Dear Young Female Hockey Player,

Hockey is my everything. It has been ever since I can remember. Hockey has provided me with so many opportunities. I was able to attend two amazing universities on full athletic scholarships and obtain two degrees in five years while playing hockey at the highest collegiate level. I was able to represent Canada at the Under 18 level, winning gold at the World Championship in Budapest, Hungary. Hockey has given me lifelong friendships and extended family. Hockey has helped me feel every emotion under the sun; pride, fear, trust, joy, and heartache. Hockey has helped me grow and become someone I am proud of. Hockey has helped shape my life. 

The reason I am telling you this is because when I was your age, I didn’t realize hockey was going to have such a positive impact on my life. So, this letter is for the YOU that dreams of one day playing Professional Hockey. It was, and still is my dream too. Ever since I put on my first pair of skates, I dreamed of playing alongside my favorite hockey players in the NHL. “I will be the first girl to play in the NHL, just watch me” I would tell my mom and dad all the time. They smiled and always said, “if anyone can do it, you can!”. I knew they believed in me and my dreams, no matter what they were or how lofty they appeared to be.  

Fast forward and here we are – news flash, I’m not in the NHL and that’s more than alright with me now. You see, I’m doing something that is way better, not only for myself, but for every female hockey player that dreams of playing professional women’s hockey. The best part of it is that I’m working to realize my dream alongside the most influential female athletes, mentors, coaches, and sponsors in the world; people who are simply For The Game. No, we are not being paid any money (yet), but we want that for you. We want you to have a future that will allow you to be able to live comfortably doing the thing you love the most. 

And while things aren’t set in stone yet, we are paving a path for you to realize those big dreams. I promise you that we are working our hardest, on and off the ice, to turn your dream into reality. But the thing is, we need you to work hard too. You need to show everyone who watches you that female hockey players are relentless and that they work just as hard, if not harder, than the boys. As a female athlete, you will also need to work as hard in the classroom as you do on the ice. Don’t fall short. Doing well in school could offer you the opportunity to attend college and play hockey, whether that is in Canada or the United States. If you want to play professional women’s hockey one day, that dream starts now. For now, your job is pretty simple; go out there and play the game you love, play with passion and pride knowing that there is someone out there looking out for you. Have fun and we will take care of the rest. 

When someone asks you what you want to be when you grow up, we want your answer to be as simple as this: “I’m going to be a professional hockey player.” And we don’t want anyone to think twice about that answer. 

Standing up for change is an act of bravery. All it takes is a few like-minded people to stand together and believe in a process, a cause that will affect so many in a positive way. So, while we set out and embark on our Dream Gap Tour as one unified front, make sure you keep dreaming hard and enjoy every moment you get to lace up your skates. Each practice, each game, you are one day closer to your dream of playing professional hockey. The clock is ticking, will you be ready?

“Follow your dreams. If you have a goal, and you want to achieve it, then work hard and do everything you can to get there, and one day it will come true.” – Lindsay Vonn

The women’s movement never stops, and we are doing this for you, so keep dreaming that attainable dream. 

Kassidy Sauvé | #32
Goaltender | PWHPA