Latest / Rinkside Rundown / Lyndsey Janes on Transitioning from Captain to Coach at the University of Manitoba
Transcript
- speaker-0: The opportunity I think for women specifically is kind of endless right now and and women are starting to make their mark and I just think it's so exciting to see and and to get to be a part of, especially being so young. I just have so many role models that I can look up to and and idolize, which is really exciting. 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 friend of the show, Lindsay Janes, who spent six seasons with Mount Royal University and has now stepped into a new chapter of her hockey journey as an assistant coach with the University of Manitoba Bison. Lindsay, welcome to the show. How are you doing? speaker-0: Good, thanks. Thanks for having me on again. It's super fun to be back. So good to see you as well. speaker-1: It's great to see you as well. we were just talking about how we've wanted to make this happen for quite some time now. So it's great to to have you back. And now to be able to instead of talking about your entire journey, we get to focus on this exciting new chapter of your journey with coaching, which is something you've been super passionate about for quite some time. So I'm excited to be able to sit down and be able to talk about that. but before we do. If you do want to learn more about this incredible career that Lindsay has had, make sure to check out episode 47 of the show. That's where we talk about the journey. We talk about all of the accomplishments, her time at Mount Royal University, being a captain, what it meant to her to be a captain. Again, that's episode 47. I'll have it linked in the show notes below. So it's nice and easy to find, nice and easy to check out. So let's go ahead and dive in, shall we? When we f last spoke again on episode way, way back on episode 47, you were embarking on or you were in the midst of your collegial career again with Mount Royal University. When you think about that shift from your playing career to now a hockey career that is behind the bench, when do you feel like, or when did you feel like that that? That was going to be the next step for you. When it really clicked, it said, you know what, this is how I want to continue my own hockey journey. speaker-0: Yeah, I think for me, there wasn't necessarily any specific moment in particular. It kind of was just the multitude of little experiences that I was getting in that environment in my last couple of years playing for Mount Royal that I kind of was like, wait, like I never really thought about this potentially being a career path, but maybe it could be one, especially when I joined the Hockey Canada Creating Coaches program in my last couple of years. That program gave me the kind of in to getting to experience that, being on the bench with some minor hockey teams throughout Calgary. And that experience kind of made me think that that could possibly be a thing for me. And yeah, kind of through that experience, I then join I was doing like some skills coaching with youth, with the female hockey association in Calgary and doing trying to get involved in the community in that kind of way and doing my own not my own but starting to lead sessions and and not just be kind of a assistant or apprentice kinda trying to learn the background. Then that's kind of when I really was like, wait, like I think this is this is really fun for me. I like getting to teach and share my knowledge and also just getting to analyze the game and in that lens, getting experience with that, I was like, this is so much fun, I wanna keep doing it. So yeah, that's kind of I think what sparked that for me. speaker-1: And you know, for a lot of athletes having or making that decision to step away from the game, of course you're still involved in the game. So I think that probably helped ease that that, you know, brace yourself for that change. But making that change can be difficult, right? To go from playing and and the the ups and downs of being a player and the camaraderie that you have when you're on a team and all those things, you you miss you miss those things. how have you found that transition? I know you're still, you know, you just completed your first season, but How have you found that transition from being a player and and the mentality that you had as being a player and and the the the passion that you had for being a player to now, you know, all of those things, but as a coach? speaker-0: Yeah, I think it's funny because throughout my last couple of years, especially my last year playing, I for pretty much the whole season felt pretty comfortable with the fact that my career was coming to an end. You know, I felt ready to move on and start my next chapter. But then once we were in playoffs and our season ended in the s conference semifinals, I remember sitting in the lobby of the ranked. And looking at my parents and being like, I'm not ready. Like it was funny because you think you're ready until it actually comes. And not that I didn't think I was ready, but I really was sad because I was gonna miss the feeling that comes with playing hockey. You know, the feeling of winning and that competitiveness and like you said, team camaraderie and just the friendships and all that kind of stuff that comes with playing. And so I actually did dabble with the idea of going over to play in Europe very briefly, but I did kind of think about it. I had met with one team in Germany and kinda was trying to explore if that could potentially be an option for me because I did still have that drive to want to play, but ultimately it just didn't end up