Latest / Rinkside Rundown / Why India McDadi is Betting on Herself for the Next Level
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- speaker-0: I had a lot of determination and I really, really wanted to play division one hockey. And at the end of the day, like my dreams were fueling kind of my whole journey and I had a dream and I am someone who like I wanna give a hundred percent to everything and so I think I knew what I had to do to kinda get to that next level. 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 India McDaddy, a forward from Mississauga, Ontario, co captain at Brown University India. Welcome to the show. How are you doing? speaker-0: Thank you so much, Chris. I'm great. Thanks for having me. This is awesome. speaker-1: This is gonna be so much fun. I love this. I love this. I am so ready to dive in and learn more about you. So I wanna go back to Mississauga. I wanna go back to your roots, your origin story there. Do you remember when hockey went from something that you enjoyed to something that you wanted, of course, to keep enjoying, but to take a lot more seriously? speaker-0: Right, yeah. So I was lucky enough to grow up in ⁓ the Greater Toronto area, like you said, Mississauga, where hockey was huge. And so right away I was six, I was skating. ⁓ I think I transitioned to hockey when I was around eight years old. ⁓ and I was I grew up playing a lot of sports, so I was a pretty well rounded individual. And so I think hockey started to get really serious for me in grade nine, which was when I actually stopped playing every other sport but hockey. ⁓ and I went to my parents and I was like, I wanna do this, I love this and I really wanna ⁓ try to go N C double A division one and and it was kinda like then when I was like, Yes, this this this is serious to me now. speaker-1: Okay. So that's a lot later than most people will commit to kind of going that one sport route. What was that transition like for you to to commit now a hundred percent of your t attention and your your your training and all of those things now into hockey as opposed to also ⁓ divesting your interest in the other sports as well? What was that transition like for you? speaker-0: Yeah, I mean I've always grown up loving it. ⁓ and I I just love being busy and like I was a pretty athletic kid and always had a kind of a lot going on. ⁓ so definitely transitioning just transitioning just to hockey. ⁓ it was really exciting. It was an exciting time and ⁓ it was something that my parents were ready for and that I was ready for. And ⁓ it wasn't necessarily so much this huge transition transition. It was more so just ⁓ wow, like let's kinda bet on me and see how far I can kinda go right now. speaker-1: Well, that bet certainly is paid off, right? So you had mentioned about the fact that you played a lot of different sports. And I wanna highlight one in particular, and that's baseball. Yes. ⁓ because you played baseball to a very high level, and you also saw a lot of success in that as well. ⁓ first of all, before we get to some of the success that you had there more specifically, I do want to ask, what was it like for you? To be playing baseball, to be playing, I guess multiple, let's we can broaden it out as well if you want to, and just playing multiple sports. And and what were some of the takeaways from from being able to play different sports and including in your case, again, baseball, boys team, that competitive nature, what was that all like for you? speaker-0: Yeah, for sure. So I think growing up in the baseball environment, I was the only girl. ⁓ and so naturally I had to grow thicker skin. And I think that translated to my competitiveness and my competitive nature right off the bat. ⁓ I also think I was someone who really enjoyed being good at things and I wanted to really be good at as many things as I could be good at. And so I think ⁓ being emerged in baseball, being the only girl, I had to kind of work a step harder or s to get more recognition, more opportunities, kinda get that just because I was the only girl. And so I think that also added to my competitive nature ⁓ of just I was just an individual who really wanted to succeed. ⁓ and I think it allowed me to like, yeah, I had to grow thicker skin and I also had to get a little bit more competitive right off the bat. speaker-1: Now ⁓ I alluded to it, but when we talk about baseball, no big deal. But you being the only girl on the team too, you were the team's NVP. You were named NVP. ⁓ what was what did I guess what did that, you know, that recognition, what did that do as well for you when it comes to your confidence? It's clear that you have always been very confident. But winning and especially having to go through the that the the obstacles and and having to develop that thicker skin, but ultimately coming out the other side, I mean, that must have done something for your confidence. That must have also done something for sort of how you viewed yourself in sports as well. speaker-0: For sure. I think it was a huge boost to my confidence. I mean, like I mentioned, like I had to grow thicker skin. I had to be trying a lot harder. I had to like bring more competitive energy right off the bat. So finally getting that recognition was really awesome for me. And I definitely think that it led to