. Those sports where there are high expectations - there is a big responsibility. Some people run away from that because it may scare them. Kathy is somebody who runs towards that and wants that mantle."Thiessen won three Brier golds in four finals appearances at Canada's men's curling championship. It was during his last trip to the Brier in 2016 with skip Pat Simmons that he first experienced Henderson's leadership style. "I introduced myself and we went out for breakfast and talked about some of my goals and aspirations. She told me to give her a call when I was done curling," Thiessen says. A few months later, he decided he was ready. "She became my mentor," he says. "She's not the type of leader who sits there and is protectionist about her job. She said to me, 'I think you could do my job one day, so I need to teach you some things.'" Thiessen believes that same approach is what will make Henderson a success with Hockey Canada. "She treats people with respect," he says. "Building those personal relationships is what helps you come to greater outcomes later on, when you're working on hard things." After about 20 years working for consumer brands like Whirlpool and Colgate Palmolive, Henderson moved into sports management in 2010 as senior vice president of marketing and revenue for Toronto's 2015 Pan Am Games organizing committee. She then served as CEO at Curling Canada for more than seven years before joining Hockey Canada in September 2023. Because of her extensive experience in growing both grassroots and high-performance sporting programs, we selected Henderson for our Leaders Survey - a selection of questions posed to the men and women who are impacting today's sporting landscape.This interview has been edited for length and clarity.theScore: When were you most fulfilled?Henderson: I'm always fulfilled when there's stuff going on. I really do mean that. I'm unfulfilled when things are working too well. It's time to take on the next challenge at that point. Throughout my whole career, I have often wanted to peel back onions and look at complicated issues and try to help along the way.I have glimmers of fulfillment. I had a really interesting one - I was one of the execs at the Para Pan Am Games in 2015 and we were at the very end of the closing ceremony, and the fireworks are going on. And one of my colleagues said, "You know it's all over, right?" And I had one of those glimmers. I was super fulfilled at that moment. But then I immediately went, OK, now what am I going to do?Usually, those glimmers come in a situation where I see the athletes are enjoying themselves, and they're in a great place. There's a lot of community, celebration, there's a lot of knowledge about what sport brings to communities and to country. At that point, I feel moments of extreme fulfillment, and then I move on. <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772453/cropped_20241114_TA_062__1_.jpg?ts=1740597869" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772453/w220xh124_20241114_TA_062__1_.jpg?ts=1740597869 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772453/w320xh180_20241114_TA_062__1_.jpg?ts=1740597869 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772453/w640xh360_20241114_TA_062__1_.jpg?ts=1740597869 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772453/w768xh432_20241114_TA_062__1_.jpg?ts=1740597869 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772453/w1080xh607_20241114_TA_062__1_.jpg?ts=1740597869 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Henderson was appointed CEO of Hockey Canada in September 2023. Hockey Canada</figcaption></figure>Describe your mindset currently.I'm trying not to use trendy language to make myself sound like a management textbook, but it's a real growth mindset. It's a curiosity mindset. Hockey is a type of sport that is beloved and almost part of our national identity. I'm really understanding it at a whole different level than just what happens on the field of play. What happens off the field of play? What do people perceive and believe about hockey? How does it make their lives better? And how can it make their life worse? These are questions that I need to be asking. Every minute and every decision has so many other effects. Part of what I'm doing is trying to really understand what makes hockey tick. It makes it also a really exciting time for me in my career because I'm learning a ton. What strategies are you using to understand what makes hockey tick?There are probably three things. The first - I was with the steering committee for our women and girls paper, and we had our researchers who had interviewed about 85 sports executives, 6,500 hockey participants, and then the Canadian general public, as well as all our member associations. We asked them the same types of questions. It was really interesting to take a look at: how do others perceive hockey versus how do we perceive it ourselves and internally? That's one piece of information. When I'm saying I'm curious, sometimes, I'm curious on a really large scale, as in what do Canadians think and perceive about hockey and how it matters to their life. Then it goes all the way to staff. How does Hockey Canada make your life better or worse? Then to hockey participants.Second, I am currently on a cross-country tour, and I just spent the afternoon with Hockey Saskatchewan. I've been spending it with the hockey administrators, the coaches, the officiating personnel, the diversity and inclusion people, asking them not just how hockey is doing, but how hockey in Saskatchewan is doing. How are the local minor hockey associations? How are your facilities? How are your communities? Then I was at the Rivalry Series, so I saw Canada take that series. I got a chance to offer the cup to the team and couldn't have been prouder of our Canadian women. Then I hopped on a plane and I went to Boston, and I watched our men also meet our rivals, the U.S., and win. Just the last couple of weeks, seeing what's going on in Canada and then what's going on in hockey, just how meaningful all of this is to Canadians. I'm listening to what the media has to say about it. I'm listening to what Canadians have to say about it. I'm also listening to what the members have to say about it. It's like a tsunami of information coming at me.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772438/cropped_GettyImages-2201499986.jpg?ts=1740597516" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772438/w220xh124_GettyImages-2201499986.jpg?ts=1740597516 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772438/w320xh180_GettyImages-2201499986.jpg?ts=1740597516 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772438/w640xh360_GettyImages-2201499986.jpg?ts=1740597516 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772438/w768xh432_GettyImages-2201499986.jpg?ts=1740597516 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772438/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2201499986.jpg?ts=1740597516 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Connor McDavid of Team Canada carries the trophy after their 3-2 overtime win in the 4 Nations Face-Off Championship game over Team USA Brian Babineau/4NFO / World Cup of Hockey / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Hockey in Canada is such a responsibility. Much like curling in Canada. I can only imagine that making the transition from curling to hockey did seem like a career risk, especially considering how much turmoil was going on within Hockey Canada. Would you consider that the biggest risk you've taken in your career? Or was there something earlier in your career that felt like a bigger risk?I have kind of a meandering path that got me to this place, but almost every single step of the way involved some sort of risk. It's leaving something I'm really comfortable with and stepping into something I'm not nearly as comfortable with.I have a strong belief that if the organization is willing, I want to help make a difference with the organization. I want to help create a future for the organization. I want things to be better for my colleagues, for the people who play, for