making sense for me to to make that move and that jump. And so and I knew that I was gonna stay involved in the game. Like it it wasn't like I was leaving my career and then, you know, becoming something completely different. And I knew I wanted to stay in hockey. I knew I wanted to coach. And so I think that brought me some comfort in knowing that. And even though I'm not playing anymore, I still am gonna get a lot of the same feelings and things that I enjoy from playing as a coach. So then when I did start coaching, that couldn't be more true. Like the reason why I played sports Since I could walk and why I loved being an athlete because I love to win and I'm competitive. And so you still get that kind of drive and competitiveness as a coach. It's just in a different way because obviously you're not the one out there doing it. But I think for me it's really made me appreciate that coaches can still have a pretty big impact just in a different way. So yeah, I think just with that overall transition because I'm still especially a part of the same league and conference that I was playing in, it feels so familiar. Like I think if I were to have been anywhere else, it probably would have been a little bit harder or just different. But because I'm coaching in the conference that I played in, I'm familiar with all the teams. I'm familiar with the league. I'm familiar with the other coaching staffs. Like it just was a very smooth transition, especially getting to work with Jordan who coached me. So yeah. speaker-1: Yes. And we are going to get to Jordan in just a moment, of course, as well. Yes. I'm so glad that you that you that you mentioned that. so you also mentioned that there was a bit there were some surprises in how, you know, how coaching you can still have that same impact as a coach as you as you had as a player. Of course, it's slightly different, but there's still some impacts that you can have, of course. What else has surprised you maybe or stood out to you as, you know, now that you've transitioned into You know, you dabbled, if you will, in it before, but now you're officially in that coaching realm. What are some of those things that have stood out to you or you know, as surprises that that maybe you weren't necessarily thinking were gonna be, you know, whether it's good, maybe it's that there are things that have have really challenged you and maybe that's what's most surprising. What are some of those things for you? speaker-0: Yeah, I think in a lot of ways I was not surprised because since I was just already in that environment and getting to observe it from a player's perspective, I kind of was able to jump into it and kind of know what was required. But some surprises I definitely think is just the overall time commitment that coaches are putting in, even just for me, watching Jordan go through her role as a head coach. it really opened my eyes to the amount of time and energy and investment that coaches are putting into helping their programs and their players develop. I just think it really allowed me to just have like w much more respect for the role. Like I as a player, you don't see a lot of the things that I think you don't realize what your coach is doing behind the scenes to help you. And so that has been a surprise for sure. And especially for me as assistant, kind of getting to assist with that and help with the things to take some load off of Jordan's plate. It definitely opened my eyes to the work that's required. And I just think, yeah, in terms of other surprises, just I'm I re think about my time as a player and I always remember having kind of a a younger assistant kind of hanging around during my time at MRU. We had a few different ones, but all of those coaches that I had, I found I really gravitated towards because I felt that I could relate to them. They could relate to me and what I was going through as an athlete. And so I just think it's been really fun and surprising in a way that I'm now getting to play kind of that role for our players a little bit. Cause I can just think so vividly and fondly of the coaches that I had that made that impact on me. So it's just been really fun for me to kind of try to do the same and support our girls in the way that I felt supported. speaker-1: It's interesting that you bring up that that perspective. now you're a coach, you're like, wow, they d when I was a player, I definitely didn't realize how much work. Of course, there you knew that there was a lot of work, but you didn't know exactly how much work and how many hours are invested in. So I I was gonna ask you if that was a perspective. So it's interesting that you you brought it up on your own, which which certainly highlights just how much of a lesson that was for you. And maybe in hindsight, you could've you know, maybe that changes some things in hindsight for sure. As so as I had mentioned, Captain, final two seasons with MRU, when you think about being a leader and the lessons that you learned being a leader during your time as a leader, what are some of those things that you you found have maybe naturally come over into your your your role now as an assistant? Or were or was it natural or was it maybe, you know? some other reason that it would have brought come over into your new role. But what are some of those things that you some of those experiences as a leader and some of those lessons and some of those values that were instilled in you as a leader that you now see yourself doing as a as an assistant. speaker-0: Yeah, I think something for me that really also drew me to the role was as a player, athlete, and just a person general, whether it