September 3, 2025 • 31 mins
PWHL and Hockey Canada star Renata Fast joins Sarah to discuss offseason life, the burgeoning rivalry between her Toronto Sceptres and the Minnesota Frost, and how she’s planning to balance her time and energy heading into the Olympic year. Plus, a "Good, Gooder, Goodest" featuring Canadian goodness.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're trying
to figure out how to get WNBA League passed a
stream in Cape Town. Can't miss a late season Sky
versus Sun game. They're important bragging rights on the line
for most disappointing team in the league. It's Wednesday, September third,
and on today's show, we're skipping the need to know
and getting right into our hang with Toronto Scepters and
Team Canada.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Defender were not.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
A fast She joined me last month to talk about
this past season of the Professional Women's Hockey League, the
upcoming winner Olympics, and what excites her most about the
current time in women's hockey. That Convo's coming up right after.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
This joining us Now.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
She's a professional ice hockey player for the Toronto Scepters
of the PWHL and a member of Canada's women's national
ice hockey team. She's a two time Olympic medalist, winning
silver and Pyeongchang and gold in Beijing, and a seven
time medalist at World Championships, winning three golds, three silvers,
and a bronze. The twenty twenty five PWHL Defender of
the Year. Later college hockey at Clarkson, helping them to
(01:02):
the twenty fourteen NCAA title. As a kid, she played volleyball, basketball, track, snowboarding, soccer,
and hockey, earning college scholarship offers in.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Both hockey and soccer.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
She loves dogs and fishing and makes a killer Greek
chicken salad.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
It's ranata fast ty renata.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Hi. How's it going.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
You've been cooking up anything good lately?
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Honestly, I need to get back on the train for cooking.
I feel like I've been out of it a little bit.
So that just motivated me. Hearing about my Greek salad.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Yeah, it looked delicious, So get back in there and
whip up something good. Takes more photos for us so
we can from afar. How's the off season been treating you.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
It's been great. Honestly, it's been nice to just kind
of regroup and slowly get back into training, focus on
what I want to focus on heading into the next season.
So yeah, and then obviously enjoyed some time with family
and friends and up at the cottage, So can't complain.
It's been great.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Where's the cottage? You don't have to be specific, but just.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Checking Husban's family as a cottage on Lake here On
in Ontario, so it's super beautiful up there, so we
spend a lot of time there, and then just some
friends have cottages around and yeah, I love a cottage weekend.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
I feel like pretty much every Canadian athlete or person
that I follow on social or look at their socials
reminds me I'm doing it wrong because y'all spend all
your free time in the most beautiful places in Canada,
and I just needed, I need to explore more of Canada. Basically,
I just, yeah, the rumors are true.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Some hidden gems up there for sure.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Okay, we made Renata take off for earrings and change
mics because we were having some mic issues. But I
think we've got it all figured out now. And I
want to ask you because we were talking before we
started recording about you waking up super early this morning
to get in some ice time, and you said, sometimes
it's actually nice to be skating on your own, not
with others, not on a particular schedule, And I wonder
when you do get that free ice time to yourself,
are you usually.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Working on the same things? Does it change every day?
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Just kind of depends after I've finished a season, I
kind of reflect on what I want to get better
on in the off season, So I sessions where I
just go out on my own, I just really focus
on those things that I want to get better at.
So I mean, this morning, I worked on a ton
of blue line shooting interception. But yeah, it really just
depends on what I'm feeling based off of kind of
the reflection of the last season.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
All right, we'll get to last season in a little bit,
but I want to talk about this camp you recently
had with MMLTA.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Tell me how that started.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
And I wonder if you ever remember something you might
have forgotten about fundamentals or how to approach things by
telling kiddos and being like, wow, it's been a long
time since I thought about this.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
I definitely don't do that right.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
That is so like so on pire. Honestly, I can't
teach a kid how to stop, Like, I don't know
how to don't how to stop on skates. I'm like,
you just turn your feet and you stop, So that
is fundamental. That is just I don't even know where
to begin on teaching a kid how to do that.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
So a bunch of kids at your camp are just
like into the boards.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
Yeah, yeah, so I keep, you know, raising the age
so that we get kids. Canardi stop, No, But yeah,
Emma and I think this is em and I's fourth
year running the camp together. I ran it for like
four years on my own before Emma was out of
university and join me. But it's great, Like it's so fun.
It's a lot of work, I will be honest, it's
(04:22):
a ton of work and the lead up to organize
everything and make sure the camp is going to be
perfect for the girls. But once it's over so rewarding.
And then girls come year after year and like you
haven't seen them for a full year, and then they're
like so much taller and there's so much better on
the ice, and it's like super cool to see the
progression from year to year. So it's pretty neat.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Yeah, in the future, we might get some of those
great pictures of you posing with a kid at your
own camp, and then they end up in the PWHL
playing against the grizzled bet and we've got these photos
of you back in the day.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
I will see if all I'm still playing at that,
we'll see.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Let's talk about the pw j'all your team. The Toronto
Sceptors lost four players to expansions, Sarah Nurse in the
exclusive signing window and then Izzy Daniel, Julie Gosling, and
Megan Carter in the draft. What was it like going
through that process and wondering who would stay and who
would go?
Speaker 3 (05:14):
There were so many unknowns. It was really hard. It
was difficult for everyone. And I think what was really
hard is we had a great team last year for
Toronto and a great locker room. We had so much
fun together, so it was hard to know that we
were when season ended, we were likely going to lose
some key components to our locker room, So that was
(05:35):
really really difficult. I think when the expansion draft was
happening and no one knew how that would even go about,
and it was just like anticipation of like who the
next player was going to be. Yeah, it was challenging,
but I think at the same time, you try to
look at the positives and the fact that our league
can grow already two more teams in the third season
(05:57):
is great for our sport. We're bringing, you know, women's
professional hockey to two new markets, and that's great. But
those are some of the pains of just being pro
and that's what we all wanted at the end of
the day. So challenging but great for our league.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Do you have a team slack or a team group
chat that was just like blowing up either right before
after some of the moves started happening.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
Yeah, I think we did. We had I think it
was before the expansion draft. There was a couple of
messages in the group like just like, yeah, I don't know,
wish me luck like things like that. So yeah, our
group chat definitely kind of got quiet after that, but
we have a Snapchat group chat that is still quite active.
Everyone's still sending their snaps so we can keep updated
(06:40):
with the summers.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
But yeah, but then you got to eliminate the new players.