Canadians. In that way, yes, it's a risk. It's a huge responsibility. But you can't really achieve things without taking risks. I know how much curling means to Canadians, and I was inundated and sort of steeped in that. So I knew coming in just how powerful the voice of Canada was going to be in terms of the decisions that I needed to be able to make on a day-to-day basis. It's something I don't take lightly. That's always a risk, but at the same time, it's a worthy risk. It's something people love. It's an honor to be part of it. Who do you most respect in the sports business?I can name so many names, but the people I've really respected a ton are the volunteers. My son played minor hockey, and I used to watch the coaches who would show up three or four nights a week. They weren't being paid anything. They did it because they loved hockey and because they thought it was really good for kids. They gave so much of their time, and their energy, and their commitment.I just had tons of respect for them and what they did for my child and a bunch of other little boys who turned into young men through their hockey career.What's something you recently learned from someone below you in your organization?I wouldn't say someone below me, but someone earlier in their career. The most recent thing I learned was just sitting around a table full of people who've worked in hockey their whole life and seeing the love they have of the game. They want to make it better.I was just talking about someone - a woman I worked with in curling. When you talk about trying to create welcoming environments and include people that maybe haven't been included before, one of the conversations I had with her was when we were trying to work with a program called Lead Like a Girl. I was offering her some things that I could do with a sport that I felt would really help these little girls that she was working with. She gave me some really good advice because she was talking about her own community, She said, "My girls don't need your particular sport. What they need are leadership opportunities, and they need to be able to navigate unfamiliar spaces. That's what they need. Now, if your sport can help them with that, then we're partners."Sport is so much more than just learning skills and learning technique. It's more about how sport builds communities and makes them more resilient and adds to people's lives. So, you know, I think sometimes people who can really clearly articulate how sport makes their communities better have been powerful lessons for me. <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772448/cropped_GettyImages-2183612836.jpg?ts=1740597663" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772448/w220xh124_GettyImages-2183612836.jpg?ts=1740597663 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772448/w320xh180_GettyImages-2183612836.jpg?ts=1740597663 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772448/w640xh360_GettyImages-2183612836.jpg?ts=1740597663 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772448/w768xh432_GettyImages-2183612836.jpg?ts=1740597663 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772448/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2183612836.jpg?ts=1740597663 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">The Canadian women's team on the bench during their Rivalry Series matchup against the United States in November 2024. Eakin Howard / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>You've seen a lot of winning teams across your career, both in hockey and curling. What is the most important quality in a winning team?We just watched the world's best-on-best in women and men do it within a span of a couple of weeks. And each one of them has been kind of heart-stopping. I think it's that willingness to put team over self. We saw some of the world's greats take a step back and work on lines that they're probably not used to working on, take positions that maybe they understood were good for the team and maybe not good for them personally. I think that really defines team - being able to put yourself aside in order to be able to say, "I have a greater connection with the people on my team and we all want the same thing so let's figure out how to do this together." That, to me, creates those great teams. Because, you know, the teams just go in and they do what they need to do. It isn't just skills; it's also your ability to understand what the team needs in the moment.What is your most treasured memorabilia from your career so far?My very first Women in Curling leadership sweatshirt. I still have it. It's a bit threadbare. I looked around in curling and said there's not enough women leaders in this thing. Where are all the coaches? Where all the officials? Where are all the administrators? We started this thing called Women in Curling, and not only did it grow but it caught fire. It was like a brush fire that just suddenly turned because people went back to their own provinces and said, "Hey, if they can do this at the national level, why don't we do it at the provincial level?" Then the clubs started doing it. So, it's really turned into its own thing.Also, in 2016 I was on the board of Rugby Canada. We'd just gone through a process where we had eliminated the pay-to-play model, and the women were getting the same support as the men. I felt like I was a huge part of that. Just before they went off to win a medal at the Rio Olympics, I was sent a Team Canada rugby jacket that I still wear to this day. I'm really proud of it because it was something meaningful to me. There are also lucky little things - like what I had in my pocket when Kaitlyn Lawes and John Morris won a gold medal in mixed doubles at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games that I still treasure to this day. It reminds me of being in those brilliant moments. I also have my son's Scarborough Ice Raiders jacket. I also have one of my daughter's T-shirts that I still wear when I go out to exercise from when she was playing volleyball for the Western Mustangs. Those are things that are great for me personally as a mom. <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772475/cropped_GettyImages-918096578.jpg?ts=1740604304" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772475/w220xh124_GettyImages-918096578.jpg?ts=1740604304 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772475/w320xh180_GettyImages-918096578.jpg?ts=1740604304 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772475/w640xh360_GettyImages-918096578.jpg?ts=1740604304 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772475/w768xh432_GettyImages-918096578.jpg?ts=1740604304 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772475/w1080xh607_GettyImages-918096578.jpg?ts=1740604304 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Kaitlyn Lawes and John Morris receive their gold medals in mixed doubles curling at the 2018 Olympics. Andreas Rentz / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>What was in your pocket when Lawes and Morris won the gold medal?It was these little amethyst stones that I had. I grew up in Thunder Bay and these stones are from Amethyst Harbour. While I was nervous, I was playing with them. Then, every time they won, I'd have those in my hand. They became this lucky talisman. So, I consider their win part of Amethyst Harbor. What was the last good book you read?I'm reading Amor Towles' "A Table for Two." It's a bunch of short stories that I just really enjoy. I loved "A Gentleman in Moscow," and I just read "The Lincoln Highway." Then I got his next book, "A Table for Two."What is your motto?It's kind of corny, but I always say carpe future - seize the future. We all know where we are right now. It's OK to sit around and sort of wring your hands about where we are now. But grab the future. We know what it should look like. We all do in our heart of hearts. We know what a good future looks like. So, grab it. Then once you've grabbed it you have to make a plan to get there. Start with the future. The present has already happened, right as we're speaking. Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