was in my classes or or just in life, I leadership was always something that was really important to me and I wanted to be a leader. I wanted to be a good leader. And obviously playing hockey gave me most of the tools that and and learning experiences that I've been able to gain in order to try and be the best leader that I can. And I think what's really awesome about coaching is that I am still very much leading. It may look a little bit different, but a lot of leadership roles in general honestly are, in my opinion, kind of the same across the board, right? And I think for me, some of the skills that I learned as like a captain, I'm able to take with me as a coach. And I think one of the biggest ones is just my communication skills. I think and when I think about who I was as a leader in the in the dressing room, I was really tried to be the one to lead by example and also be that kind of rah-rah, hoot and holler, like kind of that person that tries to hype the team up and get everybody going. I really tried to be I'm quite loud. I have a voice that carries and I'm not afraid to use it. So I think as a coach that definitely has made that transition with me, I think on the bench, you know, I'm trying to be vocal and give our players feedback and constructive and positive. And I try and make sure that our girls feel uplifted and supported. And same thing in the in the dressing room. I think the things that I learned being a leader as a player and being comfortable speaking up in front of the room and knowing what your team kind of needs in certain moments. that is definitely something that has really helped me as a coach because that's a really big part of the role, right? Is being able to speak to the group and understand what they need to hear in certain moments. And I'm still learning and I and I'm so glad I have somebody who's as awesome as Jordan because she is teaching me so much in in those different areas. but yeah, I think definitely just that communication piece is a really big one that stands out to me for sure. speaker-1: When you think about again the lessons that you've learned throughout your career, the coaches that you've been coached under, the coaches you are now coaching with, I also want to know and and I know that you're you're obviously very new to the the the assistant coach position, but when you think about all of those different things, what does that or how does that maybe impact the kind of coach that you ultimately want to be? the kind of coach that you want to be leading a team? Like what are some of those values that have been instilled in you? I know I keep saying that sort of same term, but those same values that have been instilled in you along your own journey by the various people that have impacted you. How do you see yourself as a coach? What are some of those things that you want to be as a coach as well? speaker-0: Yeah, I think something for me that I've seen and past coaches that I've had, but also just even kind of going back to your last question, my experience as a player. I think for me it's really important. I want to be the kind of coach or just kind of person that people can say that I genuinely care about the people that I'm working with and and interacting with. I think something that is really special about being a coach is that you're interacting with these young, like young women, young athletes for every single day. Almost like literally out of seven days in the week, I see them six days. Like I see them so often and I just the ability to build those connections and not just have that, you know, coach to player kind of relationship. Like I want to have a genuine, like connection with these players and them to know that I care about them and I want what's best for them. And so when I'm pushing them or giving them feedback and trying to help them in certain moments, they understand that it's coming from a place of care and that they feel comfortable being able to come to me if needed. I think that's something that for me as a player was really important to me was having coaches that I felt comfortable coming to. If there was something going on that I felt they needed to know. I want to be that for players. And so I think when I think about past coaches that I've had, I'm definitely trying to emulate things that I've I've learned and I've seen from them, but also just kind of try and create my own kind of style that plays to who I am as a person and and my strengths and ultimately who I I want to be and and people to be able to think of me as, if that makes sense. So speaker-1: Yeah. Yeah. And and how also too, like we you know, you mentioned Hockey Canada and we're gonna talk about that in just a moment as well. But how how do you think your time with Hockey Canada and the the the creating coaches program has also maybe influenced how you want to approach the coach that you ultimately wanna be? speaker-0: Yeah, I think that program was super awesome because it allowed me to get a lot of professional development kind of advice. Like every month there's a there's a Zoom call where they have a guest speaker come in and give us advice and and try and teach us things. And even just through that program, each year they add they add more current youth sports players that are entering the program and Each year they graduate people out of the program, but we all still stay connected. Like I'm still in the group chat and each year new players come in, but nobody leaves. And so I feel like I'm just creating this community of like minded people that and maybe not every single girl in the program wants to be a high level coach for a career, but