You got to like do that painful elimination from the
slack or the group chat.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Yeah. I don't think that happens until training camp starts.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Oh okay, so you're you're still you're still a family.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
You're waiting to shove them out of the nest right
when you get back to practice. Here at good Game,
we lost our gords when Hillary Knight wasn't protected and
ended up moving. Was that the most shocking one to
you or was there somewhere else where you were like,
holy cow, that just doesn't sound right.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
But them not to be with their original.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Team, Yeah, I think her as well as Alice Carpenter
were two that I was like, jaw on the floor. Yeah,
that's that's tough. Those are two big names, I mean,
especially Hillary being the captain of Boston and helping, you know,
start that franchise. But at the same time, like I
said before, you try to look at the positives, like
what is there a better person in the US market
(07:38):
to start a new team on the West Coast, Like,
there's no better person to do it than Hillary. You know,
she's going to do an incredible job in that market
in Seattle. She'll do an incredible job leading that new
group and onboarding everyone. So yeah, jaw was on the floor,
But I was like, I mean, it's great that you
have Hillary Knights starting a franchise in Seattle.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Terrifying for defense players all over the league, like you
that you're going to get an angry Hillary.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Night next season with a vengeance.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
I do have to say, like it's one of the
things we've talked about with this league. When there's a
single entity owner. How do you prioritize wanting what's best
for the league versus individual teams? And I do wonder
now that you said that, whether any part of Boston
was forced not to protect her so that she could
help build a new market in Seattle. I don't want
to be a conspiracy theorist, but it does feel like
(08:32):
that's a great thing for the league and maybe not
what Boston would have wanted.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
Yeah, it's hard to know. I mean, I would hope
the league would give the GM's full range to do
what they want to do. But yeah, there's no doubt
that was a very difficult decision for Marmor and Boston
as the GM. I wouldn't want to have to make
a decision like that. I'm sure it took a lot
a lot for her to make that decision, But yeah,
(08:57):
I think at the end of the day, it's going
to work out for Hillary, it'll workouts for Seattle.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
And it does feel like the longer the league exists,
the more secure it is, the more established rivalries and
teams and everything is, it'll be harder to balance that
good for the league feeling with your personal loyalties and
your competitiveness.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
I mean, we're getting some of that already.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
We've got a second straight year that your Scepters finished
the regular season top two in the standings and then
lost to the Minnesota Frost in the opening round of
the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
The Frost go on to win it again.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
So safe to say that we've already got a pretty
natural rivalry with Minnesota here.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Yeah. Yeah, that's tough. That's tough. Yeah, there's definitely a
little bit of rivalry there, There's no doubt about it.
But hey, this is why we all love sport.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
You know.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
You got to battle your way and keep finding ways
to improving it better and then hopefully you can get
over the hump. And I think there was a lot
of growth in the last two years for our Toronto team.
We've had really really strong teams, super skilled teams, but
you got to find a way to get over the hump.
It's been a learning process the last two years. It's
really hard to win in this league. It's so tight,
(10:05):
so close every single night, and yeah, so we've learned
a ton and I think we're going to be ready
for season three.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
At the end of every show here, we close out
things like we are closing out a game where we
say good game, good game for few because we all
played a person or a team that we didn't want
to say good game too. And frankly, that was one
of my favorite parts of playing sports, was getting excited
for the rivalries, getting extra fired up to play against
the players and the teams that I didn't like as much.
(10:33):
So I think natural rivalries where everyone plays fair is
the best thing for a league. And so I think
we all know entering season three will be keeping a
special eye on the scepters and the frost games. We
got to take a quick break when we come back.
More of my chat with runauta fast be back in
a jiff, mentioned how strong your team has been in
(11:01):
the first two seasons. What needs to change from the
regular season into playoff success.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
Oh, I think when it gets to playoffs, it's all
about grit and compete and battling, and I think you
have to do it all season long, and you can't
just turn on the switch when you get to playoffs.
And I think we've fallen into that trap a little
bit the last couple of years. Is especially last year,
I don't think we played with a ton of grit
all season long. And then when it comes down to
(11:28):
the wire in playoffs and everything is on the line,
you can't just pull it out from somewhere. So I
think for us, it's going to be having those habits
and details every day in practice, every single time in
a game, and then we'll just be playoff ready right away,
because you know, like this season short, there's only thirty
regular season games and then playoffs. It's best of five
series and really anything can happen there, so you've got
(11:50):
to prepare early on, and I think that's something our
group's going to have to do this year.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
What are some of your personal goals you mentioned sometimes
on those free ice days you work on stuff that
you've reflected on from the previous season. What are you
working on now that you think you can improve before
season three?
Speaker 3 (12:07):
Yeah, I think just being more of a threat offensively.
I think I've, you know, taken a lot of pride
in my defensive game over a long period of time
in my career and that's kind of foundation of my game.
But just super fun the last couple of years kind
of expanding where my game can go and seeing results
a little bit of more offensive play. So yeah, just
(12:28):
just working a lot working that blue line and trying
to find shooting lanes and getting pucks through and setting
up my teammates. So that's kind of my goal is
just to continue to keep building that and pushing, pushing
myself to be uncomfortable at times and be okay taking risks.
I feel like I used to be a player that
never wanted a little bit of a perfectionists, never wanted
(12:48):
to screw up. So just being okay to screw up
and sometimes it's going to create a great play.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
So yeah, we've got the Winter Olympics coming up in
less than six months, which is crazy. How are you
balancing prep for the start of season three of the
PWHL and Prep four Team Canada.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
Yeah, it's going to be a fun year. It's going
to be busy, though, really busy. We actually leave next
week for our first training block with the national team.
I'm really excited for that because we have such a
close knit group on the national team and that we
have some younger players that are, you know, debuting their
first time with the senior national team and it's going
to be really fun to onboard them. But yeah, I
(13:24):
think the great part about it is our staff with
the national Team like are part of the p WHL
as well, and they realize that the season is going
to be a grind, so they've done a great job
kind of planning out the year for us and telling
us when we need to go hard and when we
you know, could ease up a little bit, just so
that we're you know, peaking in February for the Olympics,
(13:46):
but then able to come back to our club teams
and also have a long playoff stretch. So it's going
to be it's gonna be a hard year. It's it's
going to be a lot to balance between the travel
with even teams out in Vancouver and Seattle and then
the Olympics in Italy for whoever or makes that team.
But yeah, what more can you ask for?
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (14:03):
Big years are super, super exciting. It's it's the best
on best.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
In the past, both Canada and Team USA have centralized
their national teams.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Prior to the Olympics, that was.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Kind of the best way to get the athletes the
preparation that they needed.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
But with the p WHL that's no longer the case.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
So how do you think the lack of centralization will
impact the Olympic competition and your preparation.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Yeah, if it looks different, but I think we're going
to be more prepared than we ever have been because
we've never had such great competition consistently throughout a year.
So although we're not together all playing on one team,
playing against each other is super good for you know,
being ready for the games. So I think it looks
(14:46):
it's gonna look a little different, but I think we
have a really good plan in place in Canada to
ensure that we're still going to be on the same
page when we get to Milan for the players who
get there. But yeah, it's it's definitely different. It's going
to be Uh, it's going to be a bouncing.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Yeah, and you do have the preparation of playing against
great players, but also playing alongside the enemy.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
You've got teammates that are the Americans.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
You get a chance to see what their moves are,
you get a chance to see what maybe their weaknesses are.
