Latest / Rinkside Rundown / From Denmark to NCAA Star: Emma-Sofie Nordström on Her Journey to the PWHL
Transcript
- speaker-0: Also, I think it's so cool that I've gone to like play against some of these goalies that now play in the league, which also like shows and tells me that like I I will be ready and I am prepared to enter this next chapter of my life, but it definitely adds fuel to the fire because I know that I just need the opportunity and then I'm sure everything will work out. speaker-1: Hello and welcome back to Rinkside Rundown, the podcast that brings you inside the world of women's hockey, one story at a time. I'm your host, Chris Sinclair, and today I'm thrilled to be joined by Emma Sophie Nordstrom, a goaltender and assistant captain from Saint Lawrence University. Emma, welcome to the show. How you doing? speaker-0: Thank you so much. Really excited. speaker-1: Good. Absolutely. Like, okay, let's dive in because to say that you have a hockey-rich family, I feel like would be a tremendous understatement. so I want to start off by just finding out what was it like for you to grow up basically where I feel like hockey was just in your blood. What was that like for you? speaker-0: Yeah, I don't think I've ever gone a moment on this earth without like hockey. so both my parents were hockey goalies and I come from like the biggest hockey family in Denmark. So I I was in my mom's my mom was pregnant with me when she was playing hockey. So like I I played hockey before I was born. Yeah. So I I've never not known what that would be like. speaker-1: So then, you know, with that being said, and and preparing for this conversation, I was looking and I was like, okay, so parents were in hockey, cousins were in hockey, they're so like there was a laundry list of people, as you said, it it definitely does go on pretty long in terms of the the how hockey rich your family was. Did you, especially the goaltending position, did you feel like it chose you or did you end up ultimately choosing it just based on of course both of your parents? speaker-0: Yeah, so this is actually a really funny story because like both my parents are goalies and were goalies and so people would assume that they were like, like we're gonna have this baby now, she's gonna be a goalie. but actually my parents didn't want me to become a goalie because they were goalies themselves, so they knew like what it took and like the mental side of things and like if you wanna play you have to be the best. on that position on your team. whereas like for players top fifteen, like you play. You know what I mean? So my parents like didn't really want me to become a goalie. And I think ultimately that is why I wanted to to become a goalie. speaker-1: Yeah, you tell me on I shouldn't be a goalie. Well, that's exactly the direction I'm heading in. Yeah. do you re what were some of those early memory earliest memories for you then in when it comes to being around the rink? I mean, it sounds like that was it started very early, but what were some of those memories that you s that you still recall of your time around the rink and around the sports? speaker-0: Yeah, so like I remember back in the days, like before I could even walk or like I don't remember it, but I've seen photos and stuff from it. But before I could even walk, like I was on skates and my uncle was like skating around with me on the ice and just like having all that like big hockey family so close I feel like also makes a really big difference. but ultimately so I was a player first and then For two years, I moved to Sweden with my family, 'cause my dad had worked there. And so that is actually where I ended up going up to my coaches and be like, I I wanna play goalie. so that is where I played my first game as a goalie. speaker-1: And what was that what was that like for you? What was do you remember like the were you nervous or were you really excited? How how was that, though the earliest days of you in in goal? speaker-0: I actually have no idea. I can't remember it. I just remember my mom and dad recording a video of me after the game I played and I said that like I was gonna be better than Freddie Anderson, my cousin. 'cause obviously he's a big time now, he's doing really well in the playoffs. but yeah, so I remember in that video being like, yeah, like I'm I'm gonna be just as good as Freddie or like better. speaker-1: So yeah, yeah, can't forget Freddie Anderson. just name dropping here, I feel like. so you know, and I don't mean to to maybe hang up or hang on this moment for for a little bit longer, but it gets me thinking, you know, when you know, you're a g so you determine ultimately that you wanna be a goalie. Your parents are goalies, but w do you remember when it was where you Kind of said, you know, like maybe I don't know if they were they provided you input or they provided you feedback on what they were seeing. But like when you felt like you were carving out your own identity as a goaltender, just like they had, they had their chance, you know, like they, they, they were their own goaltenders, but you are your own goaltender. When do you remember being able to determine, like, hey, I