Latest / Rinkside Rundown / Charlotte Sonntag on Family, Finding Home at Holy Cross, and Carving Her Path To The Pros
Transcript
- Speaker 2: I mean, you look on social media and you see all these posts of them selling out stadiums and the impact that they've made on the hockey world and the growth that they've had. Like, even just having that opportunity to potentially be a part of that is beyond incredible for me. 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 joined by Charlotte Sontag, a forward at Holy Cross, who just wrapped up her fourth year with the Crusaders and is heading into the twenty twenty-six PWHL draft. Charlotte, welcome to the show. How you doing? Speaker 2: Thank you, I'm doing very well. Speaker 1: Good. Yes, this is gonna be such a great time. And I can't wait to learn more about you. And we so we have to start with the fact that you grew up in Sun Valley, Idaho, which when I think of Idaho, I don't necessarily think of it being a hockey hotbed. So how did hockey first find its way into your life? Speaker 2: Well, I actually have a pretty interesting backstory. I have lived in Sun Valley for a while, but my whole childhood I've moved around to different ski towns. so I originally am from Vale, Colorado and lived out there for a while, lived in Lake Tahoe, California, lived up in Whistler, and then eventually made my way to Sun Valley. Speaker 1: Okay, interesting. So of course then that naturally means that ⁓ that you're gonna be a little bit more involved in the winter sports along the way. Would you remember those those early memories in the sport? Like what you ⁓ maybe what drew you in ⁓ and kept you going in the sport. Do you remember what those things were early on in your in your hockey career, if you will? Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, obviously ski towns like skiing's the big one, but hockey's another big one and everyone there loves and supports the game. ⁓ honestly I started playing 'cause both my older siblings playing. I played I'm the youngest. And I mean, as a kid I just wanted to do everything they wanted to do and we c started playing and I just absolutely loved the sport. Speaker 1: Well, I mean, that's sometimes all it takes, right? When you just want to do something. Yeah, I I I hear you on that one. Who were you know, you mentioned kind of being, I guess, motivated, if you will, or inspired ⁓ by your siblings, but who were some of those other people that, especially early on, those, you know, maybe influences or those role models, whether it's in the game of hockey, whether it's maybe family, maybe it's friends, maybe coaches or something, someone like that as well. Who were those people early on in your career? that really made you like, you know, see the game for how you can contribute to it and how you could be successful in the sport as well. Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, obviously my siblings are two of the biggest people I look up to, especially my sister. ⁓ I mean, she went through everything before me, so her being four years older than me, I feel like she's kind of always been the biggest role model in my life. ⁓ obviously I Hillary Knight's a huge one. I've saw her go through her whole hockey career. She was huge in my childhood and yeah, I mean, just seeing those people like grow and succeed really pushed me to want to be that type of person to continue to grow and succeed and make an impact on the game. Speaker 1: Do you remember maybe it was watching her play or or or or something else as well. Do you remember that moment when you said to yourself, Yeah, yeah, I this is what I wanna do. This is this is the route that I wanna pursue. Speaker 2: I mean, I don't know if it was necessarily a moment with Hillary, but there was definitely a moment in my childhood when ⁓ my team won the state championship and we're a super small like boys team from Lake Tahoe and I think I was twelve at the time, but I mean we were the huge underdogs and we came out and we won that state championship and no one thought we were gonna win. We came back and scored two goals in the last minute of the game to win. And I think that feeling that just made me realize this is what I wanna do and this is this is why I love the game and I wanna do this for as long as I possibly can. Speaker 1: Do you think it was maybe either either or or both? Maybe just like that competitive nature kind of got pulled out of you throughout that experience, or maybe it was like the thrill or the rush of winning. Do you remember what it was specifically about that as well? I'm I'm sure it was ⁓ probably a mixture of both. Speaker 2: Definitely a mixture, but I I mean, I've always been a super competitive person in my life. I think having two older siblings, you always kinda wanna you kinda wanna be the better one, you know? So I think that part really brought out my competitive nature. ⁓ and that really that really has pushed me to get to where I am today. Speaker 1: Speaking of getting to where you are today, as you we look at your your hockey career, specifically your junior career with Shattock St. Mary's. Great program. ⁓ certainly a big step in terms of growth and development for you. What was it like to be a part of that environment and and to be around and surrounded by people who are taking this really seriously and are looking at this program as a big serious step in their own development as well? Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, you get to Shattuck and it's like everyone there just like eat, sleep, breathes, hockey. Like you go in and I've seen some of the best players, both male and female in the world, play there and everyone has that same drive and that same goal. And I remember my freshman year, I was so intimidated because I think everyone on the girls prep team, maybe minus one girl, was committed to D one schools. And so you go and you watch that team play and you're just like, Wow, these people are incredible and that's who I wanna be and that's who I wanna grow and develop to be. Speaker 1: How what was it like then for you to overcome that that, you know, that fear, or maybe that, you know, whatever that you want to end up calling it, you know, that that maybe apprehension, that the fact that you're looking around and seeing all these people committing to these big programs and and maybe there's just some intimidation there's a bit of an intimidation factor in in that. How did you how did you overcome it? And how great did it feel to finally believe that you too belong in that space? Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, I think definitely the first couple of years just realizing that all the coaches there who wanted me to come to Shadik, they saw potential in me and they saw who I was as a person and a player and that was the type of person that they wanted and they've seen that in other people and trying to really hone in on that and not try and be someone that I'm not. Maybe I'm not the top goalscorer and not this on a different team, but just try and really be good at what I'm good at and know that that's Absolutely worth something. Speaker 1: How important do you think that lesson was for you to l have learned so early on in your career before you start looking at committing to different programs and the NCAA, your collegiate career, to learn that and to have that be a part of your foundation? How important do you think that was for for your journey? Speaker 2: I think that was probably one of the most important things that I've ever really resonated with me. Like you go into a program and y you wanna be the best and sometimes you just ha like you gotta find your role and every player is different. But I think figuring that out for myself and realizing who I am as a player and what direction I wanna take, it it allowed me to like kind of take the pressure off a little bit and remember why I love hockey so much and I started playing this game 'cause I loved it and there's a lot of pressure in high school trying to figure out where you want to go to college and how you're doing on the team and everyone's kinda there but also remembering that like this is the sport you love and this is why you play. Speaker 1: And that's so important to remember so early on too, because it's it can be really overwhelming and you forget why. You're now it's just like a thing, a task you have to do and you you lose that passion. So Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. ⁓ you as your career with Shadak ⁓ continued, you ultimately were ⁓ named as a part of the leadership group there. What was that like for you to carry that responsibility? And how important do you think that was to be a part to learn leadership, learn true leadership from such a great program so early on in your career as well? Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean I feel like you kinda grow into it a lot. I feel like the the culture there really pushes everyone to be leaders and pushes you to like grow into that type of person. ⁓ but it's definitely it it's a lot to people's character to be able to really hone in on that. And I mean, I think leaders are a huge part of people's teams. Like those are the people that the young girls look up to and I remember looking up to those younger girls when I was a freshman and when I was younger and I really wanted to be that person for the younger girls coming into Shaddock as I got older. Speaker 1: So when you were looking at programs, there are a lot of options out there. There are a lot of different collegiate programs that you could have chosen. What was it about Holy Cross that made you say, like, hey, you know what? Like this would be the right next step for me in terms of my own hockey journey. What was it about Holy Cross? Speaker 2: Honestly, like the time when I was looking at colleges and really trying to figure out where where where I wanted to go, it was pretty tough because it was during COVID. And so we weren't really able to visit many schools and obviously being in Minnesota, it's couldn't really fly out to Massachusetts to go visit Holy Cross. And so I really think like the communication with the coaches and just kind of finding a school that felt like home was super important to me. And I think Holy Cross ⁓ is a lot like Shaddock, being a small school, ⁓ it just had that same kind of feel that really drew me to Shaddock and that really that drew me to Holy Cross. And so I think in that time it was super important just to find somewhere where I really felt like home and kind of get that same feel that I felt at Shaddock as I do at Holy Cross. Speaker 1: When you're looking at the commitment process, it's one thing to do it under normal circumstances. You just shared that you did it while also dealing with COVID. What was that process like more specifically? Like in terms of did you feel like you were maybe missing out on opportunities, of course, to be able to step foot on a on a on a campus, or was the process put in place? in such a way that you did feel a really good connection to the different coaching staffs and and and the campuses as as of course as best they could. What was that process like for you? Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, I feel like it was just not super traditional, you know? I mean, I feel like everyone kind of a lot of people they go and they visit their their favorite colleges and they kind of get a feel for what it's like. ⁓ and I feel like I just had to go in a bit of a different direction and kind of feel more so at home with the people, maybe as opposed to the campus itself. ⁓ and I knew the values that I loved at Shattuck and I was trying to kind of find a place that had those same values so I could figure out a place ultimately that was the best for me. And I honestly feel like I got really lucky finding a place that I really feel like at home and that I love ⁓ without being able to come visit before and just, you know, kind of taking a leap and putting faith in Holy Cross. And I ended up loving it. But yeah, I feel super lucky in that sense. Speaker 1: Speaking of Holy Cross, you have been a part of that program, of course, over the last four years. And we've seen a remarkable upswing, a remarkable progress to that program, ⁓ including, you know, moving that program into places that it's never been before, which is just incredible to see. What's that been like for you to be a part of building something? I'm not gonna say from the ground up, but certainly building something. That has become much more competitive than it has been in the past. What's that been like for you personally? Speaker 2: Honestly, it's been absolutely incredible and it's definitely challenging at the start when you kind of feel like the work you're doing is it's not quite there, not quite feeling like it's getting anywhere. But over the trajectory of four years, like you really see the progress that the program has made. And I mean, we leaped milestones over this past year and did a lot of things that no one thought we were able to do. And so I'm just super proud of the group of girls that we have this year and I give a lot of credit to my class. I feel like we were really able to change the culture at Holy Cross to a school that like really puts hockey first and is able to put themselves on the roadmap. But yeah, just being able to be a part of that is it's been so incredible. And especially this year it's been super cool to see that all our hard work really has paid off. Speaker 1: What's what's it like for you now that you I mean maybe it's still too fresh in the rear view mirror for you to really truly be able to answer this, but we'll try. what's it what's it like at least at this point for you to be looking back at your legacy and to know that you made an impact, of course, on campus, of course in the community, but as well with that program in the record books. Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean it's honestly a I'm just super honored to be able to do as well as I did over the past four years and see that I'm making my mark here and see that I've really made an impact. I feel like that's it's kind of the dream when you go to college is to be one of those people who you know, you get your name in a record book for something, but to actually see it there it's it's pretty surreal and I don't think it's quite resonated with me yet, but I'm sure along down along the road I'll I'll look back on it and really Really think that that's a s it's super cool. Speaker 1: I feel like I would be remiss if we didn't talk about the impact of the incredible coaching staff there. So I wanted to ⁓ to to to talk about that. What what what do you think or how do you think they helped you to grow from maybe year one to now and especially prepare you for what is coming, inevitably coming next for you in your professional? Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, we have an incredible coaching staff there and I think one of their best qualities is they really take the time to know and understand their players and know who they are, not as just players but as people and figure out the best ways for those people to succeed on and off the ice. But they have been a huge contributor to my development and who I am today as a player and a person. ⁓ so I definitely I owe them a lot for the past four years. ⁓ But it's pretty cool to see the the progress that you make over four years and you can't get there without the support of other people and the coaches are the people you spend time with every single day. Lot goes out to them. Speaker 1: Yeah, do you ever ⁓ things happen so fast, right? Like your your care it it feels like, you know, you think four years, like, my goodness, four years is forever. But then you it go through it and you're like, what just happened to the last four years? Do you feel that as an athlete as well, in terms of, you know, where you're at in your own career, where it's like, I feel like just yesterday I laced on the skates for the first time and now I'm graduating and I'm preparing for a professional career. Does it like What does it feel like it w it just went it blew fa it blew by so quickly or or have you been able to really, you know, truly enjoy those milestones along the Speaker 2: I feel like this year more than ⁓ any other year, I've really like tried to live in the moment and enjoy every milestone that we've hit this year and just like really hone in on live like seeing everything as it goes and not trying to think about the future too much. But yeah, it f it's crazy how fast four years goes and it's funny 'cause I kind of feel the exact same way as I did my senior year at Shaddock. Where you kind of just look back and you're like, Whoa, in the moment it it feels so long, but now that you're here, it it's like a blink of an eye, it goes by really fast. Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah. And it's always that last year where you're like, ⁓ I should slow down and really enjoy these moments rather than in the moments along the way. It's always in that last and la last ⁓ before graduating year or whatever it is that you kind of reflect on that time. Yeah. ⁓ You are double majored. And so that's chemistry and economics. Now I asked this question partly because I myself only went to university for one thing. Speaker 2: Absolutely. Speaker 1: And I dropped out because I was like, I'm out. I don't want to do this. ⁓ you double majored and double majored in some pretty impressive programs. What drew you to those programs and also how were you able to balance a double major plus ⁓ elite level hockey? Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm I mean I have not made it easy on myself, that's for sure. ⁓ my schedule's been loaded freshman year through senior year. ⁓ but yeah, I mean chemistry was my favorite subject in high school and I kind of knew that was the path that I wanted to go along in college. ⁓ and so I took a chemistry class my freshman year and I had an absolutely fantastic professor and kind of was just like, yep, this is what I want to do, this is where I want to go. ⁓ and then going into sophomore year I took an econ class and I was like, ⁓ so this actually I like this a lot too. And so then I had to map out my schedule to see if I even had room to take an all the classes to complete a double major. And it turns out I did, and I was just kind of in the mindset as make the most out of it while I'm here. Like I am super interested in both of these subjects. I might as well dive right into both of ⁓ Speaker 1: ⁓ great, great ⁓ perspective. ⁓ and and I like that you pointed out that you're like, I don't know that I necessarily had the time to be able to do both, but you found a way. And I think that's a testament to the kind of person that you are, right? ⁓ just dive in, dive in head first, why not? You know? ⁓ you had mentioned earlier as well about your sister. ⁓ Katie plays at Union. What do you think it's meant as well to be able to? You kind of touched on it, but I I'd love to dive in a little bit more here in terms of what it means to have somebody who's gone through a shared experience, the ups, the downs of a of any, you know, athletic career, they can be great moments and then there are not so great moments, but to have somebody there who understands what you're going through, how you might be feeling. What's that been like to have somebody there to cheer you on in those great moments and to help you through maybe some of those di more difficult, challenging moments as well? Speaker 2: Yeah, honestly, like having her kind of be that sole mentor for me my entire life has been one of the most incredible experiences that I've had. I mean, she's four years older than me, so she went through everything about a whole like she was in high school and I was younger and then she went to college right as I was starting high school. And it's honestly just so nice to have that person that you can turn to for everything. And if I had a question about anything I can turn to her because she's been through all of it. And she's obviously one of my biggest supporters and I am so grateful for that. But yeah, just having someone like that in my life has made such a huge impact on me and helped me grow to be the player I am. And just watching her succeed too has been incredible. Like I watched her go through high school, go to college, play D1, and she went over and played a year pro in Switzerland. Like, it's been so, so cool. And now that my college career's kind of coming to a close, like she's that person that I go to for any type of questions that I have, you know, about the future or anything, like it's kinda she's just kind of my rock, which is awesome. Speaker 1: Well, and I feel like this is the perfect time for us to finally get to the exciting next chapter of your career, the future where it may ⁓ take you as well. With the PWHL draft ahead ⁓ ahead of you on the horizon, I guess I'm I'd just love to start off with by by asking, how are you feeling? Like, does it feel real that the next step in your career could very well be playing best on best? Night in, night out in a professional women's league. Speaker 2: Honestly, I don't think it's quite hit me yet. ⁓ I know I'm super excited for the opportunity, but I'm also very nervous because it is all the best players in the world. But I mean, you look on social media and you see all these posts of them selling out stadiums and the impact that they've made on the hockey world and the growth that they've had, like even just having that opportunity to potentially be a part of