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Hockey Canada CEO Katherine Henderson takes theScore's leadership Q&A

Internal NHL demographic data shows what a lot of people anecdotally know: the NHL is very white....

Internal NHL demographic data shows what a lot of people anecdotally know: the NHL is very white. On the ice, more than <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nhl-sports-hockey-race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-1fc28e1d7db391c2bec6203fa19fda1f">90%</a> of players and almost all coaches and officials are white. Behind the scenes, 83.6% of league staff are white, according to data released in 2022.Author Steven Sandor is trying to figure out why. His upcoming book, "<a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/790549/leveling-the-ice-by-steven-sandor/9780807020456">Leveling the Ice</a>," scheduled for a September release, examines the forces at the grassroots and professional levels that prevent more people of color from getting involved in the sport."I don't think hockey is any different than a lot of the sports that had their origins in the late 19th century. A lot of sports were very white. They were ways of dividing classes," Sandor said. "As much as people like to talk about soccer in England as being this great equalizer when it gained popularity in the 19th century, it was predominantly played by white people as an alternative to rugby, which was also played predominantly by white people. It took a long time, even for soccer, which we kind of see as the people's global game, to not be very, very white." <div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>While other sports have embraced fans and players of color, hockey has remained limited in its diversity. One difference Sandor sees is hockey's reluctance to lean into its own heritage. "There is a history of Black hockey in Canada. The Colored Hockey League existed in the late 19th century. The <a href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/news/2414593">Fosty brothers have written about this at length</a>. In my book, I get into the idea that this history has been kind of buried," Sandor said. "It's not really in the Hockey Hall of Fame that the Colored Hockey League existed. There was an all-Black, semi-professional hockey league that existed in Eastern Canada long before the colored baseball leagues existed. Hockey was actually the first of the sports to have an organized Black league."theScore recently caught up with Sandor to talk about making hockey more inclusive. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. theScore: Why are the stories of Black hockey history less widely known than in other sports, like MLB?Sandor: The point in the book, which I think is the uncomfortable truth about why the Colored Hockey League is not remembered, is that so many of the teams' names and the league's existence was about the honoring of the Underground Railroad and honoring of the fact that many of the players playing in that league were the grandchildren or children of escaped slaves from the United States. Even the team names like the Africville Seasides - the names on the jerseys were real nods to the politicization of that Underground Railroad and of this whole idea that people were starting new lives in Canada. …<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771519/cropped_GettyImages-53130958.jpg?ts=1740089824" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771519/w220xh124_GettyImages-53130958.jpg?ts=1740089824 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771519/w320xh180_GettyImages-53130958.jpg?ts=1740089824 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771519/w640xh360_GettyImages-53130958.jpg?ts=1740089824 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771519/w768xh432_GettyImages-53130958.jpg?ts=1740089824 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771519/w1080xh607_GettyImages-53130958.jpg?ts=1740089824 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Willie O'Ree of the Boston Bruins became the first Black NHL player in 1958. Bruce Bennett / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>When it comes to honoring those players, it gets into a lot of things that you wouldn't necessarily want to get into when the national anthems play before a Chicago game, or before a Rangers game, or before a Kings game. They wouldn't want to get into those kinds of uncomfortable discussions. I think it's a lot easier with the (Negro Leagues) and Major League Baseball's relationship with it. But I think the Colored Hockey League has a very, very odd relationship with hockey history. It's unfortunate because I really think the push has to be made in some way to get some of those players - if they're not honored as full members the Hall of Fame - at least honored in some way, remembered in some way that people understand. I think it would make the world of difference to players of color if they understood there was a connection that goes back 130 years …. Yes, players of color played hockey, they enjoyed hockey, and there was an actual league where it was celebrated. It wasn't necessarily a white sport, even though the professionalization and such of it excluded players of different races at that time.theScore: Do you think the efforts to make professional hockey more inclusive are genuine?Sandor: I do think it's genuine, but I also think there's a lot of work to be done. There have been other books written about how hockey has a race problem. That's not new. What's different in what I'm doing with this book is this: I talked a lot with Stephanie Jackson at USA Hockey, Irfan Chaudhry at Hockey Canada, and with Kim Davis at the National Hockey League. These are three thought leaders and people of color. And instead of saying, "Does hockey have a race problem?", they're saying, "Hockey does have a race problem, and this is how we fix it." These are people who are experts in race relations and civil rights. They've been brought in to share a new perspective on what keeps hockey white, and why it's slow to diversify even though there are so many people with good intentions.I know people are going to criticize me because I'm a white guy writing this. But this is the problem. The grassroots are still very white. That's where the diversification is going to start. Kim Davis says over and over in the book that the National Hockey League has to be the North Star, the guiding principle, the shining light for hockey around the world. But at the same time the National Hockey League, or Hockey Canada, or USA Hockey can make all the efforts, and it doesn't matter if it doesn't funnel down to the grassroots where young kids and their families feel they're comfortable and welcome at the local rink. <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771523/cropped_GettyImages-1976107910.jpg?ts=1740090311" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771523/w220xh124_GettyImages-1976107910.jpg?ts=1740090311 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771523/w320xh180_GettyImages-1976107910.jpg?ts=1740090311 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771523/w640xh360_GettyImages-1976107910.jpg?ts=1740090311 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771523/w768xh432_GettyImages-1976107910.jpg?ts=1740090311 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771523/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1976107910.jpg?ts=1740090311 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Former Leafs captain Wendel Clark, NHL senior executive vice president Kim Davis, Leafs director of culture and inclusion Mark Fraser, and deputy mayor of Toronto Ausma Malik attend a youth hockey clinic in 2024. Kevin Sousa / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>There are programs out there to make players feel more welcome, but it takes a lot to convince people to change. A lot of times I think white people will think we're doing great because there's now the one kid of color on the team or the second kid of color on the team. I don't think there's a lot of coaches left who would honestly say they're not picking a player because he or she is Black or South Asian or Asian. The question needs to be asked, why aren't there more kids of color trying out? How do we make the rink more inviting? That's the hard question. We have to try to figure out how to make the hockey rink more welcoming and more inclusive and feeling like it's a place to celebrate the game, and it doesn't matter what you look like.theScore: What are some of the factors that are preventing people of color from getting involved in hockey at a grassroots level?Sandor: The first and easiest one is money. Hockey has become exceptionally expensive. The drive to professionalize minor sports drives out a lot of people and it drives out people of limited economic means. You go outside most hockey rinks and parents are driving there in their BMW SUVs. Or their … Ford F150s with the super cabs. You're not seeing a lot of Toyotas or people getting there on the bus. Money is obviously the first factor, and