know how to be a goalie? This is how I want to be a goalie. speaker-0: Till this day I call my parents after every game and we like debrief about it. so I mean I value their inputs always, but I definitely think there was a period. So my dad was my goalie coach growing up in our like local team and my mom was my goalie coach on the U eight teens, national team for a year. And so they have like been my coaches a lot and I mean, if it wasn't for my dad like being my goalie coach and yelling at me on the ice, I would not be the goalie I am today. And so I was really frustrated. It was a lot of car drives. I was just like crying, didn't want to go, 'cause I knew I was gonna be pissed at my dad. But so after I got over that period, I kind of realized that like I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for like that. So I think There was a few years where I was like, I don't want to hear what you guys have to say. But then after that, now like I value every input they have. speaker-1: So I I realize that I'm gonna jump ahead for just a moment to go come back, but I've been talking a little bit about like, you know, how how have you carved your own identity as a goaltender and all those things? It's also it's kind of cool that like you have a lot of family history when it comes to the game of hockey. How cool is that? Like how cool is it knowing that the your fa your family is apparently very good. at this sport of hockey. How cool is it to grow up in that environment and to to know that you have that that heritage as a part of you. speaker-0: Growing up I d like I didn't think about it too much 'cause it was just like it was normal for me. It was all I ever knew. So like being at family functions talking about hockey or like watching a million hockey games a weekend, because everybody's playing, that was just like normal. but now looking back at it and knowing that like that isn't the case for everyone, I would definitely say that like I enjoyed it so much. so my uncle was actually my goalie coach on the senior national team as well. So I mean a lot of people in the so no, it's awesome and I I feel like it I've learned so much from it. But I also feel like it's something I've been able to come back to and rely on and be like, I mean, hockey's in my DNA. It's in my blood. Saving pucks is like what I was born to do. so in harder times like that, I feel like it's also like really nice being able to look up to my cousins, and just like relying on that fact. speaker-1: So then I feel like this is a perfect segue into the fact that you know, when you look at your your junior career, a lot of that was spent in Denmark. speaker-0: Yeah, when I when I was fifteen I moved to Sweden to go to like a hockey high school program kind of. and I wanted to do that 'cause I wanted to follow my other cousin. So Freddie's younger sister, Amelia Anderson. And she she went to Sweden. She's three years younger than me. And then after she graduated there, she went to Maine here and played D one hockey. And so naturally I wanted to go to Sweden and then I wanted to go to the US. so yeah, I would say that a lot of my life have been like based on like our family and like what we've been doing and what we've been up to. But I also think it's cause like I've seen all of these people do amazing things and that's also allowed me to be like, I can do that too. speaker-1: Yeah. So then I guess it begs the question, you know, when you think about the different leagues, the different, you know, the the journey that you've been on, what's what like when you what how how have you seen yourself grow in those experiences? Maybe challenging yourself to go and play in Sweden, to come now. And of course we're gonna get into more of it more of your time at at at St. Lawrence, but Coming over to North America, j again, challenging yourself to make sure that you're continuing to grow and develop, what's that been like for you? I know obviously it's probably pretty nice to have some to to know some people along the way, but what's that been like for you as well? speaker-0: Honestly, it's been it's everything I've done in my life where I played, the places I moved to has felt super natural to me. I won't I've always been very independent, as a kid too, and that's why my parents were like fine with sending me away when I was fifteen to another country. but I think ultimately it all comes down to like the fact that like I've seen other people in my family do this. Like, it's just like the natural way to go and follow up. speaker-1: So then I guess, you know, we we've talked a little bit about or alluded to S St. Lawrence. Could you talk about what made, you know, when you're looking at and evaluating your options, you know, there's a lot of factors that go come into play, you know, where where you think you're going to grow the most, where you think, you know, maybe also off of the ice. It isn't just what happens on the ice, it's also what happens off the ice, the academic side of it too. What led you to land at St. Lawrence? speaker-0: So actually there was not too many options for me. it was more so like I I talked to Welsey and the coaching staff here and one