that is beyond incredible for me. Yeah, I mean it's just it's crazy. I don't I think it'll hit me probably in the next month or so as the draft comes up, but gotta take some time to sit with it. Speaker 1: Course. So then I guess it it begs the question, you know, you mentioned about the sellouts and it it feels especially since the Olympics, it just feels like every game, it doesn't matter where it is, it either you know, it's almost a sellout or it's a sellout or it's a new home venue record, all those different things. Is that does that add some extra fuel to your To your fire, maybe especially over the past couple of years for sure, because obviously with the PWHL getting announced and ha knowing that now that could be very, very well be part of your future. Does it add like that extra layer of fuel, passion, drive to for you to get to that point and to challenge yourself to, as you ⁓ have already done so often in your life, add some additional challenges and and and really dive in at first? Do you feel like it's added that for you in your own journey too? Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, that's the dream is to play at a sold out stadium like that. Just being able to skate out there and see the crowd full, like that's I think that's what almost any hockey player wants to do. So it absolutely has added some fuel to the fire just to even think about that opportunity. Like that's what I want and that's what I'm working towards and driving towards. So it's awesome to see the growth, but it even gives you more motivation 'cause you're like, ⁓ I really want to be A part of that. Speaker 1: So then how are you preparing for the d ⁓ for the draft for that next chapter? Both like, you know, of course, physically, I'm sure that, you know, you see it, you know, it's a very physical league. So of course, you know, getting bigger, stronger, faster, those sorts of things on the ice, but maybe also mentally, how are you preparing for that next chapter that again very well could be in the PWHL? Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean I think right now definitely folks on graduation a little bit right now, but continue to just keep working hard, getting on the ice, ⁓ getting in the weight room, but also like kind of finding that mental shift from college hockey to professional hockey. 'Cause it is so big, like when you're in college hockey you gotta juggle academics and athletics and kind of everything else that goes on. But once you get to pro hockey, like that can be your sole focus. And so I think finding that mental switch where you're like, I can really lock in on athletics now and have that be my sole driver. And obviously there's other things going on, but it can really that can really be what you focus on. Speaker 1: What's that gonna be like for you? Because you know, you you've double measured and you've been put playing elite hockey. Are you gonna feel like you're like, I gotta start doing more stuff to make up for all this l this extra I'm gonna say extra time. I'm sure you're not gonna have much of it, but this ⁓ this time you're not not now doing two different programs. What's that gonna be like for you as well? Like to make that mental switch. Speaker 2: It's gonna be huge. I mean, I don't have much downtime at all. And I feel like any time I have downtime, I'm like, all right, I gotta be doing something. I gotta get ahead on my work or something like that. So I think that switch is going to be absolutely massive. And I definitely in the future I wanna keep pursuing ap academics, but right now just switching into that athlete mindset is probably gonna be a huge switch for me mentally. ⁓ and just really focusing on that and not having all the background noise Kind of clog clogging your ears a little bit. Speaker 1: Yeah, that must feel really nice, especially as an athlete, to be able to just kind of dial in on exact like fine tuning different aspects of maybe the mental side, because I think, you know, it's certainly an a side of being an athlete that is pretty under underrated is the mental side of the game as well. So to be able to have that space to be able to focus and and grow in in that regard must, you know, must be pretty enticing. You haven't experienced it yet, but I'm sure that it's definitely something that you're looking forward to as well. Speaker 2: Absolutely. The the future of not having a million things going on at the same time is kinda nice to think about. Speaker 1: Before we get to the final segment, I do just want to also ask about the impact that, you know, I I know that we're kind of jumping back for just a moment, but I think it might be good to to kind of reflect as this is you're about to embark on an exciting next chapter, but maybe talk about the impact of the community itself within Holy Cross and how important finding that great community is. for you and your own growth because you're going to be a part of a brand new community wherever it is that your this next chapter takes you as well. How important has Holy Cross's community, the community of Holy Cross, been to you in your in your development? And and how much are you looking forward to some something new as well in this next chapter? Speaker 2: Yeah, honestly it's it's been so impactful on my development over the last four years and just being able to be part of a community that really ⁓ like fosters their character