it makes it a hard barrier to entry for lots of people.I think the second is we have to understand there's a lot of times where we as white people don't talk about race enough. White people are afraid to talk about race most of the time. It's sad and it's unfortunate because we have a real issue talking about race and we should be more comfortable talking about it because the people around us of other races don't have a problem talking about race. So when you're looking at trying to fix hockey and make it more inclusive, a lot of those people at the rinks will be well-meaning but they're all white and generally Christian. Sometimes they don't understand cultural barriers, the little things that make a player of color feel uncomfortable. <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771701/cropped_Steven_Sandor_042_Leveling_The_Ice.jpg?ts=1740169661" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771701/w220xh124_Steven_Sandor_042_Leveling_The_Ice.jpg?ts=1740169661 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771701/w320xh180_Steven_Sandor_042_Leveling_The_Ice.jpg?ts=1740169661 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771701/w640xh360_Steven_Sandor_042_Leveling_The_Ice.jpg?ts=1740169661 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771701/w768xh432_Steven_Sandor_042_Leveling_The_Ice.jpg?ts=1740169661 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771701/w1080xh607_Steven_Sandor_042_Leveling_The_Ice.jpg?ts=1740169661 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Author Steven Sandor's book, "Leveling the Ice," examines the impact of inclusivity and representation in hockey from grassroots to the NHL. Penguin Random House Canada</figcaption></figure>I'm going to change the example to soccer because I coached a couple of years ago. The parents on my team were talking about having a big Christmas party. And I stated that six of my players on my team are Islamic. Here we are celebrating a Christian holiday. It's little things like not understanding that, which makes you feel excluded. …Mark Fraser (a former NHL defenseman who is now the Toronto Maple Leafs director of culture and inclusion) talked a lot about having to kill your own identity as a Black player in the dressing room (while) growing up in Ottawa. He talked about essentially being a "palatable version of himself" to white people. No one should be asking themselves this question. No one should say, how do I make myself seem inoffensive or palatable to people around me because I'm the only Black person in the dressing room.Players have said this over and over to me. As much as we'd like to think about inclusivity, as white hockey fans, parents, families, volunteers, coaches, we've never been in that position in the hockey rink. We do not know what it's like. We do not know what it's like to be seen as the "other."theScore: What is the risk if hockey doesn't evolve to be inclusive?Sandor: Hockey's market has been shrinking. If you look at the TV ratings, even the Stanley Cup Finals don't generate the ratings that they did 10 years ago, and certainly not what they generated 20 years ago. You can say it's because of streaming and attention spans, but football's numbers still continue to grow. Soccer's numbers continue to grow. Kids have choices. Families have choices.The Raptors' championship run was interesting because the Raptors captured a whole country's imagination. But when you looked at Maple Leaf Square, when they showed pictures of a Raptors game as compared to a Leafs playoff game, you could see the demographic is totally different.This is straight from Kim Davis - diversity can't be seen as you doing it just to do the right thing. She explained it to the 32 owners: it's a business decision. If you want to sell more shirts, more tickets, and have more people watching the games on television, then you want more people interested. Fans want to see players who look like them. I think you just look at Vancouver for example of this. Look at the kind of almost crazy following Arshdeep Bains has had in the rise of his career when he scored his first goal for the Canucks earlier this (season). A kid from the Vancouver area whose parents came here, from the South Asian community. A kid who is a Sikh player. Fans in Vancouver went nuts for that. It's a sign that shows exactly what that would mean in a community - to have a player that looks like a large section of your potential fan base. You can see when they do the "Hockey Night Canada" in Punjabi - there is a fan base that is dying for a South Asian hockey star. It is such good business (move).<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771524/cropped_GettyImages-2193139342.jpg?ts=1740090809" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771524/w220xh124_GettyImages-2193139342.jpg?ts=1740090809 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771524/w320xh180_GettyImages-2193139342.jpg?ts=1740090809 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771524/w640xh360_GettyImages-2193139342.jpg?ts=1740090809 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771524/w768xh432_GettyImages-2193139342.jpg?ts=1740090809 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771524/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2193139342.jpg?ts=1740090809 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Jason Robertson was the third NHL player of Filipino descent when he made his big-league debut in 2019. Michael Mooney / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Jason Robertson said it in the book. He's stunned by how much he gets stopped and how much it means that there's an Asian American player who's a star in the NHL, who isn't just playing in third and fourth lines but who's one of the top scorers in the NHL. It's a business thing. If that means that kids who would never have gone to a game are also buying a jersey and becoming fans, it absolutely has to go forward as a business decision.theScore: Are there any grassroots communities you've come across that are really good at engaging people of color?Sandor: Yes, there are lots. For example, Lali Toor in Edmonton who, along with Dampy Brar, are running a program called Apna Hockey for South Asian kids. Apna Hockey means "our hockey," it's a term to get kids feeling welcomed. They have the support of teams like the Jets and the Flames, and they're running programs across North America.Also, Darnell Nurse supports Free Play for Kids, which is about getting kids involved in a variety of sports, hockey being one of them. There are more and more of these grassroots initiatives in Toronto, too. There's a team that's named for the Seasides from the Colored Hockey League. And, I know the Hockey Diversity Alliance has done things in the Toronto area to make hockey accessible to families in what they call priority neighborhoods.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771522/cropped_GettyImages-2182483172.jpg?ts=1740090080" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771522/w220xh124_GettyImages-2182483172.jpg?ts=1740090080 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771522/w320xh180_GettyImages-2182483172.jpg?ts=1740090080 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771522/w640xh360_GettyImages-2182483172.jpg?ts=1740090080 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771522/w768xh432_GettyImages-2182483172.jpg?ts=1740090080 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771522/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2182483172.jpg?ts=1740090080 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Students of diverse ethnic backgrounds learn hockey through a partnership between the Hockey Diversity Alliance and the Toronto District School Board. Toronto Star / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>theScore: What else should readers know about your book ahead of its September 2025 release?Sandor: I'm very cognizant of the fact that the biggest criticism the book is going to get is the skin color of the writer of the book. And it's very fair. I think part of this book for me was a big voyage of self-discovery. There were a lot of "come to Jesus moments" in this book for me, and I hope for the reader as well.I've had NHL players speak to me for this book who are in tears. I don't think people understand. I think a lot of times people think these people make a lot of money, they're in the limelight, but I don't think they understand the hurt that happens with some of the things they get on Instagram, some of the things they see on social media. We still see it in hockey today when a player of color makes a mistake in a game. The leash is so short with the fans. When players tell you that when their friends and family come to watch them play, they're uncomfortable because the rink feels so white, that tells you something. We have to make the hockey rink more welcoming. I believe that the majority of players in the National Hockey League do understand that, but it's one thing to understand. It's another thing to do it.Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