of the assistant coaches that hand handles like all the recruitment. He walked around campus and showed me around for like two hours and I was like, wow, this is the place I want to be at. Like the fact that he takes that. much time around out of his stay 'cause like obviously I couldn't fly here and like visit the school myself. so the family and stuff that they have here in the small community that that meant so much to me and that's why I loved it here. And then I was so fortunate and lucky that Welsea wanted to take a chance on a Danish goaltender. which is never like seen before in college hockey. So that was really cool and then Obviously I I went in, played really well and surprised a lot of people, but ultimately I mean there wasn't too many options for me in terms of that. But I'm so happy that I came here and like this is the best place I could have been at. speaker-1: And I guess then, I mean, as a goaltender, I always feel or I feel like you would always have like a sense of confidence. Maybe it's quiet confidence, confidence at times, but but still, like, like you said, the fact that they took a chance on you, that's big. What did that do for your own confidence, knowing that this program is saying, you know what, like there's something here. Let's let's bring her in. And then of course, like there are three. So thankful they did because my goodness, did you have a career with them? But but what did it do, especially early on is you're making that switch. Again, you're going, you know, challenging yourself in terms of your own growth and development. But they took a chance on you. What did that mean to you? speaker-0: It it meant everything. I mean, I've always been a person, like if I ever get the chance to do something, like I'll do it and I'll do it well. But I just like need the opportunity and the chance to like go do that thing. And so been them giving me that opportunity meant so much to me. But also just the way that they are, the whole coaching staff and the team around and the community around, like it's one big family and I think that's also why them like doing that meant so much to me. Like it they recruit people, not necessarily hockey players. I mean, that's good too. Like you need to be able to play hockey obviously. But they like they look at like personalities and stuff like that. And that's something they value a lot. And so them picking me and giving me a chance, even though like they don't know too much about like the way I played. but yeah. So I'm super happy about that. speaker-1: Well, and so let's talk a little bit about your time at St. Lawrence. because it it feels like every time you're you look at the score sheet, you look you know, at the results, you're getting another win, you're making a bunch of saves. It's obvious just how important you are and were for that program. What did that, you know, as you grew into You know, the goaltender you are now, the person you are now as well. What did that reliance, that trust that the program has in you, the coaching staff have in has in you, what did that also do for you and your growth and your confidence when it comes to being a goaltender? speaker-0: So much. I remember I think it was my sophomore year, so the first season I like became the starter. I remember I played a game against like Vermont or something and I played horrendous. It wasn't like our team wasn't like nothing was like going the way we wanted it to. And I ended up getting pulled and I remember I was so sad and I was so scared. And after a game I went into the coaching room and I looked at Welse and I was like, I'm I'm so sorry. Well see just looked at me and he was like, You're fine, you're good. Like bounce back tomorrow. Like I trust you. Like you're gonna you're gonna make me proud. I know that. And I think like that side of it and like him being like saying that to me, like meant so much to me. And it became more like the coaches they wanna see you in, they wanna see you do well. And like they want you to thrive and they want you to succeed. And I think being able to be so open and like talk, being being able to have a conversation with your coaches about performance or whatever it may be confident. It could be whatever I think is so important and that's where like that trust comes in too. speaker-1: I guess then once again a nice little segue into trust growth and development. as I mentioned off the top, named assistant captain coming into this season, what did that mean to you as well to be recognized? Again I always say I know that it's just a letter, and that anyone on the team is and can be a leader, but you were named as a part of that leadership group in your senior year. So I do want to open it up and find out like, what did that recognition mean to you? What did it mean again? More trust, more, you know, like they they really do trust you and really see a lot in you. What did that mean to you? speaker-0: It means so much 'cause being named like a captain has so much more to do with just the way you play hockey. you need to be a good teammate and you need to be able to be a person that others can rely on and and stuff like that. So I think that meant so much