we all still have different experiences that we can share and and learn from each other. And so I think that's something that I really am fortunate to have, especially so young, even just like having those connections, having kind of our program director, Katie Greenway, like she has been somebody that I have leaned on and and asked for whether it's a reference or just somebody that I can ask questions to. Like that program really I felt set me up for success in that way. And so yeah, I'm really fortunate to have been a part of it. speaker-1: So you've mentioned Jordan a couple of times now, Jordan Collaton, of course. could you maybe talk about that relationship and talk about of course it started with MRU, but you know, the so w the the foundation it was laid there and just how much I know you kind of spoke about it a moment ago, but just how much it helped just making that transition, knowing and having that trust. That you, you know, whether you're gonna cause everyone stumbles when you when you're trying something new, but to know that you can stumble and that not be held against you or things like that, it goes a long way. Could you just talk about that familiarity and that relationship and the impact that she's had on you? speaker-0: Absolutely. It's funny because my relationship with Jordan honestly goes way back to when I was being recruited by Mount Royal. Like the first time that I ever heard of MRU was because she was at a showcase and I and I met her and we kind of had a little bit of a conversation. And so she was the first coach and person that I had talked to at Mount Royal before I even had met Scott. And so then to have been recruited by them and then coached by her and now Be coaching with her is just so crazy and full circle to me when I think about it. But yeah, I'm so grateful that Jordan gave me this opportunity because I am honestly being able to coach at this level at the age that I am. Like I am already kind of years away from where I thought I'd be, to be honest. Like I thought it would take me. years before I'd be on a youth sport bench. So the fact that she took this chance on me and had that belief that I could do it really meant a lot to me and gave me a lot of confidence just stepping in. I think like you all the things you said is exactly kind of what allows me and Jordan, I feel like, to have such a great partnership this year was just, you know, her ability to bring me in and and there's like already that relationship and that level of trust, like you said, that really went a long way because she knew the experience that I had coming in. And I had experience, but it wasn't much, especially at this capacity and with this level of responsibility at this level, right? And so but she knew that. And she never once tried to micromanage me or make me feel sm smaller because of it. She honestly just let me go and she knew that, you know, I was going to make mistakes and there was going to be learning, lots of learning, but she like trusted that I was gonna be able to go through that and and learn and just under and start to understand. So yeah, I like can't say enough good things about my first year as a coach and like that experience because she really allowed me just to figure it out and especially, you know, I I actually worked with our defense this year. I was a forward, you know, like Just lots of different things like that that I she didn't have to give me that opportunity, but but she did. And I just think us having that level of trust and familiarity, both having been at Mount Royal, we especially I won a national championship Mount with Mount Royal. You know, we both know what championship winning programs look like. And so for both us, both of us have that. perspective in the same space and now to be able to bring it here and try to emulate the things that we we thought was really good and and a lot of you know I'm the way I played and everything that I know I learned pretty much from her and Scott. Most of my foundation as a player and what I know is be from them. And so now that I'm now coaching with Jordan it's just was the most smoothest transition ever because I know our D zone like the back of my hand 'cause we run it very similarly to Mount Royal. Like the way that we play, I played for six years. So I it's really easy for me to come in and teach it and help our players understand it because I just know it so well. And so yeah, I could talk forever about just how awesome it was getting to work with Jordan this year and I'm so excited for next year 'cause our program we just have so much potential. So it's gonna be awesome. speaker-1: Absolutely. Yeah, I agree with that. And I I guess, like, how much of a game changer then was it for you to have that? I I was gonna say leeway. It's it's not leeway. It's like maybe runway. Maybe that she afforded you that space to make those mistakes. And and also maybe maybe also gave you, like you said, gave you that opportunity to like, I was a forward. I'm now working with the defenders. Like, what is like that that that level of trust, like how much of a game changer was that for your confidence in moving into that space and your confidence in in in looking at this as a as a genuine next step in your own hockey journey. speaker-0: Well, it it really was just the biggest confidence boost because to be honest, the time that I went from just working my summer job and thinking I was gonna be in Calgary to then literally moving to Winnipeg, I think was less than two weeks. It was crazy how quickly that happened. And so it's funny, I think back on it and I think if I would have applied for the job kind of