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'Business decision': Growing hockey requires embracing diverse communities

The media called it an upset, but ask members of the United States' gold medal-winning 1996 World...

The media called it an upset, but ask members of the United States' gold medal-winning 1996 World Cup of Hockey team and they'll say it was always the plan. The last time the U.S. won men's hockey gold on the world stage was almost three decades ago. Back then, the deep, talented roster gave the Americans the confidence they needed to march all the way to the podium with ease."We were more prepared than people believed," head coach Ron Wilson said. "We had a really good team - especially with Chris Chelios, Brett Hull, and people like that. A lot of people say that's basically the pinnacle of U.S. hockey, in terms of stars all coming together at the same time." For Wilson, the win wasn't just a high-water mark for the country, but for him personally. Hockey is in Wilson's blood – his father Larry and his uncle Johnny both played for the Red Wings. Wilson played seven seasons in the NHL before coaching in Vancouver, Anaheim, Washington, San Jose, and Toronto. He also earned an Olympic silver medal as head coach of the men's team at the Vancouver Winter Games. Of all those hockey games, milestones, and memories, it's that golden U.S. team that stands out: "Winning the World Cup in 1996 was the pinnacle of my career," he says. "I still have the game jersey that we all autographed, and I have a few other things, like the ring we won from that team."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770231/cropped_GettyImages-1481206149.jpg?ts=1739389447" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770231/w220xh124_GettyImages-1481206149.jpg?ts=1739389447 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770231/w320xh180_GettyImages-1481206149.jpg?ts=1739389447 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770231/w640xh360_GettyImages-1481206149.jpg?ts=1739389447 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770231/w768xh432_GettyImages-1481206149.jpg?ts=1739389447 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770231/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1481206149.jpg?ts=1739389447 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Wilson handles the bench during a game against Team Canada in Montreal. Bruce Bennett / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>To accomplish the task, the Americans united against a common hockey foe: Team Canada, which was perennially at the top of the podium. Earlier that year, the Canadians won silver at the 1996 world championships in Vienna, while the U.S., under Wilson's coaching, earned bronze. It was the country's first medal at the tournament in 34 years and it signified the light at the end of a dark tunnel for USA Hockey. The country hadn't succeeded on the world stage since its 1980 Lake Placid Games win over the Soviets, which was immortalized as the Miracle on Ice. Two years earlier, Canada had won gold at world championships while the U.S. missed the medals. The same year, at the Lillehammer Games, Canada won silver while the U.S. went home in eighth place. While the podium spot in Vienna was great, Wilson had his eye on a bigger prize."The one term I always used in all the time we spent on that team was - we were always the passengers on the bus, and the Canadian guys were the ones who were always piloting the bus, driving us wherever we wanted to go. But this time, I said to our team that they were the ones who were going to be driving the bus, and the Canadians were going to go where we wanted to go," Wilson said.With a U.S. roster that included Chelios, Hull, Mike Richter, Brian Leetch, Mike Modano, Pat LaFontaine, John LeClair, Keith Tkachuk, and Doug Weight, it would have been understandable had individual personalities taken over the agenda. But that's not what happened. "From the first day, I managed to have all their attention. We were all aligned that we were setting out to win gold," Wilson said. "I really thought we had a chance, and all the players certainly believed me when I said that we weren't going for second place. Everybody - from Day 1 - came in with the right frame of mind, and I thought it was actually pretty easy to tell our team what their roles were, and they did it without any questions at all."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770227/cropped_GettyImages-246057.jpg?ts=1739391449" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770227/w220xh124_GettyImages-246057.jpg?ts=1739391449 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770227/w320xh180_GettyImages-246057.jpg?ts=1739391449 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770227/w640xh360_GettyImages-246057.jpg?ts=1739391449 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770227/w768xh432_GettyImages-246057.jpg?ts=1739391449 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770227/w1080xh607_GettyImages-246057.jpg?ts=1739391449 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Keith Tkachuk celebrates scoring a goal against Slovakia in a World Cup game in New York. Al Bello / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Despite going 4-0 through pool play and the semifinals, the Americans hit a stumbling block in the first matchup of the three-game final series, losing 4-3 in overtime to the Canadians in Philadelphia. The next two games would be in Montreal, and another loss would have crowned the Canadians tournament champions."We managed in that game to eventually tie it (on a goal by Tkachuk with 6 seconds left) and it went to overtime, but this was before they ever reviewed overtime for situations like offside, and the play was clearly offside," Wilson said of Steve Yzerman's winner. "But I told our team we weren't going to complain about it. We're just going to go to Montreal and we're going to have to beat Canada twice up there, and that's exactly what we did."<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ejT90KCv0Xs?si=hKpGsDCk3k1YvACG&amp;start=787" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>In Game 2, second-period goals by LeClair and Hull broke open a 1-1 stalemate and the U.S. salted away a 5-2 win with two empty-net goals. The final 8 minutes of Game 3 were a frenzy of action. Adam Foote put Canada up 2-1 before Hull tipped a Leetch point shot to tie it with 3:18 remaining. Tony Amonte scored the game-winner with 2:35 left.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LoGw7REF2G8?si=q037P05T2PY_4VEP" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>That remains the last men's hockey gold for the U.S. However, Wilson believes that could change at the 4 Nations Face-Off. It's not a completely parallel situation, but there are a lot of reasons to be hopeful. "Back then, we had the best defense, and we had the best offensive guys," Wilson said. "Now I think the U.S. has some good defensemen, but I don't think we can say they're the best defensemen in the world. But I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of impact Auston Matthews is going to have on this tournament." Wilson coached Matthews at the 2016 World Junior Championship.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770229/cropped_GettyImages-53132000.jpg?ts=1739389238" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770229/w220xh124_GettyImages-53132000.jpg?ts=1739389238 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770229/w320xh180_GettyImages-53132000.jpg?ts=1739389238 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770229/w640xh360_GettyImages-53132000.jpg?ts=1739389238 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770229/w768xh432_GettyImages-53132000.jpg?ts=1739389238 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770229/w1080xh607_GettyImages-53132000.jpg?ts=1739389238 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Mike Richter wins the MVP award for the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. Bruce Bennett / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>There is one place where Wilson does see the U.S. as obviously dominant. "I think they do have the advantage on Canada because of their goaltending. I think the goaltending can be just about as good as the goaltending we had in 1996," Wilson said. Where the 1996 team was backstopped by the Rangers' Richter, this edition boasts Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger, and Jeremy Swayman.When the U.S. opens its 4 Nations campaign on Thursday, a new generation of Americans will have a chance to build its own international memories. Three decades later, Wilson's are still vivid. "I remember it just being a great experience," he said. "I was lucky that we had such a talented team."Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

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'Pinnacle of U.S. hockey': Ron Wilson remembers 1996 World Cup

He instinctively knew the warning was true. It was Feb. 7, 1988, and Gerry McNamara, then general...

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In Tessa Bonhomme's era, just being a professional hockey player was a sign of leadership.   "The...