to me. and then I think just being around this group of people and this like it's been so easy being a captain. Like I haven't had to change the way that I've done anything really. I've just like continued to be like the person and player that I've been like all my four years here. And that is also something the coaches told us when we had our first captains meeting. I was like we don't want you to do anything extra, anything new. Like we just you got chosen because of the person you are, not the captain you'll become. So so just like slow slow it down. You don't have to do anything different. Just like trust and like Like enjoy it. You know? speaker-1: Goodness, that that that gave me confidence. And they didn't even tell me that was that had nothing to do with me. And I I heard that and I was instantly like, yeah, what a like what a confidence boost that would have provided. Because I don't know about you, but if I if somebody named me an assistant captain or a captain, I'd feel like there was a little bit of extra added pressure with that that comes with that. But hearing that, I mean, I I it it seems as though it did help to maybe. alleviate some of that some of that pressure. Is that is that fair to say? speaker-0: Yeah, I would definitely say so. I also 'cause I mean I'm a goalie, so this is the first time I've ever been captain. It's the first time at goalie. the only league a goalie can be like a captain in. so it was so awesome that like I got the opportunity to try that 'cause I always feel like I've had a leader role on teams like earlier years here and other teams I played for in the past. And so being able to just like tried out was so much fun to me too. speaker-1: Mm-hmm. I I mean, I I definitely I want to make sure and we're gonna get to this exciting next chapter of your journey in just a moment, but I do also want to talk about your time with the national program. as we said right off the top, we spent a bunch of time talking about just how long your history is, your family history is with the sport. so being able to r also now represent your own country, what is that meant for you to put that jersey on? speaker-0: I think over the years it's changed a lot what it means to me and what it represents. so when I played U eighteen it was like this big grand thing and I was so proud to wear like a jersey, but like I don't really think I understood what it like meant to me until later, like a couple of years ago. and something that like I realized is that when I put the jersey over my head, I don't play for just like Denmark now. I played for like the future Denmark and like making sure that like young girls have someone a female to look up to. 'Cause when I grew up like I I didn't really have that. So I think that's something that's changed for me is the way that I view like putting the jersey over my head. speaker-1: boy, did it first of all, what a quote. Secondly, that I think is a perfect encapsulation of just the maturity and the growth that you've gone through is to be able to recognize first of all, yeah, it's cool. You get to wear your the your your your your country's colors. That's awesome. But there's so much more now more than ever, there's so much more that comes with putting that jersey on. but i I think that that then leads me naturally into talking about the growth of The, you know, of hockey back home, of the national program, could you talk about that as someone who's been on the inside and been on the inside for, you know, as you mentioned, U eighteens, you know, all the way up? Could you talk about, you know, from your perspective, how you've seen the program grow and and how excited you might be, you must be rather, for the future in the sport as well? speaker-0: Yeah, no, I'm so excited about seeing like how just all over the world, like more hockey now we have like the professional league, we didn't have that, like we didn't even think that was like gonna be a thing like four years ago. when thinking about what I wanted to do later in life playing hockey, like I like, maybe I'll go back to Sweden after college 'cause that was the only thing I knew. But I I think looking bad at back at my time at the U eighteens and obviously when I started U eighteen I was like thirteen, fourteen or something, 'cause I had four years there. And so that you can tell have gotten so much better. Like the team I played with U eighteen compared to like the U eight team we have now. And so it's so nice to see that there's so many more girls to choose from. I remember my first year on U eighteen, like I wasn't really supposed to be on the team yet. a goalie got injured and sick at a camp. And then my mom was the goalie coach and she was like, if we need a a practice goalie, like my daughter's at home. She's not doing anything. So so I ended up like coming there and then they were like, my god, she can save a puck. That's great. so now you're coming with us to Worlds. Whereas now There's competition, like a lot of competition for the spot. And it's more than just like goalies you can count on one hand. so I think that is so nice to see. And then obviously I started with the senior national team when I was