development and focusing on people. Like I think that is so important. And it's not just the athletics, it's everywhere on campus. I mean, you you walk into the to the athletic complex and every coach says hi to you and they say good luck in your games this weekend. And same with professors too. Like them being able to allow you to succeed athletically while helping you out academically. Like that has been, especially for me with my majors, that has been so, so helpful for me. And I think that community, it just it really helps grow people into good people. ⁓ and I think it's a testament to everyone's character here at Holy Cross. Like I think everyone here has grown into really good people and I I think it's the people that you surround yourself with that are the most important thing for that. Speaker 1: Okay. ⁓ I know I said that was going to be my last question before the final buzzer, but I'm gonna one more for you. And this is gonna be we're going right back to the the PWHL again. When so when you're thinking about having conversations inevitably with GMs, with or different organizations, how would you describe yourself as a player? How would you describe the impact you have in the in the locker room on the ice? Like take me through that. process to how you're preparing for those conversations, but also the kind of player that that any one of these eight and soon to be maybe even f up to four more teams could be getting in you. Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, I think one thing that I've really developed over the last four years is being like a super rounded out player. ⁓ I played defense for up until my junior year of high school and then I switched to forward. ⁓ and so I've really the last couple of years I've really honed in on that defensive center role. And I think that's super important for a foundation on any team you're on, because you gotta play defense if you wanna score goals as well. So I think just rounding out my game and finding that offense and just becoming that player that I am now, I think ⁓ I important for foundations of teams and I feel like that's something that I can really build off of. And in the locker room I I just feel like me being who I am as a person and that inner leadership coming out and just being a good person and supporting your teammates and trying to foster a good locker room culture, I think that's also super important and values that I really emulate. Speaker 1: Absolutely. Okay. Well, you pass a test for me. So ⁓ there you go. ⁓ all right. So we are now going to move into the final buzzer segment of the show. And this is a fun way to wrap up the conversation. It's rapid fire, but you can take as long as you want in answering the question. I always say that it's only rapid fire because I'm gonna try not to ask any follow-up questions because then we'll be here for another hour and a half because I tend to ask a lot of follow-up questions. Okay, so we are going to start. With what is your pre-game meal, go to pre-game meal? Speaker 2: Ooh probably some sort of pasta usually whatever they have at the dining hall. If I were to pick it would probably be pasta, red sauce and meatballs. Speaker 1: ⁓ solid choice. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Pass the test. Good. What what is one song or artist that is your go to on your playlist on game day? Speaker 2: Probably anything by John Summit. That always really just gets me super hyped up before games. Speaker 1: Wow, okay. I don't know who that is. So now I have myself some homework after this conversation. There we go. Okay. I will do that. I will do that. That's fantastic. What is something that people might not know about you? Speaker 2: Ooh, I I absolutely love to ski. That probably isn't super surprising based on where I've lived. ⁓ but that's gotta be my second favorite sport behind hockey. ⁓ something surprising is I play piano and I took piano lessons for nine years. Speaker 1: Do you still play? I know I said I wouldn't ask any follow up questions, but I made it right almost to the end here. So ⁓ Speaker 2: ⁓ I I sometimes. I don't like practice really anymore, but I could sit down at a piano and play a pretty good song. Speaker 1: That's fantastic. Okay. Awesome. ⁓ if the last one here for you, if you could go back and give your younger self some advice about the journey ahead, what do you think you would tell her? Speaker 2: Honestly, just trust who you are as a person and continue to work as hard as you can. It's gotten you as far, like as far as you are now. And I think there's a lot of credit in that. ⁓ yeah. Just keep working hard and trust who you are as a person and a player and everything will work out as it should. Speaker 1: Everything will work out as it should. ⁓ and I appreciate. Thank you, Charlotte, so much for joining me today and sharing your story. I cannot wait to keep cheering you on. You're a friend of the show. So we are going to absolutely keep celebrating every moment, every milestone, including when you hear your name called on draft night. Thank you so much for joining me. Speaker 2: Thank you so much. Speaker 1: And if you enjoyed today's episode, be sure to like, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your fellow hockey fans. Your support helps me to continue br you bringing you stories just like this one from around 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.