So how different does it feel approaching a major tournament
like the Olympics having more of this relationship with the
people who have long been your biggest rival.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
Yeah, I mean it's different now that we all are
so intertwined. But at the same time, like as soon
as you put that jersey on, it like all goes
out the window. Like it's like, I know for our
team that we have had pretty solid the last couple
of years with Canada, Like the group is just so
connected and when you get together as our group, there's
(15:43):
nothing quite like it. There's no better feeling than being
with that group and then to put on that jersey
and yeah, so I think even though you know some
of us have friends and you know that are on
the enemy, Yeah, when you put on your jersey, it
all goes at the window and you're playing for that
logo on your crest and your teammates and your country.
(16:06):
So yeah, it should be good.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
We had Marie Phillip Pulen and Laura Stacey and we
asked them about their wedding and how many American players
were invited, and then they sort of.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Were like, no, no, we did. We did.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
And then we like dug deep and realized that the
only Americans that attended were married to or dating a Canadian,
so it didn't count. It didn't really count. They were
the plus ones. But they did also admit that it's
harder to hate a little harder to.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
Hate when your when your teammates.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
I wonder how different your role is with the Scepters
versus Team Canada, whether in terms of strategy and actual
play or leadership. Do you feel like different skills because
of formation or style come come to the forefront in
either space in a different way.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
Yeah, I think I'm pretty lucky. My role is actually
quite similar on both teams, and I think it helps
having the same coaching staff on the national team and
with Toronto. I think at times I feel I care
a little bit of a bigger role in Toronto and
a little bit more ice time, so I'm just managing that.
But I do think my game translates to both the
(17:11):
national team in Toronto really well and I don't have
to adapt too much. And then from a leadership perspective,
you know, we have great leaders on both Toronto and
Team Canada, so it doesn't feel like there's too much
of a load there. It's very shared amongst everyone in
the leadership group. But I also think there's just girls
that aren't even part of the leadership group that are leaders,
so not too much of a bird in there. Yeah,
(17:33):
pretty similar from both.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
How do you think it'll impact the college players on
the national team. In the past, a lot of times
college players have taken time off to prep for the Olympics.
But now you've got a handful of players still competing
in college. Now you've got a handful competing in the
PWHL and not coming together in quite the same way.
Do you think that'll change team dynamics for prep.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
I don't think too much. The team dynamics. I think
it's going to be it's going to be interesting to
see how it works for those girls that are still
in college because they're going to miss some time with
their teams and I'm gonna miss some games. But yeah,
I think we always do a really good job making
sure everyone feels included involved, and that's just the way
(18:14):
our national team works. So I think we'll all be
really excited for the blocks that we get to come
together because you know, we'll be just chatting about the
time of part and yeah, it'll be it should be good.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
So what time do you start really thinking about getting
back into as good a playing shape as you can
be in for the start of the p WHL season.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
Yeah, that's a late start. It's a little bit different.
It's a long off season for US. I think it
kind of starts really ramps up through October. You know,
you train all summer long. You do a lot in
the gym at the beginning of the summer to kind
of build your base, then find your way back on
the ice and just work on skills. But I think
(18:57):
start October you really start battling and competing so that
you know when you start season you're ready to go.
Like trading camps are really short, only two weeks long,
so then you're right into games. So I'd say it
really ramps up October.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
And is there a big international break for the Olympics,
the PWHL take off for that whole time.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
I believe there is a break. I'm not entirely sure.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
I don't know if I've seen the footprint for the
season yet, so I wasn't sure if you had been
told that.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
Yeah, I'm not entirely sure yet.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
Hopefully, hopefully you'll just show up when they tell you
too and where they tell you to and play hockey.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
Yeah, yeah, I'm sure. I'm sure there will be some
type of pause. We'll see where the schedule comes out.
That'll be exciting when the schedule comes out.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Yeah, I'm really excited to check out some games this year,
and I wonder if you could share with our listeners
what makes a Toronto Scepters game special. What are some
of the traditions that have emerged in the first two seasons,
or of the ways it feels different from another game
in another city.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
Oh, they're so fun the Scepters games, Like the energy
is incredible in the rink. Cocoa col Colisseum where we
play out of is a perfect venue for us. Great size,
it's it's beautiful right off of the transit line, so
easy for people to come in and out of the city.
But I think what stands out to me is just
what our fans do. Like there is there's signs up
(20:13):
in every section that are like designed for each player
on the team. So there's like a fast laying sign
and it's like that section is like the fast lane,
and then there's like Maltase Nation. I'm a Maltese nation,
and there's like there's but there's one for every single player.
And you know that's the fans taking upon themselves to
do that. It isn't led by you know, our team,
our business office. This is you know, the fans coming
(20:36):
and being passionate, and I think there's also chance that
they say about each player and they pass out little
little cue cards to everyone in attendance of the different chants.
So I think what makes it really special is just
the fans that we have and the energy that they bring,
the passion that they have for UH Toronto Hockey. It's
(20:56):
it's pretty cool. It's pretty cool to be a part of.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
Have you men I should do any times with Taylor
Swift yet? Obviously the TS logo there was a lot
of talk when that was revealed, but how much it
looked like Taylor's in the Shake It Off videos?
Speaker 2 (21:09):
So do we have Taylor Swift singalongs?
Speaker 1 (21:12):
Do we have a big campaign to get t Swift
out to a game?
Speaker 3 (21:16):
I think it would be pretty cool if she was
willing to get to one of our games. I think
we would welcome that for sure. Yeah, But we have
a lot of Swifties on our team, Maggie Connor is
being one for sure. We often play her music in
the locker room.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Feels right.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
She's more than welcome to come to a Scepters game.
She can you even wear her outfit?
Speaker 1 (21:35):
There you go, there, you got right in You mentioned
Coca Cola Coliseum. That's where the Toronto Temple will start
playing next season in the WNBA. Is there enthusiasm or
any talk at all about how cool it will be
to have another professional women's team in your city along
with the NSL, the Northern Super League professional soccer league
that just started. I mean, things are changing up in Canada.
(21:56):
There's such an incredible amount of just progress when it comes.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
To women's sport.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
But I feel like sharing an arena feels very special
and could create some really nice like just friendships and
sharing training tips and everything else.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
Yeah, exactly. I think that's what's really cool is to
think that, you know, this venue is going to host
the Torontoceptors in the Toronto Tempo, like to you know,
two of the some of the first women's professional sports
in all of Canada. Really, so it's cool. I'm so excited.
I was just talking to some fun the other night
being like, we got to go to the home opener.
It's just going to be really really cool. And I
(22:33):
think what's going to be neat is that I don't
necessarily think our fan base is going to be their
fan base, so it's just like another whole community that's
going to show up for women in sport, which is great,
and I'm really looking forward to seeing kind of their
brand come to life. And yeah, it was time, It
was time, and it's great. I'm excited to share the
(22:53):
venue with them.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
And I do think fans of women's hockey, once they
start going to your games, will be like, oh, let's
check out the tempo because we know we love women's sports,
and fans of women's basketball who start going to tempo
games will be like, Okay, tempo's.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
Out of season. What do we want to see.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
Let's check out you know, some PWHL which will be
really cool, just to create a community there, like we
have a bit more of here in the States, just
because we've got a longer runway of teams that have played.