me having a lot of confidence in my six in my like athletic abilities and especially thinking I can be at the same caliber as any boy. I think that was a really cool moment. I also think It was interesting because at such a young age I was the only girl and I was emerged in this environment where, ⁓ yeah, I was the only girl, but my parents didn't care, my brothers didn't care, my coaches didn't care. So I also like think I really had a great support system where I was able to thrive as an athlete because if my parents didn't care and I'm twelve years old, then why should I care that I'm the only girl? ⁓ so I do think that was like a really huge boost of confidence ⁓ for me within my athletic abilities for sure. Mm-hmm. speaker-1: Now, anyone who's listening or watching so far has probably been able to quickly identify how confident you are with speaking. And that is also due to, I mean, an innate confidence you have in yourself, but also a background in things like public speaking. ⁓ but you've also seen a lot of academic success. We're gonna get to some of it ⁓ of course, including your time at Brown. But when you think about things like winning s ⁓ the the you know speech competitions, which is something you've done, no big deal again. ⁓ graduating four point ⁓ no big deal. Again, more academic success. Just further emphasizing those points. That's what I'm doing here. How much did those experiences, especially early on, how much did those experiences really help support your growth and your development and help shape you into who you are now today? speaker-0: Yeah, for sure. I think ⁓ just growing up being such a well-rounded individual was so so I could talk a lot about how awesome that was in terms of my confidence, my competitiveness. I think ⁓ sure if I'd had a bad hockey practice or a bad game and then I the next day I won a speech competition, naturally my confidence is gonna kinda stay. ⁓ and I kinda alluded to this, but I really think that being good at a lot of things is a good feeling. And so naturally I was kind of a kid and an individual who wanted to try to have that. And so I think ⁓ it did a lot for my confidence. And also my parents put a lot of emphasis on academics. And academics was an important part of just like growing up. ⁓ and also part of the reason why I did pick Brown eventually. ⁓ so I do think that it was cool to be a part of a childhood where ⁓ you didn't have to just be super good at one thing, but You were actually encouraged to be good at a lot of different things, and that was also really special for my confidence. speaker-1: Mm-hmm. Now we've talked a lot about things ⁓ not related specifically to hockey so far in this conversation. But I do want to also talk about ⁓ your time with the Philadelphia Junior Flyers, of course. ⁓ we're gonna get into a little bit more of it in a moment, but I do want to kind of and give you the opportunity to reflect on that time, reflect on your junior career. And and you know, I it's it's maybe easy for a lot of us fans to look at a stat sheet and see goals, assists, points, plus minus, all of these different things. But that's such a foundational time for you, right? Both on and off the ice. What was that time like for you, your junior career that led up to and including your time with the with the Flyers? speaker-0: Yeah, for sure. So I guess COVID nineteen was a crazy part of my junior career. For two years hockey was shut down in ⁓ Toronto, so where I was from. And my senior year I was actually uncommitted. And that's when I made a decision. I went to my parents and I was like, I need if if my dreams are gonna come true, I have to do something and ⁓ I don't know how they agreed to it, but they let me move to a different country, which was awesome. ⁓ so I was able to get a spot on Philadelphia Junior Flyers and I spent my senior year there and I ended up committing October of my senior year, so a little late, but it was an unbelievable experience. It was really difficult. ⁓ I'm not gonna sugarcoat it. Like I was away from all my friends, my family. I was in a new country, playing on a new team, going to a new school. Like there was definitely a lot of adjustments, but at the end it all became worth it. I met some unbelievable people. My coaching staff really believed in me, which like was awesome. And I also think it was really cool to kind of work at something for so long and all the pieces come together. And so Philly was a really great year for me, ⁓ but it was also really hard, but I think it made the success so much more worth it. speaker-1: Yeah, and I I I want to touch on that a little bit because I think that shows a lot about your growth, your maturity, and certainly has set you up for the career that you've had, both on and off the ice. Again, very successful in both regards ⁓ to the to this point and inevitably in this next exciting chapter. What was for you, what did it actually mean to be able to challenge yourself, to go outside your comfort zone and to go to a different country? So many variables, so many unknowns. But ultimately see success, of course, on the stat sheet, of course, with the Flyers Captain. We're gonna get to again, we're gonna get to leadership and stuff like that in in a in a moment. But ⁓ there was a lot of success there. And so it's it taught it