organically when it opened and would have gone through that process and kind of been able to sit with it for a few months, I probably would have really gotten my own head about it. I probably would have been stressing out and thinking like, Am I r like, am I ready for this? Can I do this? speaker-1: What am I doing here? What am I yeah, absolutely? speaker-0: Going on, like I'm coaching girls who I'm very close in age with, like what the heck? And so I think the way that it happened forced me to I didn't even have time to think about the coaching part because I was just worried about finding an apartment in Winnipeg, you know, when I first moved here. And so just being able to jump in, not even think about it and just be genuine in myself and figure it out from there, I think was really key into why I was able to kind of step into it. And knowing that Jordan wanted me here and she felt confident in me and my ability to be able to help grow the program, like that just gave me all the confidence I needed to just try my best and be myself. Like I just wanted to be genuine and I knew as long as I was genuine, I would figure the rest out and it would be okay. And so yeah, I just think her ability to trust that, you know, I wasn't gonna get everything right and that I'm eager to learn. I'm really grateful that she just like trusted that I I would be able to learn from my mistakes or my experiences and just try and be better. So yeah. speaker-1: Awesome. I I think, you know, it's important to also talk about, you know, that for a lot of athletes when they're thinking about, you know, whether it's they're coming, they're realizing they're coming up at the end of their playing career or maybe as they're playing, they're saying, you know what, maybe this isn't what I want to be doing. Maybe it is coaching, but they don't necessarily know how to go about making that change and looking at their different opportunities that may be ahead of them. Could you maybe talk as well about, you know, some of the I'm gonna say advice that you might have, but some of those resources that people might be able to lean on when they're looking at continuing their own hockey journey just in a bit of a different way. speaker-0: Yeah, I think in terms of my actual experience going from player to coach at the level that I did so quickly, I wouldn't say that that's maybe I don't know, super common. Like I'm so lucky. I never would have expected to be on a youth sport bench coaching the year after I graduated. Like that's super crazy to me. But I think something that specifically is really unique for youth sports athletes specifically is the creating coaches program. I probably wouldn't be here if it wasn't for that program and and kind of allowing me to get my feet wet and see if this is something that I wanted to do. Cause I didn't really join the program at start being like, I want to coach full time and I want to try and make this my career. I just knew I wanted to be involved in in hockey and probably in the coaching space. I just didn't really know what it would look like. And so I think if I have any advice, it's just to Just do it. I even if you're not a part of that program, you're not a youth sports athlete or whatever, like there is a need for coaches, good coaches at the youth level, especially females in the female game, right? I think the reason why that the Creating Coaches program was even created to begin with was trying to get more females coaching. And so I think just if somebody's interested, just reach out to a local minor hockey team. It doesn't have to be a high level or it can be a high level if that's what you want. But there is a need and there's a want to get experienced women who have been there on the athlete side kind of working with these kids in the next generation and being able to make an impact in that way. And so that would be my biggest piece of advice is just to reach out and try it because there really is when it comes to down to just helping out a minor hockey team, there's not a ton of like pressure just Go out there, have fun and and try and make an impact on kids and have fun with them and try and make their experience as positive as possible. And so yeah, I don't think it really needs to be a super deep thought process. Just just go out and reach out and try it out because you never know like what kind of passion will come out of it. Cause that's exactly what happened for me. speaker-1: Yeah, and then and j even if you don't necessarily get that opportunity the first go around, like building a relationship. Like hockey is all about those relationships that you're building, right? So and the more connections you can make, you know, maybe some da some di someday down the line, it's all of a sudden you're getting this phone call or this email from someone being like, Hey, remember that time we met? I it didn't work then, but it works now. Or hey, I know someone who is looking for someone just like you, right? speaker-0: Exactly. It's actually crazy how much I'm learning that in the hockey space connections are so important. If, you know, you're someone like me who's trying to make it a career. But even just as yeah, somebody who wants to work with youth, like you the more people you know, the more questions you can ask and the more experiences that you little t little pieces here and there that you can take from other coaches and add to your repertoire, like that is really a game changer. Like, just this pat not this past weekend, but a couple weeks ago, I was at a on a recruiting trip and I was surrounded by some other college coaches from all over the place. And I'm kinda, you know, I