fifteen. so again, super, super early. like I was I was good when I was younger, but I never thought that like I was good enough to like be on the senior national team. at that age. So that was also something I had a lot of problem with like accepting kind of 'cause I felt like I didn't deserve to be on the team. and so that's something I like really had to work and grow through. speaker-1: So that's interesting because as you were saying that, I was thinking to myself, like, my goodness, like she every step of her career, like she's been, I don't want to say playing above your age group. essentially that's what you've been doing, right? Like, and so that must, you know, we I feel like the the theme of this episode is almost like that quiet confidence that these experiences must have given you. Because as much as you're saying that. you, you know, you there was a lot of self doubt, which is totally understandable. At every stage of your career, you've been able to prove you belong regard like age is but a number for you because you've been able to play so well, even if you're playing above your age group. Like what does that mean for or yeah, that's what I meant to say, I think. but you're all you're playing with you're you're playing with older players. How, how, again, we we talk we talk about confidence, but throughout your career, that's been a constant in your career. What does that mean too? speaker-0: So actually when I was younger, that wasn't a constant. So I played boys hockey growing up, until I moved to Sweden. I played boys hockey there too, but not like on a permanent team. so like when I was with the the men's hockey, they actually kept me back one one like age group, if you can call it that, my last year when I played in Denmark. so going from that and then like going into like being on the senior national team as at fifteen years old. Like that was something that was also hard for me to understand, I think. like the differences between like men's and women's hockey and in terms of like development and growth and just like the number of people and players you have playing men's versus women's hockey. and I think ultimately that's what it came down to in Denmark, the pool of players you have to choose from. I speaker-1: Do you also want to know as well, like, you know, when considering your journey, when you think and and speaking of the Danish program and and and and things moving forward and the progress that's already been made, but the progress that will continue being made, if there are and there are inevitably younger players who are watching you, whether it's watching you in the NCAA, watching you internationally, or inevitably as well in a pro career, what do you hope they see? and take away from your journey, take away maybe some sort of message, some sort of never give up, never doubt yourself, or what do you hope that those players, those young the younger generation, the next generation, will take away from your own journey? speaker-0: I would probably say whenever people doubt you or tell you you can't do something, that's even more of a reason to do that thing or to pursue that. speaker-1: Yeah, that's probably fair. I I that that made me think of the fact that your your parents both said, Don't be a goaltender and what did you do? speaker-0: My life I've been told I couldn't do certain things and I've always done them. So I think it's just perseverance. I would say one thing that I think has really changed me too is the fact that like my parents, even though I come from such a big hockey background, a hockey family, like they never pressured me to do anything. they would give me drills or like whatever it might be, but like they never pressured me to do anything. So all my life I've done thing b done things because I wanted to do them and not because I was told to do them. And I think that's also a really big difference in terms of development. Cause being able to work out and do stuff and push yourself and get better like every day, not because someone's telling you to, but because you truly want to, I think is one of the biggest difference makers. speaker-1: Absolutely. I agree with that. we have put off talking about the PWHL and this potential next chapter of your career for too long. So let's change that. Let's change that. I guess I'm I'm just gonna start off by asking, how does it feel knowing that you're right up on the verge of being able to play in the PWHL? speaker-0: So awesome. I'm I'm just like excited about the next chapter. I'm moved around a lot of my life and so like I'm not like scared about like the change or anything about that. I'm just like so excited to see where things are headed and where I'll be playing next year. speaker-1: How exciting is it too when you look at the PWHL and you look at the goaltending position in particular? There is not a coach in the league that won't tell you how difficult it is to game plan for any game because the goaltending is so good across the board. How great or how exciting is it to have the potential to join those ranks to be able to also be one of those really, really good does do you find like it's it's some extra added fuel to absolutely