to me, that speaks volumes to who you are. But I'd love to hear from your perspective what did what did it mean to be able to overcome fear, unknown, variables, and come out the other side. And it worked out pretty well for you. speaker-0: Yeah, no, it was definitely really scary ⁓ to cut to make that jump. But I think I had a lot of determination and I really, really wanted to play division one hockey. And at the end of the day, like my dreams were fueling kind of my whole journey and I had a dream and I am someone who like I wanna give a hundred percent to everything and so I think I knew what I had to do to kinda get to that next level. ⁓ so yeah, it was extremely scary and I don't know how my parents agreed to send me to Philly alone. ⁓ like props to them. ⁓ but no, like reflecting on it, like absolutely I think I I grew a lot of confidence in myself too because yeah, it was a really challenging year, but like I proved to myself I can do hard things, I can overcome adversity, like ⁓ I can move to a different school and not know anyone and make friends. Like, ⁓ I think like a lot of things outside of hockey that definitely like I can learn how to take care of myself, live on my own. ⁓ yeah, there was just a lot of things that I learned that definitely I think was a really good foundation for not just my hockey career, but also my life ⁓ in general. Like I think it did ⁓ teach me a lot of like hard lessons, but lessons that definitely were worth being taught. speaker-1: Yeah, and it obviously paid off at Brown. It's certainly gonna pay off in this next chapter as well. There's still ⁓ we're going into another time where there's so many variables and so many unknowns, but you're sitting there saying, Hey, I've done this before. This is nothing. This is nothing. So ⁓ I wanna talk about Brown more specifically. You you alluded to ⁓ some of the reasons academically that ⁓ Brown made a lot of sense for you. But what were some of those other reasons for you that you know you sat back and you're like Yeah, ⁓ like Brown, this this this is this is probably gonna be the place for me. I like I like the sounds of that. speaker-0: Yeah, ⁓ for sure. I mean, I think it was really cool. I connected right off the bat with the coaching staff and that was really important for me. So, ⁓ I was actually coach Melanie Ru Rusie's first recruited class and ⁓ there was a l like I went and I met with her and I really liked her values. I liked I I do I think so highly of her, I still do, and I think right off the bat I could tell she was not only gonna be a really good coach, but also a really good person and that's something that ⁓ really resonates with me. And then I was only on campus for three hours. And within those three hours, I really got a taste of the cult team culture. ⁓ I walked around the school. It was beautiful. ⁓ just met some of the girls and I really knew it it felt really right. And I guess that's corny and cheesy, but it it definitely did. And I think my dad was with me and he absolutely could kind of see that this was definitely the place for me. So I think it was a level of being able to come into a program and try to build something, which I think I I really appreciated that opportunity, but also like the team culture there already was phenomenal. ⁓ walking around campus was beautiful. And of course like it's such a great academic school. And so I think it was kind of a no brainer in my eyes. speaker-1: Yeah, checked a lot of those boxes, ⁓ Mike? You have throughout your your collegiate career, of course, ⁓ again, looking specifically at the stat sheets, I mean, you always seem to appear on every ⁓ you know, in every game, score sheets, all those sorts of things. Great great offensive seasons, often right up there leading your team in a lot of different offensive categories. But for you, of course that's great. Like the hockey side of you is like, yeah, I I love being I love I love seeing those results. But for you, could you talk about the growth that you've seen in yourself? Maybe from, you know, when you first walked in first year to now, as you ⁓ as you leave, as it's now in your rear view mirror as you embark on this next chapter, which I'm sure is crazy. ⁓ what's what's what where would you say you've grown the most? How would you say you've grown through the the past it's through your collegiate career? speaker-0: Yeah, no, it's it's a really good question. And I think ⁓ like for starters coming in my freshman year, I ⁓ it was a lot. It was new, there was a lot of unknowns, ⁓ there was a lot of pressure, like ⁓ time management. I was I was dealing with a lot of school, a whole new hockey team, like there's a lot of new ⁓ things going on. So I think naturally I was uncomfortable and I also think I was really used to playing this skilled fast game and NCAA is definitely that, but it's also a level of physicality that I was just not used to. ⁓ and I think that I struggled with that physicality my freshman year. ⁓ and so I think my end of the year meeting, I talked to my coaches, I had to put on muscle, like I had to come back stronger and ⁓ that's what I did. And I think after that, ⁓ I kind of really learned to like appreciate and love the physicality. ⁓ so definitely I would say like the physicality in terms of my hockey game, like I ⁓ was a huge