In Tessa Bonhomme's era, just being a professional hockey player was a sign of leadership. "These are women who just did it for the love of sport and to continue working and making those small steps towards where we are today," says Ian Kennedy, author of "Ice in Their Veins: Women's Relentless Pursuit of the Puck." "That is, in essence, leadership that can't be overlooked and shouldn't be forgotten."The success of today's PWHL is largely due to the foundation of women's hockey built by early forerunner leagues, such as the Canadian Women's Hockey League, which Bonhomme played in for five seasons.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"At that time, we weren't seeing the 19,000-person attendance records, but we were still seeing exposure for women in the sport that otherwise wouldn't have been available if these women didn't sacrifice their careers, their day jobs, their weekends, their personal money to play these in these leagues and keep it going," Kennedy says.Women like Bonhomme who built that foundation are, by definition, trailblazers, even if their stories are less widely known."It was really just crucial and kind of a forgotten era because there was no television broadcasting," says Kennedy. "We didn't have major outlets covering every single game. We didn't have dedicated writers or networks that were even validating women's professional hockey as a legitimate sport."They really fought against a lot of the stereotypes and stigmas that women didn't have a place in professional hockey. Over time, of course, they've proven those assumptions wrong."Now Bonhomme is leading the charge on another front: media coverage of women's hockey. After 10 years at TSN, she left to join the PWHL's media arm at the start of this season. She co-hosts the "<a href="https://www.thepwhl.com/en/media/jocks-in-jills-podcast">Jocks in Jills</a>" podcast she founded with Julia Tocheri, another former TSN staffer."We really need that visibility, and we really need people talking about the sport consistently and professionally," Kennedy says. "It's really incredible to see someone like Tessa Bonhomme, who has been around and playing in the sport and is so knowledgeable, sharing that continued passion and her expertise with everyday people and connecting with this next generation of hockey players."Because of her commitment to women's hockey and pioneering approach in both the sport and media, we've selected Bonhomme for our Leaders Survey - a list of questions posed to the men and women who have shaped sports to gain more insight into their personalities and motivations.This interview has been edited for length and clarity.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767693/cropped_GettyImages-2154712048.jpg?ts=1738094879" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767693/w220xh124_GettyImages-2154712048.jpg?ts=1738094879 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767693/w320xh180_GettyImages-2154712048.jpg?ts=1738094879 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767693/w640xh360_GettyImages-2154712048.jpg?ts=1738094879 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767693/w768xh432_GettyImages-2154712048.jpg?ts=1738094879 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767693/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2154712048.jpg?ts=1738094879 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Bonhomme interviews Taylor Heise of the Minnesota Frost after Game 5 of the 2024 PWHL Finals Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>theScore: When in your career were you most fulfilled?Bonhomme: In hockey, I would have to say, in 2014 when the Toronto Furies won the Clarkson Cup. That was a moment to me in sports that was kind of movie-esque. We were kind of like the Mighty Ducks from the original movie. We were a lot of fourth-liners. We were a grit, grinder team. We worked hard. We made it into the playoffs by one point.A lot of the players came back from the Olympics and joined the other teams. Only Natalie Spooner came back and joined ours. We were just slowly chipping away one team after another that year. In the gold-medal game, we were looking around the locker room, heading into overtime, and we were kind of laughing, like, can you believe this? It's a 0-0 hockey game. And one of our leaders that year, Britni Smith, who's now a coach down in the NCAA, she ended up scoring the game-winner. It was very fitting, just considering how much she had done for the game up to that point, what she had done for our team, being one of the leaders. It felt like a really good, wholesome win, where everybody bought into their roles, and it was super fun. It didn't feel stressful ever.I was really proud and happy for every single player. It differed from the Olympics because, in a sense, we were expected to win the Olympics. We worked our tails off for that medal, but the expectations were there. But this one felt like the world was against us and we pulled through. That's when I was most fulfilled in my hockey world. In my professional world, I would have to say, recently, just this past year, making the switch from TSN to joining the PWHL and trying my hand at offering good coverage. Family life and work balance kind of came into play in that decision, and my passion for the PWHL, my love for the game, and my respect for the work that these ladies put forth to give us the best product on the ice that we can have.I just want to do my best to help try and promote and let everyone else see just how great they are. Those of us who have friends in the league, we're privy to that information. And I feel like it's the least I could do to help shine a light on some of the greats that are in the game right now.TSN gave me the opportunity to cover a ton of different sports at every level, at the highest level - the World Juniors, the Women's World Hockey Championships, the Olympics, NHL, SportsCenter. I feel like I checked a ton of boxes, and the only thing that was left was covering a professional women's team. The PWHL offered me that opportunity, and it would have been silly for me to pass that one by.What are you best known for?Depends who you talk to. For a lot of people, it's the show "Shoresy." But I would have to say, it was probably the moment in 2010 with the shutter shades on and the cigar and the beer in hand. I don't think that will ever leave me or my resume. I would say that is what I am most known for, is doing that. But I would like to change it to being most known for the "Jocks in Jills" podcast. We're working on that.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767695/cropped_GettyImages-97063930.jpg?ts=1738095490" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767695/w220xh124_GettyImages-97063930.jpg?ts=1738095490 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767695/w320xh180_GettyImages-97063930.jpg?ts=1738095490 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767695/w640xh360_GettyImages-97063930.jpg?ts=1738095490 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767695/w768xh432_GettyImages-97063930.jpg?ts=1738095490 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767695/w1080xh607_GettyImages-97063930.jpg?ts=1738095490 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Marie-Philip Poulin and Bonhomme celebrate with a beer and a cigar following Canada's gold medal win at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games Alex Livesey / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>What do you value most in a teammate?A positive attitude. I call it a pet approach, where it doesn't matter what kind of day you're having, what you look like, your pet is always excited to see you, happy for you, and just wants to share love and make the day better. I like teammates like that. High-stress situations call for some ugly moments sometimes, but when you have a good teammate, they see the silver lining, and they understand that sometimes there's a bigger purpose to a game beyond just the wins and the losses.Describe your mindset currently.In this exact moment: controlled chaos. My kids slept in this morning. We had a late night, so this morning was a runaround. But in all honesty, other than that, just zen. Yes ... this is the complete opposite. But I feel like my mindset is at this state where, I'm turning 40 this year, I'm doing what I love and what I'm passionate about. What a gift that is.What was your best hockey road trip?The second anyone mentions hockey road trips to any player, everybody immediately goes back to their youth days when they played mini-sticks in the hallway for hours. You would go play a game, and then you would come back to the hotel, and you'd play mini-sticks. Then you would eat dinner and go play hockey. Then you'd come back and you'd be in the pool for hours. It's that moment where hockey wasn't serious enough - we were all together having fun. Playing three games a day? That's fine. You want to go in the pool? Go ahead. I think those were the best.I can't pick just one for my childhood because it was literally a recurring weekend for like four months every season with my parents and all my friends. It's crazy because I don't even see kids play mini-sticks very much in hotels anymore. I don't know if hotels got rid of it, but if they did, shame on them. That's core memory stuff that lasts a lifetime.What do you think is an underrated quality in players today?The ability to handle adversity. There's going to be a lot of things in players' careers that don't go their way, and it's very easy to play the "woe me" card.But for someone who can, even in a game, understand there will be penalties called against you or a blooper goal going against your 'tender. It's easy to hang your head and throw in the towel. But players who can not only turn that moment around but also bring their teammates and players up with them, I think that is an underrated quality. <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767696/cropped_GettyImages-1441263616.jpg?ts=1738095740" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767696/w220xh124_GettyImages-1441263616.jpg?ts=1738095740 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767696/w320xh180_GettyImages-1441263616.jpg?ts=1738095740 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767696/w640xh360_GettyImages-1441263616.jpg?ts=1738095740 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767696/w768xh432_GettyImages-1441263616.jpg?ts=1738095740 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767696/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1441263616.jpg?ts=1738095740 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Bonhomme and Jayna Hefford skate during warmups prior to the Hockey Hall of Fame Legends Classic game in 2022 Bruce Bennett / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>What would you consider the most overrated aspect of hockey today?I think sometimes we use statistics too much, as opposed to just watching the game and analyzing it ourselves. That said, I do appreciate statisticians out there because I use a lot of their stuff. What do you consider your greatest achievement?Raising two healthy kids to almost five, then have everyone be happy and full bellies and smiles on their faces, for sure.What's the most important quality in a winning team?The ability to buy in and know your role wholeheartedly and not fake it. That's it. What's your most treasured memorabilia from your career?Probably those shutter shades ... I've got boxes and boxes and stuff, but like, that's the one piece that stays out, I guess because people constantly want to see them.What's the last good book you read?"Riding for Freedom" by Eurico Rosa da Silva (the seven-time Sovereign Award winner as best jockey in Canada). It's a wicked book. This guy's life is insane. I randomly ran into this guy in the NHL alumni offices. He was looking for my buddy. And I was like, "You look like a jockey." He was like, "I am." Then he handed me a book. I didn't realize what his life was until I read it. Now I'm like, "I want to spend more time with that man."What's your motto?What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail? I got that from my friend Jen Botterill. That actually has a lot to do with every decision that I make. Because everyone always weighs in the failure aspect of it, and it lets the fear scare them out of what they should be doing as opposed to what feels right and good in the moment. Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30028463/related

The leadership Q&A: Tessa Bonhomme

A new women's basketball league called Unrivaled tips off Friday in Miami, signaling an evolution...