I wonder what changes or advancements you're hoping to see
in the p WHL as expansion begins this season, as
the league continues to grow and evolve, What would you
love to see happen.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
Oh, that's a good question. I think the league has
done a really great job with a lot of the
things that they've done to start this league, and we've
seen the success of it. But I think one area
would just be like figuring out New York's market a
little bit more. I think, you know, we've seen just
(23:49):
the venue they plan out of how big it is,
and the numbers that they're getting at their games, So
I think figuring out that market a bit in terms
of how do you make it feel like an intimate
space kind of like the Cocoa Colisseum does, or where
Montreal plays or Autawa plays, like all really electric atmosphere.
So yeah, that's something I think they could explore. But overall,
(24:11):
things have aligned so well for the league and they've
released things at great times, and the momentum that they've
been able to achieve from it is just really more
than any of us could could have ever imagined. So
it's been really great.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
What's the goal for the rest of the off season
before you really crank it for Olympics and PWHL and
everything else. What's on your checklist of things you still
want to do?
Speaker 3 (24:33):
Honestly, I think just enjoying, you know, friends and family
a little bit more. When you get into the thickest season,
it's challenging to connect with people who aren't in the
hockey world just because we're on the go so often,
So I think the off season is, you know, it's
been great to connect with people, but the next couple months,
just taking that time when we have it to spend
(24:54):
time with the people that you love, the people who
come to the games and support us all the time,
but you don't always get to hang out with them,
just enjoy things away from the rink of it.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
Do you have to be thoughtful about things like nutrition
and other things during this stretch or do you get
to sort of relax a little bit, be a little
bit more like a normal person before you go back
to really calculating how much protein and carbs and everything
else you need.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
Yeah, a little bit. I think like we're already in it.
When you're training so hard in the off season, you
like don't want to not be fueling your body properly
or you're not going to get the benefits of all
the work you're putting in. So I'd say like right
after season I took probably like a month of just
like maybe eating a little bit differently than I typically would,
indulging a little bit more. But yeah, I'm not crazy strict.
(25:40):
Everything in moderation for me, and sometimes I find when
you know, you're in season and you're playing so many
minutes and it's a grind, Like you can indulge a
little bit because because you have such a high workload.
So yeah, it's just kind of knowing your body in
a balance. But yeah, definitely need to refuel.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
Yeah, you mentioned the minutes.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
For your Toronto team, you had more ice time than
any other skater in the league. You average twenty four
minutes a game. So when you're in the midst of
season like that, are you really aware of like, Oops,
I didn't put enough in. I feel depleted or even
now in these moments, do you think I need to
do extra cardio or endurance training in the off season
so that when I get to that again, I'm ready
(26:21):
for it.
Speaker 3 (26:22):
Yeah, I think it comes back so quick. Like I
always say that you can't stimulate skating conditioning in any
other way than actually skating, Like you can grind so hard, running, biking,
all this stuff in the off season, and then you
put your skates back on, you get on the ice
and you can't breathe out there. So I think you're
a stamina on ice just kind of builds as training
(26:44):
camp goes along. It sucks at the beginning when you're
not feeling great. But yeah, and then in terms of
just refueling our bodies like you feel it, I think
the biggest one is hydration. Like if you have a
game and you're depleted, pretty depleted from the sweat loss,
and you don't replenish, like you almost feel hungover the
next morning, Yeah, hungover from drinking, but you didn't have
(27:06):
one drink. So yeah, that is something I struggle with
a lot, just finding ways to stay hydrated and yeah,
feeling good at the night the day after a game,
because that's always a challenge.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
Well, we hope you enjoy this a little bit of
time that you get to be working hard still but
maybe spending a little bit more time with friends and
family before like the craziness begins around the PWHL and
the Olympics. Before we let you go, you do have
to do our little game. It's called good Gooder, goodest.
It's kind of like bench start cut, but you don't
have to cut anything. Something's just good, something's gooder, and
(27:37):
the very best thing is good est. So since you're
a Canadian, we're going with Canadian staples poutine, maple syrup,
and ketchup.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
Chips.
Speaker 3 (27:48):
Oh, okay, ketchup chips are good. Okay, poutine is gooder?
Is that what it is? Gooder?
Speaker 2 (27:55):
Gooder?
Speaker 3 (27:57):
And mape syrup is great.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
That's the gooddest, the gooddest, Yeah, the gooddest. I love it.
I love it. Thanks so much for the time.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
We're not We're so looking forward to seeing you in
the PWHL and rooting against you, in my opinion, in
the Olympics, not you personally, although honest I'm not.
Speaker 2 (28:17):
Gonna lie this.
Speaker 1 (28:18):
This Olympics will be very difficult for a lot of
Americans to get up for.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
We're probably going to start rooting for other countries.
Speaker 3 (28:24):
You're always welcome to you for Canada.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
Thank you. I might I might be making my way
up north at some point.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
We got to take another break when we come back
a potentially unpopular ic.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
Welcome back slices.
Speaker 1 (28:48):
We love that you're listening, but we want you to
get in the game every day too, So here's our
good game play of the day. Follow Ranada on social media.
We'll link to our Instagram account in our show notes,
and we always love to hear from you, so hit
us up on email.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
Good game at wondermedianetwork dot com.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
Or leave us a voicemail at eight seven two two
four fifty seventy, and please don't forget to subscribe, rate
and review. Just scroll down bind those stars. Give us five,
tell us you love us. It's really easy. Watch Ketchup
chips rating zero stars.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
If I wanted fries, I'd order fries. Review now.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
I know Lays and other potato chip brands love to
experiment with flavors, and honestly, I respect that a lot
of people are into experimenting, and I'd never kink shame
your chip eaten, but please never ever offer me ketchup
flavored chips.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
They just don't taste right. End Listen.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
I know a lot of people like them. It's a
regional thing up north. The kids think they're trendy whatever.
But I'm sorry, I cannot go with the crowd on
this one. I am anti ketchup chip. In fact, want
to get even angrier with me. Not only do I
not rock with Ketchup chips, I don't like flavored chips
of any kind. Sour cream and onion, no, thank you,
flame and hot hard pass, salt and vinegar, why lime,
(30:05):
absolutely not deal, pickle bacon poutine, butter garlic scallop, get
the hell out of here. I like tortilla chips or
pita chips, plain ones, and then you dip them in
real dips made of real food like walk or salsa
or cheesy hot onion dip. I will make one exception though,
(30:25):
harvest cheddar sun chips.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
Those things slap.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
You can keep you ketchup chips Canada. Now it's your turn,
rate and review. Thanks for listening.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
Slices.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
Good game or Nada, Good Game, cheesy hot onion dip,
Q Team Canada. Stop having such likable players. I need
to build up my hate reserves ahead of the Olympics.
Good Game with Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports
production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You
can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or
(30:56):
wherever you get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network,
our producers are Alex Azzie and Misha Jones.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
Our executive producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan
and Emily Rutterer.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
Our editors are Emily Rutter, Britney Martinez, Grace Lynch, and
Gianna Palmer.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
Our associate producer is Lucy
Speaker 1 (31:15):
Jones, Production assistance from Avery LOFTUS and I'm Your Host
Sarah Spain.
Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're trying
to figure out how to get WNBA League passed a
stream in Cape Town. Can't miss a late season Sky
versus Sun game. They're important bragging rights on the line
for most disappointing team in the league. It's Wednesday, September third,
and on today's show, we're skipping the need to know
and getting right into our hang with Toronto Scepters and
Team Canada.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Defender were not.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
A fast She joined me last month to talk about
this past season of the Professional Women's Hockey League, the
upcoming winner Olympics, and what excites her most about the
current time in women's hockey. That Convo's coming up right after.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
This joining us Now.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
She's a professional ice hockey player for the Toronto Scepters
of the PWHL and a member of Canada's women's national
ice hockey team. She's a two time Olympic medalist, winning
silver and Pyeongchang and gold in Beijing, and a seven
time medalist at World Championships, winning three golds, three silvers,
and a bronze. The twenty twenty five PWHL Defender of
the Year. Later college hockey at Clarkson, helping them to
(01:02):
the twenty fourteen NCAA title. As a kid, she played volleyball, basketball, track, snowboarding, soccer,
and hockey, earning college scholarship offers in.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Both hockey and soccer.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
She loves dogs and fishing and makes a killer Greek
chicken salad.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
It's ranata fast ty renata.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Hi. How's it going.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
You've been cooking up anything good lately?
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Honestly, I need to get back on the train for cooking.
I feel like I've been out of it a little bit.
So that just motivated me. Hearing about my Greek salad.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Yeah, it looked delicious, So get back in there and
whip up something good. Takes more photos for us so
we can from afar. How's the off season been treating you.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
It's been great. Honestly, it's been nice to just kind
of regroup and slowly get back into training, focus on
what I want to focus on heading into the next season.
So yeah, and then obviously enjoyed some time with family
and friends and up at the cottage, So can't complain.
It's been great.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Where's the cottage? You don't have to be specific, but just.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Checking Husban's family as a cottage on Lake here On
in Ontario, so it's super beautiful up there, so we
spend a lot of time there, and then just some
friends have cottages around and yeah, I love a cottage weekend.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
I feel like pretty much every Canadian athlete or person
that I follow on social or look at their socials
reminds me I'm doing it wrong because y'all spend all
your free time in the most beautiful places in Canada,
and I just needed, I need to explore more of Canada. Basically,
I just, yeah, the rumors are true.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Some hidden gems up there for sure.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Okay, we made Renata take off for earrings and change
mics because we were having some mic issues. But I
think we've got it all figured out now. And I
want to ask you because we were talking before we
started recording about you waking up super early this morning
to get in some ice time, and you said, sometimes
it's actually nice to be skating on your own, not
with others, not on a particular schedule, And I wonder
when you do get that free ice time to yourself,
are you usually.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Working on the same things? Does it change every day?
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Just kind of depends after I've finished a season, I
kind of reflect on what I want to get better
on in the off season, So I sessions where I
just go out on my own, I just really focus
on those things that I want to get better at.
So I mean, this morning, I worked on a ton
of blue line shooting interception. But yeah, it really just
depends on what I'm feeling based off of kind of
the reflection of the last season.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
All right, we'll get to last season in a little bit,
but I want to talk about this camp you recently
had with MMLTA.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Tell me how that started.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
And I wonder if you ever remember something you might
have forgotten about fundamentals or how to approach things by
telling kiddos and being like, wow, it's been a long
time since I thought about this.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
I definitely don't do that right.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
That is so like so on pire. Honestly, I can't
teach a kid how to stop, Like, I don't know
how to don't how to stop on skates. I'm like,
you just turn your feet and you stop, So that
is fundamental. That is just I don't even know where
to begin on teaching a kid how to do that.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
So a bunch of kids at your camp are just
like into the boards.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
Yeah, yeah, so I keep, you know, raising the age
so that we get kids. Canardi stop, No, But yeah,
Emma and I think this is em and I's fourth
year running the camp together. I ran it for like
four years on my own before Emma was out of
university and join me. But it's great, Like it's so fun.
It's a lot of work, I will be honest, it's
(04:22):
a ton of work and the lead up to organize
everything and make sure the camp is going to be
perfect for the girls. But once it's over so rewarding.
And then girls come year after year and like you
haven't seen them for a full year, and then they're
like so much taller and there's so much better on
the ice, and it's like super cool to see the
progression from year to year. So it's pretty neat.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Yeah, in the future, we might get some of those
great pictures of you posing with a kid at your
own camp, and then they end up in the PWHL
playing against the grizzled bet and we've got these photos
of you back in the day.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
I will see if all I'm still playing at that,
we'll see.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Let's talk about the pw j'all your team. The Toronto
Sceptors lost four players to expansions, Sarah Nurse in the
exclusive signing window and then Izzy Daniel, Julie Gosling, and
Megan Carter in the draft. What was it like going
through that process and wondering who would stay and who
would go?
Speaker 3 (05:14):
There were so many unknowns. It was really hard. It
was difficult for everyone. And I think what was really
hard is we had a great team last year for
Toronto and a great locker room. We had so much
fun together, so it was hard to know that we
were when season ended, we were likely going to lose
some key components to our locker room, So that was
(05:35):
really really difficult. I think when the expansion draft was
happening and no one knew how that would even go about,
and it was just like anticipation of like who the
next player was going to be. Yeah, it was challenging,
but I think at the same time, you try to
look at the positives and the fact that our league
can grow already two more teams in the third season
(05:57):
is great for our sport. We're bringing, you know, women's
professional hockey to two new markets, and that's great. But
those are some of the pains of just being pro
and that's what we all wanted at the end of
the day. So challenging but great for our league.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Do you have a team slack or a team group
chat that was just like blowing up either right before
after some of the moves started happening.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
Yeah, I think we did. We had I think it
was before the expansion draft. There was a couple of
messages in the group like just like, yeah, I don't know,
wish me luck like things like that. So yeah, our
group chat definitely kind of got quiet after that, but
we have a Snapchat group chat that is still quite active.
Everyone's still sending their snaps so we can keep updated
(06:40):
with the summers.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
But yeah, but then you got to eliminate the new players.