growth point for me. And then outside of that, I think it's really cool to kind of reflect on like just my like leadership and whatnot and like that impact and that space. I think I've not ⁓ naturally always been this confident, but I think I've been in positions where I've had to be confident. And I think ⁓ I've really been able to grow not only like from a hockey standpoint, but also from like a like just a person as well. speaker-1: I hardly believe that you haven't always been this confident. I hardly believe that. ⁓ okay. ⁓ and that's that's totally fair. And and you had mentioned time management, and I think that's one of those keys about university or collegiate life that maybe sometimes hits you pretty hard and you're not necessarily expecting it, especially when you're trying to balance everything that now is in front of you. How did you find time management? How did you find the balance of being able to well balance the academic side and continued success that you saw there? And then of course on the ice where I've already established you're seeing success there too. What was that balance like for you? And maybe how long did it take you before you realized like, nope, I got it now? speaker-0: Yeah, yeah. ⁓ I think it also comes back to being like such a well rounded individual growing up. I think I was always busy and I always had a lot going on. So naturally like that wasn't that crazy. I think obviously freshman year was a huge adjustment and I would say that ⁓ you just learn by doing and that's naturally how I I was emerged in an uncomfortable situation and I had to figure it out and I I ultimately did, but I think you just learn by doing more. Like You learn how to better schedule your classes, you learn what to prioritize better. ⁓ you learn just like different study habits that help you. And so I think it it really was just a I'm gonna learn by doing because I kinda have to. speaker-1: Yeah. I mean, sometimes you just have to do it. You don't have time to think about how or why or what you're gonna do. You just have to do it. And so that's fair. Yeah. ⁓ you know, now that and I asked this similar question about your ti your junior career and how it helped to form you into who you are now. I wanna do the same here. Like when you think about Brown, first of all, what are you most proud of from your time there, whether it's your own individual, I'm not gonna say accomplishments, let's be real. Like it's about the team and ⁓ about the program. You have had many accomplishments. I want to make sure that's clear. But ⁓ I get it that it's about the team. But what are some of those things that you're really proud of for yourself in your growth, as well as certainly with the program, which is ⁓ moving in a really great direction. speaker-0: Yeah, no, it's really cool to kind of like take a step back and reflect on Brown as a whole. I think the thing that I'm the most proud of is being able to like lead such a unbelievable group of girls. ⁓ I can't speak highly enough about my teammates. ⁓ they're so awesome and it's really cool to be in a position where I am able to lead them and I think that it's made me a better person and it's challenged me in a lot of ways that I don't think I would have that experience elsewhere. ⁓ and so I think it's just been such an honor and responsibility to be a captain the past two years. ⁓ and then also just like the trajectory of the team is really cool. I think ⁓ I came in as a freshman my class and and I can't remember how many games we won, but I we've we've done a lot, a lot better and I think that's just like a huge reflection of my coaching staff and how dedicated they are and also just like the team dynamic and team culture, like I can't say enough great things about my time. I've had so much fun and and it's it's just really cool to like reflect on the continued success of the team and to see how far they're gonna continue to go. speaker-1: ⁓ maybe I'm asking this just a l s ⁓ a moment too late ⁓ in terms of the chronological order, but I'll ask it anyway because that that r that kind of sparks something where I wanna know as well from you when you like how important was it or maybe how valuable has it been that you've been a part of a program that wasn't necessarily when you think of NCAA, you know, you think of often people will think of you know, Quinepiac or they're thinking about Boston University or these other programs that are typically, you know, ⁓ of course, at the top of the standings and whatnot. Wha how important for you was it to maybe be a part of something that was growing, that was establishing itself, that was maybe not where anyone wanted it to be, but you are now leaving it in a vi in a much, much better place in a really, really good trajectory. How important was that for you in your growth too? speaker-0: Yeah, no, it was absolutely important. ⁓ I think like nothing comes easy and especially like coming into a program where I was able to kind of, yeah, build that foundation and help set that trajectory was really special to me and and ⁓ it's it's a really cool feeling just to look upon that. ⁓ I also just think like I I give I give a lot of credit to our my coaching staff and the support staff at Brown University. Like I do think that ⁓ they've done a tremendous job with bringing the