A new women's basketball league called Unrivaled tips off Friday in Miami, signaling an evolution of women's hoops. Created by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, the 3x3 women's league adds an additional offseason option for WNBA athletes, offering them a chance to get paid and showcase the game to a burgeoning group of fans."They're bringing something new to women's basketball," Brittney Griner, who will play for the Phantom team, said in a news conference earlier in January. "They're making it exciting. They're doing something different. They're trying to give us a different look and a different feel on how we can bring everybody together in one spot and it be ran in a way where it's beneficial for us on the court, off the court, marketing. ... They're really pouring in a lot, and that's what kind of excited me the most, honestly, and I just had to be a part of this."With stars such as Collier, Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Angel Reese, Arike Ogunbowale, Alyssa Thomas, and Cameron Brink all set to play at a central site in Miami, the 36 athletes expect to sharpen their skills in a best-on-best environment. <div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"I've been watching these players since I was in college," said Reese, who will play for team Rose alongside Kahleah Copper and Lexie Hull. "Obviously, I have one year (of professional basketball) under my belt. Just being able to get as much information as I can while I'm here ... I told them to coach me hard and get on me when they need to get on me. So I really enjoy this."Games will be televised in the U.S. on Warner Bros. Discovery platforms (TNT or truTV; streaming on Max). "This is the exposure we deserve, being on TNT every night," Reese said. "This is something that we've deserved for a long time ... Just being able to be here, and value women. It's just really important right now, especially with the growth of women's basketball." Athletes anticipate the league's 3x3 approach will sharpen skills they'll take back to the WNBA hardwood. "If you have bad habits, they're going to get exposed," Griner said. "Honestly, I think this is going to make us locked in more, be a little sharper going back." <figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Unrivaled rosters" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-IAm8K" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/IAm8K/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="831" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();</script></figure>Unrivaled's 3x3 format is slightly different than the FIBA version used in the Olympics. In FIBA 3x3, games are played on a half court and consist of four 10-minute quarters. Unrivaled games will be played on a full court and each quarter is seven minutes long. "It's going to challenge me to play a little bit differently," Griner said.As a center in the WNBA, Griner will have to adapt to spending more time on the wing in Unrivaled. "I've been trying to evolve my game anyway and playing not just on the low post always, you know, stretching out, playing on the wing a little bit," she said. "I'm really looking forward to this showcasing that and being challenged as well. I'll be in the best shape ever coming back."The full court adds a new dimension for those already familiar with the pace of 3x3."FIBA 3x3, it's very fast-paced. You have to check the ball and come back in. And it's physical," said Katie Lou Samuelson, who earned a gold for Team USA at the 2023 FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup. "I don't know if this league is going to be as physical as FIBA 3x3 because you have to get all the way back down the court. You can't stay in the paint. If you score, you can't stay try to bury someone in the paint. You have to sprint down the court. I think it's even harder to hide in this type of 3x3. You have to be involved, no matter what, offensively and defensively, the whole entire time. You have to be able to hold your own."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/765358/SAUCED_EJ_UNRIVALED_PRACTICE_MIST_13.jpg?ts=1736888755" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/765358/SAUCED_EJ_UNRIVALED_PRACTICE_MIST_13.jpg?ts=1736888755 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/765358/SAUCED_EJ_UNRIVALED_PRACTICE_MIST_13.jpg?ts=1736888755 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/765358/SAUCED_EJ_UNRIVALED_PRACTICE_MIST_13.jpg?ts=1736888755 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/765358/SAUCED_EJ_UNRIVALED_PRACTICE_MIST_13.jpg?ts=1736888755 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/765358/SAUCED_EJ_UNRIVALED_PRACTICE_MIST_13.jpg?ts=1736888755 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Brianna Stewart practices for the Mist in Miami </figcaption></figure>Unrivaled is also introducing another twist: a midseason one-on-one tournament from Feb. 10-14 with a $250,000 prize on the line. Yes, the prize money is attractive to athletes as an opportunity to add to their earnings. In addition to splitting an $8-million salary pool, the 36 founding athletes are also eligible for revenue sharing with the league.But they're also looking forward to the competitive aspect of the in-season tournament. "Just the experience of being able to play against the top players in the league, being able to make each other better. Not every day in the offseason you get to play one on one or three on three against top players in the league," said Allisha Gray, who's on the Lunar Owls team. "So it's cool that we get to experience this together, and it flows right on into the W season."Off the court, athletes are hoping the league will push the WNBA to evolve. "Unrivaled is showing that you don't need a lot of time to pull resources together to be able to put a good product out there," Griner said. "Being happy with what we just already have is not going to fly here at Unrivaled. Hopefully it helps the W push forward, bringing in more viewership, bringing in more partners. There's definitely different partners here that aren't a part of the W. So hopefully they can reach into that, because now the door is open. But it's definitely going to put pressure on the league to do better."Unrivaled's inaugural season runs Jan. 17 to March 17, with 42 regular-season games and a five-game postseason. WNBA training camps begin April 27 with the season opening on May 16. Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

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It's been decades, but Stan Fischler still remembers what one hockey insider said about Gary Bett...