just went around being like, Hey, do you have any advice or things you wish you knew and you were my age? Like just starting out, like just asking those kind of questions and trying to learn as much as I can has really been a game changer for me, I think, when I'm as I go through this career and and to be able to lean on those connections. speaker-1: So I would before we move on to the exciting final buzzer segment of the show, which is gonna sound a little bit different this time around because we have a coach in the midst here. I do want to talk as well. Of course, you know, we're seeing this explosion of enthusiasm and passion for women's hockey that's truthfully always been there, just needed a spotlight and it certainly has that now. We're seeing expansion in the PWHL. It's just such an exciting time and a long overdue for sure. I wanted to get your perspective on the growth of the game because you're in it and you were in it as a player and you saw it from a player's perspective and maybe how that's continued to evolve now that you're seeing it from a coaching perspective. Because I just think it's you know, like I just keep I can't say it enough just how exciting a time it is for women's hockey right now. speaker-0: Couldn't agree more. Even just as you know, a genuine fan, it's been so fun and awesome to see now that there is a league that's televised. Like every single day I'm like at home and I'm putting on the TV and be like, is there a game on? I haven't necessarily chosen which team is my favorite yet. I'm still just figuring you out because I just like to watch every single game, I don't care who's playing. speaker-1: You could make make a suggestion if you're looking for one. speaker-0: I kind of mean that. But like, yeah, I just think it's such a special time for women's hockey and women's sports in general right now. And it's really exciting for me as a coach with the potential opportunities that could be out there. I think it's really should be really exciting for every single female hockey player out there that there's now a a league that you can dream about playing in. I just think the impact it's making all over is just huge. And it's really exciting, I think, for me personally to think about the possibilities of where this career could take me now that there's opportunity. And even just in space in hockey in general, whether it's on the female side or on the male side, like seeing the first female, like Jessica Campbell being the first female assistant coach on an NHL bench. the opportunity I think for women specifically is kind of endless right now and and women are starting to make their mark and I just think it's so exciting to see and and to get to be a part of, especially being so young. I just have so many role models that I can look up to and and idolise, which is really exciting. speaker-1: Awesome. Yes. And I love that you pointed out that it isn't just the PWHL where you can make your impact, especially as a coach. You can also make that in the men's league, which is certainly overdue as well. so we are going to wrap up the show with the final buzzer segment. And that's a fun, rapid fire way to wrap up the conversation. and the whole point here, you can take as long as you want to in answering the question. I'm just gonna do my best not to ask any follow-up questions. So that it will some at least to some degree resemble rapid fire. But again, no pressure for you to have to be super quick in answering the questions. speaker-0: Okay, I'll t I'll try my best. speaker-1: first of all, I wanna ask, what is a coach's game day routine? speaker-0: Yeah, that's a great question. It's funny because for me personally, I honestly treat it like I'm playing. I'm obviously not preparing physically they would the way I would if I were a player, but the entire day is a write off for me. Like I it's game day. I'm eating a really good breakfast in the morning and I'm and I'm getting ready and and doing a lot of the similar things. In a way, it's quite funny. Like my fiance knows that like game day I'm I'm busy. Like it's a write off. speaker-1: Don't talk to Lindsay. speaker-0: No, like it really it's it's funny that way. So honestly, like it's nothing crazy, but I do I try and eat a good breakfast, get a good sleep, try and prepare the mind because you really gotta be on during a game and and know what's up and yeah, just try and think about our opponent and what I gotta be ready for. and my game day outfits are really important to me. It's something that I I love. fashion and making a good outfit. And so I really try and put some effort into my my appearance and making sure I look good. So speaker-1: Lo look good, feel good. That's what they say, right? Absolutely, absolutely. okay, so you had you had mentioned make sure that the mind's ready. So that made me think, what like how do you get your mind ready for the game? Are you listening? Is there like a game day playlist that you're listening to that goes back to, you know, your playing days or which I it I realize makes it sound like that was ages ago. But like how do you get mentally ready for game day. speaker-0: That's a question. It's actually something that I found I was trying to work through and learn this season because there were certain times or certain games that were pretty high stress. And you know, I'm I'm sitting next to Jordan and I just am like I feel I'm so nervous, like just thinking because as a player, what's so funny, and sorry this is gonna be an extended answer, but one of the biggest differences I have found as a player versus a coach is as a player, you're so focus internally on your own