You got to like do that painful elimination from the
slack or the group chat.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Yeah. I don't think that happens until training camp starts.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Oh okay, so you're you're still you're still a family.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
You're waiting to shove them out of the nest right
when you get back to practice. Here at good Game,
we lost our gords when Hillary Knight wasn't protected and
ended up moving. Was that the most shocking one to
you or was there somewhere else where you were like,
holy cow, that just doesn't sound right.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
But them not to be with their original.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Team, Yeah, I think her as well as Alice Carpenter
were two that I was like, jaw on the floor. Yeah,
that's that's tough. Those are two big names, I mean,
especially Hillary being the captain of Boston and helping, you know,
start that franchise. But at the same time, like I
said before, you try to look at the positives, like
what is there a better person in the US market
(07:38):
to start a new team on the West Coast, Like,
there's no better person to do it than Hillary. You know,
she's going to do an incredible job in that market
in Seattle. She'll do an incredible job leading that new
group and onboarding everyone. So yeah, jaw was on the floor,
But I was like, I mean, it's great that you
have Hillary Knights starting a franchise in Seattle.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Terrifying for defense players all over the league, like you
that you're going to get an angry Hillary.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Night next season with a vengeance.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
I do have to say, like it's one of the
things we've talked about with this league. When there's a
single entity owner. How do you prioritize wanting what's best
for the league versus individual teams? And I do wonder
now that you said that, whether any part of Boston
was forced not to protect her so that she could
help build a new market in Seattle. I don't want
to be a conspiracy theorist, but it does feel like
(08:32):
that's a great thing for the league and maybe not
what Boston would have wanted.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
Yeah, it's hard to know. I mean, I would hope
the league would give the GM's full range to do
what they want to do. But yeah, there's no doubt
that was a very difficult decision for Marmor and Boston
as the GM. I wouldn't want to have to make
a decision like that. I'm sure it took a lot
a lot for her to make that decision, But yeah,
(08:57):
I think at the end of the day, it's going
to work out for Hillary, it'll workouts for Seattle.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
And it does feel like the longer the league exists,
the more secure it is, the more established rivalries and
teams and everything is, it'll be harder to balance that
good for the league feeling with your personal loyalties and
your competitiveness.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
I mean, we're getting some of that already.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
We've got a second straight year that your Scepters finished
the regular season top two in the standings and then
lost to the Minnesota Frost in the opening round of
the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
The Frost go on to win it again.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
So safe to say that we've already got a pretty
natural rivalry with Minnesota here.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Yeah. Yeah, that's tough. That's tough. Yeah, there's definitely a
little bit of rivalry there, There's no doubt about it.
But hey, this is why we all love sport.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
You know.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
You got to battle your way and keep finding ways
to improving it better and then hopefully you can get
over the hump. And I think there was a lot
of growth in the last two years for our Toronto team.
We've had really really strong teams, super skilled teams, but
you got to find a way to get over the hump.
It's been a learning process the last two years. It's
really hard to win in this league. It's so tight,
(10:05):
so close every single night, and yeah, so we've learned
a ton and I think we're going to be ready
for season three.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
At the end of every show here, we close out
things like we are closing out a game where we
say good game, good game for few because we all
played a person or a team that we didn't want
to say good game too. And frankly, that was one
of my favorite parts of playing sports, was getting excited
for the rivalries, getting extra fired up to play against
the players and the teams that I didn't like as much.
(10:33):
So I think natural rivalries where everyone plays fair is
the best thing for a league. And so I think
we all know entering season three will be keeping a
special eye on the scepters and the frost games. We
got to take a quick break when we come back.
More of my chat with runauta fast be back in
a jiff, mentioned how strong your team has been in
(11:01):
the first two seasons. What needs to change from the
regular season into playoff success.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
Oh, I think when it gets to playoffs, it's all
about grit and compete and battling, and I think you
have to do it all season long, and you can't
just turn on the switch when you get to playoffs.
And I think we've fallen into that trap a little
bit the last couple of years. Is especially last year,
I don't think we played with a ton of grit
all season long. And then when it comes down to
(11:28):
the wire in playoffs and everything is on the line,
you can't just pull it out from somewhere. So I
think for us, it's going to be having those habits
and details every day in practice, every single time in
a game, and then we'll just be playoff ready right away,
because you know, like this season short, there's only thirty
regular season games and then playoffs. It's best of five
series and really anything can happen there, so you've got
(11:50):
to prepare early on, and I think that's something our
group's going to have to do this year.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
What are some of your personal goals you mentioned sometimes
on those free ice days you work on stuff that
you've reflected on from the previous season. What are you
working on now that you think you can improve before
season three?
Speaker 3 (12:07):
Yeah, I think just being more of a threat offensively.
I think I've, you know, taken a lot of pride
in my defensive game over a long period of time
in my career and that's kind of foundation of my game.
But just super fun the last couple of years kind
of expanding where my game can go and seeing results
a little bit of more offensive play. So yeah, just
(12:28):
just working a lot working that blue line and trying
to find shooting lanes and getting pucks through and setting
up my teammates. So that's kind of my goal is
just to continue to keep building that and pushing, pushing
myself to be uncomfortable at times and be okay taking risks.
I feel like I used to be a player that
never wanted a little bit of a perfectionists, never wanted
(12:48):
to screw up. So just being okay to screw up
and sometimes it's going to create a great play.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
So yeah, we've got the Winter Olympics coming up in
less than six months, which is crazy. How are you
balancing prep for the start of season three of the
PWHL and Prep four Team Canada.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
Yeah, it's going to be a fun year. It's going
to be busy, though, really busy. We actually leave next
week for our first training block with the national team.
I'm really excited for that because we have such a
close knit group on the national team and that we
have some younger players that are, you know, debuting their
first time with the senior national team and it's going
to be really fun to onboard them. But yeah, I
(13:24):
think the great part about it is our staff with
the national Team like are part of the p WHL
as well, and they realize that the season is going
to be a grind, so they've done a great job
kind of planning out the year for us and telling
us when we need to go hard and when we
you know, could ease up a little bit, just so
that we're you know, peaking in February for the Olympics,
(13:46):
but then able to come back to our club teams
and also have a long playoff stretch. So it's going
to be it's gonna be a hard year. It's it's
going to be a lot to balance between the travel
with even teams out in Vancouver and Seattle and then
the Olympics in Italy for whoever or makes that team.
But yeah, what more can you ask for?
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (14:03):
Big years are super, super exciting. It's it's the best
on best.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
In the past, both Canada and Team USA have centralized
their national teams.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Prior to the Olympics, that was.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Kind of the best way to get the athletes the
preparation that they needed.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
But with the p WHL that's no longer the case.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
So how do you think the lack of centralization will
impact the Olympic competition and your preparation.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Yeah, if it looks different, but I think we're going
to be more prepared than we ever have been because
we've never had such great competition consistently throughout a year.
So although we're not together all playing on one team,
playing against each other is super good for you know,
being ready for the games. So I think it looks
(14:46):
it's gonna look a little different, but I think we
have a really good plan in place in Canada to
ensure that we're still going to be on the same
page when we get to Milan for the players who
get there. But yeah, it's it's definitely different. It's going
to be Uh, it's going to be a bouncing.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Yeah, and you do have the preparation of playing against
great players, but also playing alongside the enemy.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
You've got teammates that are the Americans.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
You get a chance to see what their moves are,
you get a chance to see what maybe their weaknesses are.
So how different does it feel approaching a major tournament
like the Olympics having more of this relationship with the
people who have long been your biggest rival.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
Yeah, I mean it's different now that we all are
so intertwined. But at the same time, like as soon
as you put that jersey on, it like all goes
out the window. Like it's like, I know for our
team that we have had pretty solid the last couple
of years with Canada, Like the group is just so
connected and when you get together as our group, there's
(15:43):
nothing quite like it. There's no better feeling than being
with that group and then to put on that jersey
and yeah, so I think even though you know some
of us have friends and you know that are on
the enemy, Yeah, when you put on your jersey, it
all goes at the window and you're playing for that
logo on your crest and your teammates and your country.