It's been decades, but Stan Fischler still remembers what one hockey insider said about Gary Bettman after he was appointed commissioner of the NHL."'He's too much lawyer,'" Fischler recalls the insider telling him. "The other thing was that he was not a hockey guy, and he wasn't a Canadian."Fischler says he understood the insider's perspective. But the famed journalist, who has been covering hockey since 1954, gave Bettman a chance. And, despite the naysayers, Bettman stuck around. "Now he's been a commissioner longer than anybody," Fischler says.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>At almost 32 years with the NHL, Bettman is the longest serving commissioner of any pro league in North American sports. "His line of credit is where it counts the most, and that is with his bosses, with the owners. If he wasn't doing a good job, he would have been out tomorrow." Even if you don't admire all of Bettman's moves, his staying power is undeniable. "He's dealing now with 32 owners, and these guys are tough. He had to deal with tough cookies," Fischler says. Fischler puts some of that down to Bettman's intellect. At the start of each season, Fischler would interview the commissioner. "I always had one question that both he - from his view - and me - from my view - recognized was a hardball question. I wouldn't say he outsmarted me. But, have you ever played tennis? Have you ever had a ball that you think is irretrievable? And somehow you get it and you make the point? That's the way I always felt it was with him," Fischler says. He grew to respect Bettman, even as fans have turned booing the commissioner into an annual tradition each time the Stanley Cup is awarded. "He handled (the booing) and what he did was he turned it into humor, which was very, very effective. A lesser person would have not handled it as well," Fischler says."He's a pretty good guy away from all the tumult. He happens to be a pretty damn nice guy who came from New York City, with New York City street smarts, and he's taken it as near to the top as you can."Because of his staying power and impact on growing the game, we've chosen Bettman as the first leader in our new Hockey Leaders Survey - a list of questions posed to the men and women who have shaped the game to gain more insight into their personality and motivations.This interview has been edited for length and clarity.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761587/cropped_GettyImages-1498309961.jpg?ts=1734720601" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761587/w220xh124_GettyImages-1498309961.jpg?ts=1734720601 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761587/w320xh180_GettyImages-1498309961.jpg?ts=1734720601 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761587/w640xh360_GettyImages-1498309961.jpg?ts=1734720601 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761587/w768xh432_GettyImages-1498309961.jpg?ts=1734720601 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/761587/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1498309961.jpg?ts=1734720601 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jeff Bottari / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>theScore: You've had a very long career. When were you most fulfilled?Bettman: I'm a little concerned about the way you emphasize the word "very." You know, I love what I do. I work with great people. We have a great sport. For me, it's never one thing. This has been a journey, a continuum, and the very long tenure - to paraphrase you - it seems like the blink of an eye. When we have a great season, like we did last year - which some are saying was the best season we ever had, both on and off the ice - my first reaction is, "How are we going to do it better next year?"theScore: But has there ever been a moment where you just sit back and say, "I love what I do?"Bettman: Virtually every day. Particularly those days when I get the honor of presenting the Stanley Cup. Particularly on those days when one of our teams or the league is involved in something that makes a difference in people's lives. There are countless special moments that you have when you're associated with this game. And it's not just me; it's the people that work with me at the league office. It's the people who work at the clubs. It's the players and all the other on-ice personnel, and it's the fans. It's an entire community or system that's all focused and emotionally connected by what the game is all about.theScore: Describe your mindset currently.Bettman: I want to continue to see the game grow. I want to continue to find ways that connect our fans to the game even more, whether it's puck and player tracking, whether it's streaming, whether it's face to face and behind the scenes, getting a closer look at the game, whether it's having more of a connection with the international communities that follow the game and encourage the development of world-class hockey players that come to play in the NHL. These are all the things that we do on a daily basis, and we want to do them more and more and more.theScore: What's something you recently learned from someone below you in your organization?Bettman: Well, we've become very data driven in terms of understanding what's out there and what people's psyche is. One of the things that we've learned is that the people who have started to watch the Prime broadcasts are liking the the edgy, hip, entertaining feel of it. What we've learned is what the TNT group does - the studio show, which is less surgically hockey focused and more entertaining - is good. We've learned that people are loving the fact that we have a greater presence in the U.S. on "SportsCenter" on ESPN. We've learned, from data and anecdotally, that kids love our animated game broadcast.It's never just one thing. I have a saying around here, which probably drives the people who work with me crazy: "Everything's related to everything else."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/635301/cropped_GettyImages-2159757780.jpg?ts=1734975040" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/635301/w220xh124_GettyImages-2159757780.jpg?ts=1734975040 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/635301/w320xh180_GettyImages-2159757780.jpg?ts=1734975040 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/635301/w640xh360_GettyImages-2159757780.jpg?ts=1734975040 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/635301/w768xh432_GettyImages-2159757780.jpg?ts=1734975040 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/635301/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2159757780.jpg?ts=1734975040 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Dave Sandford / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>theScore: By the way, kids aren't the only ones who like the animated broadcasts. I do too.Bettman: By the way, I do too. It's fun to watch. I also found some of this anecdotally, there were adults - parents - who were mesmerized by watching with their kids because of the technology. They have the ability to see the game in real time and they'll match up the live game and the animated game, and they're identical.Technology is an important driver. My instructions and philosophy have always been: We're not going to change the game to suit technology. We're going to use technology to bring people closer to the game. It's a very fast game. If you don't understand it and you're coming to it for the first time, you can appreciate it in the inception a little better if you understand how fast the puck is going and how fast players are skating and how far they've skated. If you don't know the game and it's whizzing around you, this can give you an even better appreciation of what you're seeing.theScore: What do you think is an underrated quality in players today?Bettman: What our players are actually doing in real time. The speed - I'm not just talking skating but their reaction time, dealing with moving on the ice and the speed of the puck and how they control what they're doing. If you sit on the glass, while you don't get to appreciate the ballet, if you will, in front of you in all of its grandeur, you have to be in utter awe of what's taking place before you. Because the physicality and the speed and how players react - there's nothing like it.theScore: Which talent would you most like to have?Bettman: You're going to ask me to contradict the "it's never one thing" (philosophy). Listen, if you can't skate well, you can't play this game well. I'm a mediocre skater at best. So, having the ability to to really skate fast, well, in control, and with physical contact.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/463590/cropped_GettyImages-1233862016.jpg?ts=1625721428" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/463590/w220xh124_GettyImages-1233862016.jpg?ts=1625721428 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/463590/w320xh180_GettyImages-1233862016.jpg?ts=1625721428 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/463590/w640xh360_GettyImages-1233862016.jpg?ts=1625721428 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/463590/w768xh432_GettyImages-1233862016.jpg?ts=1625721428 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/463590/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1233862016.jpg?ts=1625721428 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Dave Sandford / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>theScore: Do you ever lace 'em up and get on the ice?Bettman: I played some rec hockey, but not more recently. You know, as you said, I've been doing this a very long time, so that must make me old.Most of my endeavors in the last few years have been watching my grandson play. He's now a freshman in college. He played high school hockey, went through the youth development programs. His high school team, two out of the last three years, won the public school state championship in New Jersey. When he was younger, I would be on the ice with him a little bit. But my physical days are more focused on golf and things that are a little less frenetic. I do still ski. But that's something I started when I was 4 years old, and I was much better at than I was at skating.theScore: What do you consider your greatest achievement?Bettman: I don't do that. I leave that for other people. You know what? I'll take that back with one exception, and that's my family. I've been married for 49 years. My wife and I met in college. We've been together for 53 years, I have three great kids who are all married to terrific spouses, and I have eight grandchildren, and that is my and my wife's greatest achievement.theScore: Who or what is the greatest love of your life?Bettman: My wife, Shelli.theScore: What is your most treasured memorabilia from your career?Bettman: I'm not a hoarder. So I try to be lean and mean. The thing I probably treasure the most is my Hall of Fame ring, which I only wear once a year when I go to the Hall of Fame. That is something you can pass down.theScore: What is your motto?Bettman: It's not going to be a simple motto. When you're making decisions, you must do your homework. You must make decisions for the right reasons, not for political reasons, and you must treat people well.Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

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