crush those, you know, off season workouts or, you know, try to find different ways to continue elevating your game so that when you get drafted, you're gonna also be able to make a difference, just like so many of those other great goaltenders in this league. speaker-0: Yeah. And I mean I also think it's so cool that I've gone to like play against some of these goalies that now play in the league, which also like shows and tells me that like I I will be ready and I am prepared to enter this next chapter of my life. But it definitely adds fuel to the fire because I know that I just need the opportunity and then I'm sure everything will work out. speaker-1: So I I wanna be a little bit reflective in this next question, if we could. When you think about your entire journey. So you think of, you know, Denmark, Sweden, the NCAA, whatever may come next. How do you or what experiences do you think have helped to prepare you for what is next? Whatever that may be. Hopefully, of course, we're We're rooting for you and cheering for you that it'll be with the P in the PWHL. But wherever this next chapter goes, how have your experiences on the ice, away from the ice, been able to set you up for success in this next chapter? speaker-0: Like I think it all comes back to my parents and how they like raised me in terms of like hockey and also like as a person. Cause I think like being very independent from a very young age allowed me to like do more things and experience more things without like being scared or like feeling bad about it. like it was never hard for me to be away from home because I I I think I talked to my parents more when I moved out. than I did when I lived in the house because I was I just lived in a hawk rink at that point. so I think it all comes back to the way that my parents raised me and my dedication and resilience and how like they never pressured me to do anything. They told me I could do certain things that would help me, but it was ultimately always up to me what I wanted to do and whether or not I wanted to get better. and then I would say take the chances like Try something new. Like I feel like every experience I have, whether it be hockey related or something completely different, always makes me a better goalie. speaker-1: So yeah, absolutely. I definitely agree with that. how do you, how do you even prepare for this moment? Like how how I know that there's the saying, you know, be be where your feet are, stay in the moment, control the controllables. How do you how have you found the adjustment, maybe mentally or physically, to thinking about what this next stage is? And how have you been able to maintain The saying like be where your feet are, be in this moment. How have you been able to to maintain that? speaker-0: That's actually so funny you bring up that quote because it's a quote I have on my phone it's be where your skates are instead of be where your feet are. I like that. And I have that on my phone whenever we play games. So it's it's so funny that you said that 'cause that's something I look at a lot and I really try to live in the present because if you can't live in the present, you can't play in the present. So in terms of like the draft. And the next steps, like, I don't know, a month in my head is super far away. a week from now is also a long, long away. So I don't think I've been like stressed or like been like, my god, it's a month like I can't really be present right now. I think it's been fairly easy for me to be present and not have that be something I think about twenty four seven. speaker-1: That as you were saying that, and I was like, that sounds like a goaltender who's like, nope, I'm just I'm living in this moment. I'm I'm not thinking about what just happened. I'm not thinking about what's going to happen. I'm gonna live right here. I just immediately I was like, goaltender. That's exactly what that sounded like. When you think about draft night and you hear your name called, what do you think is gonna be running through your mind. Who do you think is going to come to mind? I'm sure your parents, of course, because they've been so in instrumental to you. But what are some of those things that are going to come to mind as you hear your name called and know that you're joining the the PWHL? speaker-0: I think the first thing that would probably pop into my mind is the fact that I'd be writing history for Denmark, like being the first stain drafted in a P dub, or at least representing Denmark. So I think like that's probably like the first thing I'm gonna think of is like how that one moment and that one name will change maybe like hundreds of like girls back home in Denmark. if I'd be able to make one more girl play hockey back at home, I'd be happy. but I think it marks something new and something very exciting for Danish hockey. speaker-1: I love that you brought that up because that was absolutely an oversight on my part. so yes, just another reason for us to continue cheering you on to be able to s continue writing those record books and setting, you know, setting up the next generation, right? Like it's how you are of of course away from the ice, but certainly, you