Young Okanagan hockey players are joining two-time Olympian Natalie Spooner on the ice.
Spooner is in 麻豆精选 this weekend alongside the Grindstone Award Foundation鈥檚 Girls Rock the Rink, which helps young female hockey players get and stay on the hockey rink.
With a gold medal in 2014, a silver medal in 2018 and a successful career in both university and professional hockey, Spooner came to 麻豆精选 to share her story of becoming a bona fide hockey star.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to be (in 麻豆精选) to share my story with the girls and hopefully inspire them to keep playing sports or hockey,鈥� Spooner said. 鈥淕etting on the ice with them is the best part and the most fun.鈥�
鈥淔or me, my big 鈥榓h-ha鈥� moment growing up was when I got to meet Jennifer Botterill and to see her gold medal. For these girls, hopefully, it鈥檚 something special that inspires them and lights that flame inside of them to continue pursuing hockey.鈥�
Two-time Olympic medalist Natalie Spooner visits 麻豆精选 to share her 鈥楽poon Full of Dreams鈥� to local youth hockey players. Emphasis on following her dreams, women empowerment in sports and hard work. pic.twitter.com/cN6Sdculpm
鈥� Mack Britton (@MackBrittonBC) July 20, 2019
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The Grindstone Award Foundation helps finance young women hockey players鈥� dreams in the Okanagan. The weekend event, Girls Rock the Rink, gets local players spending time on the ice training with both Spooner and other elite female hockey players and coaches. A hockey tournament, as well as an all-star game, gives players a chance to see what playing with a women鈥檚 national player is like while helping promote women in sports.
With the Canadian鈥檚 Women鈥檚 Hockey League (CHWL) folding earlier this year, Spooner joined the Girls Rock the Rink to help usher in new developments of a sustainable professional women鈥檚 league for future players.
鈥淕irls鈥� hockey is growing faster than boys鈥� hockey. It鈥檚 about giving these girls the confidence to stick with it. If we can get the right support and the people behind us, it could really create a league that鈥檚 sustainable,鈥� said Spooner, who looked forward to getting back on the ice after a few weeks away.
READ MORE: US-based NWHL OKs plan to expand to Canada after CWHL folds
鈥淗aving one of the top women鈥檚 hockey players in the world join us for a weekend of fun and inspiration will no doubt leave a lasting impression on the young players that are joining us,鈥� said Grindstone Award Foundation president and founder, Danielle Grundy.
Spooner played with the Toronto Furies in the CWHL and had a record-breaking career with Ohio State University. She鈥檚 the first player to win the CWHL Championship and Olympic gold medal.
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