(16:06):
So yeah, it should be good.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
We had Marie Phillip Pulen and Laura Stacey and we
asked them about their wedding and how many American players
were invited, and then they sort of.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Were like, no, no, we did. We did.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
And then we like dug deep and realized that the
only Americans that attended were married to or dating a Canadian,
so it didn't count. It didn't really count. They were
the plus ones. But they did also admit that it's
harder to hate a little harder to.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
Hate when your when your teammates.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
I wonder how different your role is with the Scepters
versus Team Canada, whether in terms of strategy and actual
play or leadership. Do you feel like different skills because
of formation or style come come to the forefront in
either space in a different way.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
Yeah, I think I'm pretty lucky. My role is actually
quite similar on both teams, and I think it helps
having the same coaching staff on the national team and
with Toronto. I think at times I feel I care
a little bit of a bigger role in Toronto and
a little bit more ice time, so I'm just managing that.
But I do think my game translates to both the
(17:11):
national team in Toronto really well and I don't have
to adapt too much. And then from a leadership perspective,
you know, we have great leaders on both Toronto and
Team Canada, so it doesn't feel like there's too much
of a load there. It's very shared amongst everyone in
the leadership group. But I also think there's just girls
that aren't even part of the leadership group that are leaders,
so not too much of a bird in there. Yeah,
(17:33):
pretty similar from both.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
How do you think it'll impact the college players on
the national team. In the past, a lot of times
college players have taken time off to prep for the Olympics.
But now you've got a handful of players still competing
in college. Now you've got a handful competing in the
PWHL and not coming together in quite the same way.
Do you think that'll change team dynamics for prep.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
I don't think too much. The team dynamics. I think
it's going to be it's going to be interesting to
see how it works for those girls that are still
in college because they're going to miss some time with
their teams and I'm gonna miss some games. But yeah,
I think we always do a really good job making
sure everyone feels included involved, and that's just the way
(18:14):
our national team works. So I think we'll all be
really excited for the blocks that we get to come
together because you know, we'll be just chatting about the
time of part and yeah, it'll be it should be good.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
So what time do you start really thinking about getting
back into as good a playing shape as you can
be in for the start of the p WHL season.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
Yeah, that's a late start. It's a little bit different.
It's a long off season for US. I think it
kind of starts really ramps up through October. You know,
you train all summer long. You do a lot in
the gym at the beginning of the summer to kind
of build your base, then find your way back on
the ice and just work on skills. But I think
(18:57):
start October you really start battling and competing so that
you know when you start season you're ready to go.
Like trading camps are really short, only two weeks long,
so then you're right into games. So I'd say it
really ramps up October.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
And is there a big international break for the Olympics,
the PWHL take off for that whole time.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
I believe there is a break. I'm not entirely sure.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
I don't know if I've seen the footprint for the
season yet, so I wasn't sure if you had been
told that.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
Yeah, I'm not entirely sure yet.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
Hopefully, hopefully you'll just show up when they tell you
too and where they tell you to and play hockey.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
Yeah, yeah, I'm sure. I'm sure there will be some
type of pause. We'll see where the schedule comes out.
That'll be exciting when the schedule comes out.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Yeah, I'm really excited to check out some games this year,
and I wonder if you could share with our listeners
what makes a Toronto Scepters game special. What are some
of the traditions that have emerged in the first two seasons,
or of the ways it feels different from another game
in another city.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
Oh, they're so fun the Scepters games, Like the energy
is incredible in the rink. Cocoa col Colisseum where we
play out of is a perfect venue for us. Great size,
it's it's beautiful right off of the transit line, so
easy for people to come in and out of the city.
But I think what stands out to me is just
what our fans do. Like there is there's signs up
(20:13):
in every section that are like designed for each player
on the team. So there's like a fast laying sign
and it's like that section is like the fast lane,
and then there's like Maltase Nation. I'm a Maltese nation,
and there's like there's but there's one for every single player.
And you know that's the fans taking upon themselves to
do that. It isn't led by you know, our team,
our business office. This is you know, the fans coming
(20:36):
and being passionate, and I think there's also chance that
they say about each player and they pass out little
little cue cards to everyone in attendance of the different chants.
So I think what makes it really special is just
the fans that we have and the energy that they bring,
the passion that they have for UH Toronto Hockey. It's
(20:56):
it's pretty cool. It's pretty cool to be a part of.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
Have you men I should do any times with Taylor
Swift yet? Obviously the TS logo there was a lot
of talk when that was revealed, but how much it
looked like Taylor's in the Shake It Off videos?
Speaker 2 (21:09):
So do we have Taylor Swift singalongs?
Speaker 1 (21:12):
Do we have a big campaign to get t Swift
out to a game?
Speaker 3 (21:16):
I think it would be pretty cool if she was
willing to get to one of our games. I think
we would welcome that for sure. Yeah, But we have
a lot of Swifties on our team, Maggie Connor is
being one for sure. We often play her music in
the locker room.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Feels right.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
She's more than welcome to come to a Scepters game.
She can you even wear her outfit?
Speaker 1 (21:35):
There you go, there, you got right in You mentioned
Coca Cola Coliseum. That's where the Toronto Temple will start
playing next season in the WNBA. Is there enthusiasm or
any talk at all about how cool it will be
to have another professional women's team in your city along
with the NSL, the Northern Super League professional soccer league
that just started. I mean, things are changing up in Canada.
(21:56):
There's such an incredible amount of just progress when it comes.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
To women's sport.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
But I feel like sharing an arena feels very special
and could create some really nice like just friendships and
sharing training tips and everything else.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
Yeah, exactly. I think that's what's really cool is to
think that, you know, this venue is going to host
the Torontoceptors in the Toronto Tempo, like to you know,
two of the some of the first women's professional sports
in all of Canada. Really, so it's cool. I'm so excited.
I was just talking to some fun the other night
being like, we got to go to the home opener.
It's just going to be really really cool. And I
(22:33):
think what's going to be neat is that I don't
necessarily think our fan base is going to be their
fan base, so it's just like another whole community that's
going to show up for women in sport, which is great,
and I'm really looking forward to seeing kind of their
brand come to life. And yeah, it was time, It
was time, and it's great. I'm excited to share the
(22:53):
venue with them.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
And I do think fans of women's hockey, once they
start going to your games, will be like, oh, let's
check out the tempo because we know we love women's sports,
and fans of women's basketball who start going to tempo
games will be like, Okay, tempo's.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
Out of season. What do we want to see.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
Let's check out you know, some PWHL which will be
really cool, just to create a community there, like we
have a bit more of here in the States, just
because we've got a longer runway of teams that have played.