know, the the great goaltender that you are on the ice, nice and easy to cheer for you is As you look at this next chapter, we are now gonna move on to the final segment of today's show, the final buzzer. This is a fun, rapid fire way to wrap up the conversation. Now I'm gonna try not to ask any follow-up questions, but I want you to know you can take as long as you'd like in answering it. It's only rapid fire because I'm gonna just simply ask the question and then do everything I can. not to ask a single follow up question. I fail every time, so be prepared. speaker-0: Okay, I'll try to make it as less interesting as possible. speaker-1: No, I'll find something. I'll find something, that's for sure. okay, so we are going to start with what is your go to pre game meal? speaker-0: Carbs. speaker-1: in my language. Did you s did you say carbs with ketchup? speaker-0: Yeah. Pa pass sign ketchup. speaker-1: okay. Okay. Okay. That's a first. Okay. what is on your game day playlist? Do you have a game day playlist or do you have a specific artist? Or are you one of those people who's like, I'm just gonna read, I'm gonna meditate? speaker-0: So I experienced experimented a lot with this in all throughout my college career 'cause I I mean I started playing a lot more games so I needed to figure out and experiment what put me in the best like mode. so you're definitely gonna have a follow up question to this but classical music. speaker-1: Okay. That's a first as well. Okay. Yes, go on, sorry. speaker-0: So I listen to classical music. I think I like tried it out because I I read a study about how it impacts your brain. And it's really good at like it has a very common effect. So between periods, it's very good, especially with nerves. just like being able to like bring it all back, be in the sewn, just like pay attention to the piano or violin or whatever it may be and just like be present again. and I'm not like that much of a fan of like listening to locker room talk. sometimes if s someone says something I don't agree with in the game, I can be like, no. I'm like, what? so I'm not really a fan of listening to that. So I would rather just like so my way of dealing with that is listening to music. speaker-1: Classical music. That was not that would not have been on my bingo card. That speaker-0: I mean my my sophomore year you're gonna laugh at this. My sophomore year, I used to listen to this podcast of just like it's an big ass old man yelling at you. Yeah. speaker-1: Did di did that help? How did that get you like I now I don't I have the follow-up questions, but I don't even know how to put into words, because I can't imagine just like putting on a pair of headphones and listening to some man yell at me. Maybe that's motivating, I guess. speaker-0: I mean, one of my teammates at one point was like, What are you listening to? I put the headphones on, they're like, What the speaker-1: What is this? speaker-0: Are you okay? I don't know. I like I like did it for a little bit. I think it was 'cause I I had a hard time figuring out my how hype numbers. So like how emotionally aroused you are before the game and like what your number is from like a scale of one to ten where you're in the zone and you play your best hockey. And so I was experimenting a lot with like stuff that hypes me up a ton, stuff that calms me down. And so now I I feel like I've found like a good balance. speaker-1: I can confidently tell you that you are the very first guest to ever at least mention that. I'm not saying that no one else is it's it's a hype number. speaker-0: hype number, yeah. speaker-1: Never heard of that. So maybe other people are doing it and not telling me, but you are the first one to have a conversation about that. And I love that because that's not something I've ever heard of before, but it makes total sense. speaker-0: Yeah, I mean we do a lot of work here with sports psychologists and I talk to him personally too, Spencer Wood. he's the absolute GOAT, best sports psychologist I've ever had and he's definitely helped me navigate and figure all this stuff out, with all the changes I've had to my collegiate hockey career. And so hype number and emotional arousal is like something that is a a lot of people use and I'm sure it's just 'cause nobody's mentioned it. but I know that a lot of people, use that language to figure it out. speaker-1: Mm-hmm. very interesting. what is one word that your teammates might use to describe you? One speaker-0: Words? speaker-1: ju you it doesn't have to be the one word, just a word that they would use to describe you. So maybe it's something as simple as funny, engaging, thoughtful, intense, speaker-0: Determined? speaker-1: determined. Okay, that's good. That's a good one. speaker-0: Maybe determined or like I wouldn't say stubborn, but like that side of stubborn where it's like determined and like resilience, maybe like that part, I would say. speaker-1: That's right. Yeah. speaker-0: Or they would say I'm like all over the place. speaker-1: I mean it's part of the charm of a goaltender, I suppose. They're always kind of their their own their own speaker-0: Trying to beat the goalies are weird