program and like Coach Melanie Rusey and all the assistant coaches have done just a really good job of like setting new standards and kind of making sure that the program continues on this trajectory. ⁓ but no, absolutely I think ⁓ like Brown made a lot of sense in my head for a lot of different reasons. But at the end of the day, it's really cool now, especially to look back and and realize how how far the program has come. And I I yeah, it it it's a really cool feeling for sure. speaker-1: You have been, as I established off the top, and I've spoken about since you have been a leader throughout your journey, ⁓ at you know, in junior, now of course in collegiate, inevitably professionally at some point, of course. ⁓ could you talk about your growth as a leader and maybe w how you view you of course, your own leadership style, but what is a leader really mean to you? speaker-0: Yeah, for sure. So I think it's interesting. I had two years of leadership experience at Brown. So as a junior I was an assistant captain and then this senior year I was a co-captain with Jada Genla. And so I think having that A my first year was really cool because I just got used to being a part of a leadership group and I definitely got used to like our weekly meetings or like having tough conversations or learning how to speak in a locker room. ⁓ Or just yeah, in general, I think it was a really great learning year. And then now transitioning, talking about getting a C, like I really do feel like I found my voice and I had a lot more confidence. So I think having two years of leadership experience was really helpful. In terms of like what it means to be a leader, ⁓ I do think that I'm someone who loves high energy. I'm a really competitive, high spirited person. So I like to kind of try to emulate that as much as I can. And I think ⁓ like compliments go a long way, shin taps go a long way. And I think you do play your best hockey when you're having fun. And ⁓ like at Brown we have like a lot of fun on the ice and I think I just kinda wanted to to try to create that atmosphere as much as I could. And so that was kind of the leadership style that I took. More so like a lead by example, good high energy, high compete kind of leader. And ⁓ yeah, it was it's it's been a a really unbelievable experience. speaker-1: have also had the opportunity to see a lot of opponents makes and we're gonna with this is the kind of bridge into the PWHL conversation that I know you're like Chris I'm just ready to talk about the PWHL. ⁓ we're gonna get there, I promise. But you've seen a lot of teammates you've seen a lot of ⁓ of opponents move on to their professional careers, see success So I wanted to know from you when you think about seeing that and you think about of course, first of all, it's you know, I'm sure you're like, you know, I'm super happy for them, but it does that add also some fuel, some some some added passion and incentive, maybe not quite the words I'm looking for, but in terms of your own journey, in terms of you making that leap as well. speaker-0: Yeah, I I think it's really cool. I mean, I think ⁓ Brown has some alumni that have definitely gone pro and it's really cool to be able to utilize our alumni network. Like I've definitely been able to pick up the phone and ask for advice and talk to individuals. ⁓ I was just texting Kaylee Doyle the other day. Like I think just in general, like it's really cool to see those individuals take the next step. ⁓ I also think it's really cool, like my roommate, co-captain and best friend Jade is like kind of in a similar position and ⁓ it's been really cool just to like connect on a lot of different things. I mean, we've played together our past four years and now we're at this stage where like we're both hoping to take the next step and I'm also really excited for her and to see like her journey progress as well. I can't say enough great things about her. ⁓ but I do think it's really cool to just kind of be in this scenario where I do have such a great support system. speaker-1: How valuable was it or has it been for you to be able to go through this with someone? Because I there again, like there's a there are a lot of unknowns and a lot of unknowns seems to be the ⁓ you know, maybe it could be your autobiography, ⁓ the title for your autobiography. But there have been a lot of unknowns throughout your career as you're making decisions to to progress your your development. ⁓ but having somebody who is going through something similar at the same time. Now you're not at least you're not now doing it by yourself. So how important has that been for you too? speaker-0: Yeah, it's been awesome. ⁓ just to think also about like our our growth throughout our freshman year to now to being co captains together and just being able to lean on her like I lean on her on a in a lot of different ways, but especially hockey, like ⁓ it it's really cool. I think ⁓ she's she yeah, I I actually can't say enough good things about her. I could rave about her. ⁓ but no, it's been really awesome to have her by my side and just have her throughout these four years and I also think It's been really great to have ⁓ my parents and my dad and and ⁓ kinda be able to lean on them for support too. I'm I'm really lucky to have such a great support system for sure. speaker-1: Yep, absolutely. And so we've put off the actual conversation around PWHL. We've dangled it a little bit. ⁓ but now let's dive in. Let's actually have that conversation because of course this is a really exciting chapter for you, the potential to to be playing professional hockey, best on best, night in, night out. ⁓ we're I'm gonna start with just how are you approaching this? How are you preparing for this? How are you feeling as the draft is on the horizon? speaker-0: Yeah, I mean I think first and foremost, like a lot of gratitude. I think it's really cool, like just women's sports and women's hockey and the trajectory of the whole league in general. ⁓ I'm really grateful to be able to continue to hopefully keep playing and I think ⁓ that's due to like incredible women that have forged the path. So I think a lot of gratitude. Definitely like a lot of excitement, a lot of nerves. I think ⁓ like you said, I'm I'm pretty used to being uncomfortable and in positions where I'm not necessarily sure what the next step is, but hoping that'll work out and I do think I'm just trying to bet on myself in in any way that I can. So definitely a lot of excitement, gratitude and just just gonna s see and and wait. speaker-1: Yeah, I mean that's all you can do at this point, right? Yeah, control the controllables. When you think about your full journey, so you think about, you know, where it started in Mississauga, all of those, you know, the rinks, the time at ⁓ time on the ice. You think about your time also, of course, with ⁓ the flyers, you think about Brown. How have all of those moments maybe helped to set you up and prepare you? for this next step. We've kind of touched on one being, you know, being able to I ⁓ adapt to the uncertainty has certainly been something that's been paid off. But what are some of those other moments that have helped to prepare you to take this big jump into the PWHL? speaker-0: Yeah, I mean, I think I have naturally ha like I've been able to develop a lot of confidence. And I also think that I've learned that I can do really hard, challenging things. My journey has been unbelievable and I wouldn't change it for the world. ⁓ but there's been a lot of ups and downs and it's definitely been difficult. And I think that having that confidence and knowing that ⁓ it's meant to be difficult and and that's like kind of part of the journey, ⁓ is something that I've definitely I'm definitely thinking about and definitely like considering ⁓ within the next part of my journey for sure. speaker-1: Now, you touched on it a little bit as well about about the PWHL and and and women's sports in of course in general as well. You are, you know, we're we're ⁓ nearing the end of the third season of the league. We continue to see record attendance, we continue to see so much engagement on social media, so much engagement. ⁓ in in various other forms as well. It's it's a fan, it's an incredible time, long overdue. I cannot emphasize that enough. I'm sure that you'll more than echo that. ⁓ but ⁓ you're gonna be stepping into this league at a really, really exciting time. ⁓ sort of, you know, you talk about when you talked earlier about the bill helping to build the foundation at Brown. You're also potentially helping to build a foundation at the PWHL. What is it what would it mean to have the opportunity to play professionally? to see those dreams that you've had throughout your entire journey actually come to fruition. speaker-0: Yeah, it it's it's unbelievable to think about and also just think about like where it started. I think also playing on all these boys' teams at such a young age and never really having never really being able to l exactly have a tangible to look up to. I think I was doing a lot of hockey camps and it was all boys and everyone wanted to play in the NHL and I was sitting there and I didn't really know what to say and I think it's just really special to c now reflect and and know that there is a tangible and and women's hockey is taking off in definitely the right direction. ⁓ so it's just a really special time and I'm hoping to be a part of something to help ⁓ young girls be able to have those same dreams that I n not ne didn't necessarily have when I was younger. speaker-1: So then that begs the question and I really appreciate you ⁓ h helping with this segue here. Because ⁓ I do want to know as well, you know, when you ⁓ the the the saying is like, you know, when you can see it, you can be it. Mm-hmm. You are now, you know, there are gonna be there are gonna be fans in the stands with their signs, with their jerseys, you know, have they have, you know, India McDaddy on them, things like that. What do you think it means? Especially when you look at your own journey to you know, be in f be able to play in front of these young girls who then do have somebody that they can look up to. They do have somebody, you know, that they can see that looks like them. What is that gonna also mean to you if we if we could dive into that a little bit more too? speaker-0: Yeah, ⁓ it's so special and it's really cool just to think about. ⁓ I think it it's just such an unbelievable opportunity and and ⁓ the the girls already playing in the P W H L and the girls that created the league, like they've done such incredible things, especially even for