performance and you're so focused on yourself. Whereas as a coach, all I can think about is the entire team as a whole. How are we gonna play? Like what how are we gonna handle certain situations and just is the team gonna come out and work and do all the things that we worked on this week to help them prepare? Or are they not? You know, there's just so many unknowns leading up to a game. So I've really tried as the season went along to learn how to just not think about it, just really trust that whatever is meant to happen will happen and we just have to go from there. So that's funny that you asked that 'cause honestly it's quite hard. It's hard for me not to like be nervous and my hands are sweaty and I'm like, nah, what's gonna hap speaker-1: Yes. I mean that's what I I feel like I would have spent the whole season feeling that way. So that's that's and you can't really prepare for that ahead of time. you just gotta live it, right? so what's something that people may not know about Lindsey James? speaker-0: gosh, that's a great question. I wanna say I'm can't remember exact 'cause I think you asked the same question in the last time I was speaker-1: I wanted to see if it was gonna be different this time. speaker-0: I don't rem I don't remember what I said, but honestly it's probably saying like I just want people to know that like I'm a kind human and that I and I and I come and I care and that I'm just passionate about the game and helping players. develop and and reach their full potential. Like I think that's why I'm doing this ultimately is because I love getting to make an impact and I just want to be known as somebody who has made an impact on every single player I've I've worked with throughout my my whole career is just, you know, I want them to think of me as somebody like, yeah, she really helped me with this. Or, you know, I really appreciated Lindsay because she did this. Like I just want to make an impact on the people that I'm surrounded by. And so Yeah, I think. I don't really know if that's something maybe that's just I don't know if that answers the question, but speaker-1: It does. It does. And it also makes it even easier to cheer for you with an answer like that. That's for sure. I also want to know, maybe, you know, w we'll wrap up with this one here. When you when you zoom out and you s look at your journey, you look at your journey, your entire journey. You're playing days and now of course in this new chapter. you know, you think about being a player, a coach, a captain, all of the cool things that you've had an opportunity to do. What are you most proud of over your journey thus far? speaker-0: that's a that's a great question. I am really proud of I think the just the growth that I've had as a person, you know, like I'm I'm obviously so proud of the championships I've won and those in those big moments, but my time as an athlete and now departing my career as a hockey player and entering a new path. Like I'm just really proud of the the personal development that I've had and just who I am as a person and understanding my strengths and my weaknesses and trying to be better and and improve so I can ultimately make the impact that I want to make. Like just trying to I'm really proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone and trying new things and trying to work on the things that are really scary to me that maybe aren't so comfortable. Like I've really tried and I'm still working on it and some things are still really hard, but I'm just I'm proud that I'm trying to do it and it may not come on the first try, but I know that I'll get there because that's how you move move through life and you get to the places that you want to get to is by getting better. So yeah, I'm pr I'm that's what I would say I'm I'm proud of. speaker-1: Yeah. I always say that that the the the quote is kind of cliche, but life begins at the edge of your comfort zone. And this is a great example of that. Yeah. speaker-0: Totally agree. speaker-1: All right. And that wraps up the final buzzer segment of the show. And unfortunately, this episode, Lindsay, I knew that coming into this conversation it was gonna be a blast to I mean first and foremost, just to catch up, but to hear that about your transition to coaching. And again, like I just said a moment ago. Like it's so easy to cheer for it was so easy to cheer for you as a player. It's even easier to cheer for you as a coach as you're impacting the next generation and and so many others afterwards. This has been an absolute blast. And I and I cannot appreciate you and your time enough for making the time to join the show, to chat again, to return to the show and to have a great conversation. This has been an absolute absolute blast. So thank you so much. speaker-0: Thank you so much. I it was great to get to chat again and like you said, catch up and I really appreciate you willing to share my story and hopefully it helps somebody out there. But again, like I also just want to thank you for all the work that you're doing to help grow the women's game because I follow very closely on Twitter and everything and I just think the work that you're doing is also really important and really awesome. So thank you as well. speaker-1: but that's so kind of you to say. I really I really appreciate you saying that. That's that's like I said, that's very kind. Thank you. It's it's it's my pleasure and it the honor is all mine. The honor is all mine. and if you enjoyed this episode as much as we both did, make 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 Lindsay's 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 Run now.