I wonder what changes or advancements you're hoping to see
in the p WHL as expansion begins this season, as
the league continues to grow and evolve, What would you
love to see happen.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
Oh, that's a good question. I think the league has
done a really great job with a lot of the
things that they've done to start this league, and we've
seen the success of it. But I think one area
would just be like figuring out New York's market a
little bit more. I think, you know, we've seen just
(23:49):
the venue they plan out of how big it is,
and the numbers that they're getting at their games, So
I think figuring out that market a bit in terms
of how do you make it feel like an intimate
space kind of like the Cocoa Colisseum does, or where
Montreal plays or Autawa plays, like all really electric atmosphere.
So yeah, that's something I think they could explore. But overall,
(24:11):
things have aligned so well for the league and they've
released things at great times, and the momentum that they've
been able to achieve from it is just really more
than any of us could could have ever imagined. So
it's been really great.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
What's the goal for the rest of the off season
before you really crank it for Olympics and PWHL and
everything else. What's on your checklist of things you still
want to do?
Speaker 3 (24:33):
Honestly, I think just enjoying, you know, friends and family
a little bit more. When you get into the thickest season,
it's challenging to connect with people who aren't in the
hockey world just because we're on the go so often,
So I think the off season is, you know, it's
been great to connect with people, but the next couple months,
just taking that time when we have it to spend
(24:54):
time with the people that you love, the people who
come to the games and support us all the time,
but you don't always get to hang out with them,
just enjoy things away from the rink of it.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
Do you have to be thoughtful about things like nutrition
and other things during this stretch or do you get
to sort of relax a little bit, be a little
bit more like a normal person before you go back
to really calculating how much protein and carbs and everything
else you need.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
Yeah, a little bit. I think like we're already in it.
When you're training so hard in the off season, you
like don't want to not be fueling your body properly
or you're not going to get the benefits of all
the work you're putting in. So I'd say like right
after season I took probably like a month of just
like maybe eating a little bit differently than I typically would,
indulging a little bit more. But yeah, I'm not crazy strict.
(25:40):
Everything in moderation for me, and sometimes I find when
you know, you're in season and you're playing so many
minutes and it's a grind, Like you can indulge a
little bit because because you have such a high workload.
So yeah, it's just kind of knowing your body in
a balance. But yeah, definitely need to refuel.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
Yeah, you mentioned the minutes.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
For your Toronto team, you had more ice time than
any other skater in the league. You average twenty four
minutes a game. So when you're in the midst of
season like that, are you really aware of like, Oops,
I didn't put enough in. I feel depleted or even
now in these moments, do you think I need to
do extra cardio or endurance training in the off season
so that when I get to that again, I'm ready
(26:21):
for it.
Speaker 3 (26:22):
Yeah, I think it comes back so quick. Like I
always say that you can't stimulate skating conditioning in any
other way than actually skating, Like you can grind so hard, running, biking,
all this stuff in the off season, and then you
put your skates back on, you get on the ice
and you can't breathe out there. So I think you're
a stamina on ice just kind of builds as training
(26:44):
camp goes along. It sucks at the beginning when you're
not feeling great. But yeah, and then in terms of
just refueling our bodies like you feel it, I think
the biggest one is hydration. Like if you have a
game and you're depleted, pretty depleted from the sweat loss,
and you don't replenish, like you almost feel hungover the
next morning, Yeah, hungover from drinking, but you didn't have
(27:06):
one drink. So yeah, that is something I struggle with
a lot, just finding ways to stay hydrated and yeah,
feeling good at the night the day after a game,
because that's always a challenge.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
Well, we hope you enjoy this a little bit of
time that you get to be working hard still but
maybe spending a little bit more time with friends and
family before like the craziness begins around the PWHL and
the Olympics. Before we let you go, you do have
to do our little game. It's called good Gooder, goodest.
It's kind of like bench start cut, but you don't
have to cut anything. Something's just good, something's gooder, and
(27:37):
the very best thing is good est. So since you're
a Canadian, we're going with Canadian staples poutine, maple syrup,
and ketchup.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
Chips.
Speaker 3 (27:48):
Oh, okay, ketchup chips are good. Okay, poutine is gooder?
Is that what it is? Gooder?
Speaker 2 (27:55):
Gooder?
Speaker 3 (27:57):
And mape syrup is great.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
That's the gooddest, the gooddest, Yeah, the gooddest. I love it.
I love it. Thanks so much for the time.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
We're not We're so looking forward to seeing you in
the PWHL and rooting against you, in my opinion, in
the Olympics, not you personally, although honest I'm not.
Speaker 2 (28:17):
Gonna lie this.
Speaker 1 (28:18):
This Olympics will be very difficult for a lot of
Americans to get up for.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
We're probably going to start rooting for other countries.
Speaker 3 (28:24):
You're always welcome to you for Canada.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
Thank you. I might I might be making my way
up north at some point.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
We got to take another break when we come back
a potentially unpopular ic.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
Welcome back slices.
Speaker 1 (28:48):
We love that you're listening, but we want you to
get in the game every day too, So here's our
good game play of the day. Follow Ranada on social media.
We'll link to our Instagram account in our show notes,
and we always love to hear from you, so hit
us up on email.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
Good game at wondermedianetwork dot com.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
Or leave us a voicemail at eight seven two two
four fifty seventy, and please don't forget to subscribe, rate
and review. Just scroll down bind those stars. Give us five,
tell us you love us. It's really easy. Watch Ketchup
chips rating zero stars.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
If I wanted fries, I'd order fries. Review now.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
I know Lays and other potato chip brands love to
experiment with flavors, and honestly, I respect that a lot
of people are into experimenting, and I'd never kink shame
your chip eaten, but please never ever offer me ketchup
flavored chips.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
They just don't taste right. End Listen.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
I know a lot of people like them. It's a
regional thing up north. The kids think they're trendy whatever.
But I'm sorry, I cannot go with the crowd on
this one. I am anti ketchup chip. In fact, want
to get even angrier with me. Not only do I
not rock with Ketchup chips, I don't like flavored chips
of any kind. Sour cream and onion, no, thank you,
flame and hot hard pass, salt and vinegar, why lime,
(30:05):
absolutely not deal, pickle bacon poutine, butter garlic scallop, get
the hell out of here. I like tortilla chips or
pita chips, plain ones, and then you dip them in
real dips made of real food like walk or salsa
or cheesy hot onion dip. I will make one exception though,
(30:25):
harvest cheddar sun chips.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
Those things slap.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
You can keep you ketchup chips Canada. Now it's your turn,
rate and review. Thanks for listening.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
Slices.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
Good game or Nada, Good Game, cheesy hot onion dip,
Q Team Canada. Stop having such likable players. I need
to build up my hate reserves ahead of the Olympics.
Good Game with Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports
production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You
can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or
(30:56):
wherever you get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network,
our producers are Alex Azzie and Misha Jones.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
Our executive producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan
and Emily Rutterer.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
Our editors are Emily Rutter, Britney Martinez, Grace Lynch, and
Gianna Palmer.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
Our associate producer is Lucy
Speaker 1 (31:15):
Jones, Production assistance from Avery LOFTUS and I'm Your Host
Sarah Spain.
Host
Sarah Spain
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