girls in college. Like now we have a league to hopefully try to play for after we graduate and that's just special in itself. ⁓ but no, I think it it's it's awesome. It's such an honor. It's also like a huge responsibility and I think ⁓ it's just such an exciting time in in general in women's sports and and women's hockey, like I said. So so just kind of being able to to try to help build that foundation is something really meaningful. I think I I love hockey. I grew up loving hockey and to be able to have had more of a tangible role model would have been awesome. And and just to be in that opportunity where I can hopefully try to try to help and and be that for young girls is just like such an incredible speaker-1: We are going to move on to the final buzzer segment of the show. It's a fun, rapid fire way to wrap up the conversation. And I always put the disclaimer, it's only rapid fire for me. I'm going to try to ask the fewest follow-up questions possible. You can take as much time as you'd like to answer the question. ⁓ so we are going to start off with what is your go to pregame meal? speaker-0: I'm a big pasta person. I love pasta and broccoli and spinach and then some protein and I also always have to have beet juice. Kinda weird, but it it definitely helps with my endurance. speaker-1: Okay. Interesting. Interesting. That's that's a first. Cross that off the list. Is it did you ⁓ I already asking follow question. Is it right before the ⁓ your you hit the ice or is this just on game day? speaker-0: Yes. This is like three hours po like pre game. ⁓ is when I try to get yeah. It it's supposed to help with endurance and I do actually feel a difference. I started doing it my sophomore year and it's kinda just been like a superstitious thing that I do now. speaker-1: Well it's certainly paid off. So if it's yeah, keep keep doing it. ⁓ I I think I already know the answer to this one, but if you weren't playing hockey, what sport do you think you'd be playing? speaker-0: Baseball for sure or tennis. ⁓ I grew up in a big tennis family and my dad played tennis ⁓ professionally, so one of those two. speaker-1: Okay, fair. ⁓ what is something that maybe your teammates ⁓ would say about you? Like ⁓ the first word that they would use to describe you, whether it's on the ice, maybe off the ice? speaker-0: That's a good one. Probably competitive. ⁓ I feel like I'm a pretty competitive person. ⁓ high energy maybe too. One of those two. speaker-1: Yeah. I mean I I I probably would have gone with one of those two. So that's fair. That's fair. ⁓ what is maybe some small habit, something that you found to be really successful for you on game day to kind of get into game day readiness? What's something that you do that helps you do so? speaker-0: ⁓ pretty superstitious. I feel like I'm a creature of habit, so I like to have a routine because it makes me feel the best for game days. ⁓ and I would say out of my routine, I'm huge on visualization. ⁓ I think it definitely helps being able to you kinda alluded to this, but being able to see yourself do good things and then actually like try to hopefully go out and do those things. ⁓ I think visualization's a huge part of ⁓ my pregame routine and just like a small habit that I definitely do. speaker-1: What's on your ⁓ game day playlist? speaker-0: ⁓ it's a lot of rap. I'm a big rap person. I love Drake. I'm from Toronto, so I have to love him. Of course. I also I'm really into house music these days. ⁓ so so something Drake, something house music, that kind of vibe. speaker-1: Okay, I'm going to end with this one. When you think about your younger self, go go back to being your younger self. What do you think you would tell her back in Mississauga about the journey ahead? What advice might you give her? speaker-0: Yeah. I mean, I guess it's kinda corny, but things do really work out. ⁓ and it's definitely gonna be like a roller coaster. There's gonna be ups and downs, but ⁓ I've been lucky enough to have such an unbelievable group of people beside me and to I think also just being on a hockey team and and being in that environment, like I've made a lot of my best friends, ⁓ absolutely. So just being able to kind of tell my younger self that and just like really enjoy the journey, enjoy the process and know that like things do work out. It is Pretty cheesy, but i it's true. speaker-1: It's true. And it's certainly worked out so far for you. So I can't ⁓ I mean it's it's it's working. So ⁓ that wraps up the final buzzer segment. That wraps up also, unfortunately, today's episode. So, India, this has been an absolute blast. Time flew by. You are absolutely super easy to root for. So I know I speak for so many people out there when I say good luck in this next chapter. You're a friend of the show, and I just cannot thank you. enough for taking the time out of your busy schedule to join the show, share your story. Like I said, this has been a blast. Thanks so much. speaker-0: Yeah, thank you, Chris. I really appreciate it. It's been ⁓ really fun for me too. speaker-1: It I'm so glad. And if you enjoyed this episode as well, 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 India's from around the world of win women's hockey. I'm Chris Sinclair. Thank you so much for tuning in and I'll catch you next time on Ringside Run.