allegations. No, no, no. Sure, speaker-1: No, no, you're just speaker-0: it's not all goalies. speaker-1: I know, I know. I'm just I'm just joking. speaker-0: Where speaker-1: yeah, let's put it out there. It's you're you're correct. It is not all goaltenders. so we've talked about how you prepare for a game in terms of classical music, sometimes having people on podcasts that yell at you. how do you unwind after the game? What's like a do you is it kind of just a you relax, you read a book, you watch some Netflix, like How do you unwind win or loss, win or lose? It doesn't, that's not so much the case. Just how do you typically find yourself unwinding? speaker-0: So after a game I'll call my parents and talk to them about the game like mentally, like kinda like put that aside and then I'll do like art cooldown we have, then get some food, maybe go in do some tubs or treatment, whatever that may be. then like go home. Usually it ends quite late, like I won't be back for that for quite quite a time. like I wanna say like ten. I don't know. If it feels kinda late. I like so I'm exhausted. sometimes I'll re watch the game again depending on like whether or not I feel like I need to and have time to. and then I mean I'll always watch my saves in the morning when they come up with InSat, but I do night yoga. I felt like that that's helped me so much and my body feels so much better. It's just like a little like watch a show or like do some mil mindfulness while I do my n night yoga with some red light therapy and then it's like melatonin and s then like I have a hard time falling asleep after games, so usually I'll take a melatonin in order to fully like fall asleep. speaker-1: it sounds like you're a student of the game. Would that be fair to to say? speaker-0: I'm like a person that like I love reading research and just like knowing random things. And so especially in terms of hockey too, like, I think I've tried to like figure out every single way I can elevate my game, whether that be I do like cognitive drills, I do like eye drills, I do like the night yoga, like the red light, like I've have like I have all my sleeping things, like I like there's just like a lot of stuff, but I feel like ultimately that that's what gives me confidence because I know I've done everything I could. and I've tried to like every day all the decisions I make is so I can like be a good goalie. And I think it sounds like a lot of pressure and like a lot of like, wow, like you must be so stressed every day. But I think for me it's that's where some of my confidence comes from. Okay. speaker-1: Okay, we are going to end with this one. What is something that people may not know about you? speaker-0: So something that maybe not too many people know would be like I've the last two sets of pads I've had are Legos. 'cause Lego is Danish. And so that is like the Danish part I've like chosen to like keep with me here has been like my my Lego set. and so it's been really fun and there's been games where we've had our rivalry with Clarkson and their band has been like, how much did your Lego set cost? 'Cause like Lego's been so expensive now, it's like more expensive than the pads. I don't really know if that's what you're looking for. speaker-1: Yeah, that's perfect. I was actually gonna ask about your your your gear, your setup. So it's it's good that you I didn't even need to. You just brought it up. So speaker-0: Plural of Lego is Lego. So but it feels weird to say that, so I I keep saying Legos. speaker-1: Yeah. That's what I think. I I don't know if I've ever said just Lego. It's always Legos. speaker-0: Yeah, so I think Lego is actually it stands for play well, like. So it's like the two first letters of each of the two words. So it means play well. So I think it's very fitting to have that like on my p pads with me. speaker-1: Was just gonna say that exact same thing. It just seems fitting. seems fitting, especially and I mean it makes for a great setup too, right? Yeah. speaker-0: Of course I was inspired by my cousin who I think had like something on his helmet at one point when he played for like Anaheim. And I remember seeing that Lego little Lego guy and I was like, you know what? I'm gonna come back to this. speaker-1: That's I love, I'm so glad that this episode started with talk of your family, and that's how we bookend this. It speaker-0: Comes back to it. Yeah. speaker-1: always does, yes. that wraps up the final buzzer segment of the show. And unfortunately, this episode, Emma, this has been an absolute blast. Time flew by. This has been so much fun. I just want to say thank you. This is incredible. I'm so thankful that I had an opportunity to talk with you, to learn more about you, have some laughs along the way. This has been so much fun. So easy to cheer for. Thanks so much for joining the show. speaker-0: Thank you so much. speaker-1: And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your fellow hockey fans. Your support helps me to continue bringing you stories just like this one from across the world of women's hockey. I'm Chris Sinclair. Thank you so much for tuning in and I'll catch you next time. on ringside rundown. speaker-0: Yeah.