Latest / Rinkside Rundown / Viivi Vainikka on Staying Grounded, Representing Finland, and the Pursuit of the PWHL

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Viivi Vainikka on Staying Grounded, Representing Finland, and the Pursuit of the PWHL · Rinkside Rundown

• Speaker 1: It's amazing that that league is now there and they give so much opportunities to young girls and ⁓ yeah, girls in general to ⁓ dream and ⁓ yeah, just ⁓ catch up that dream and I think yeah, I'm just so happy that it it came and just so excited. Speaker 2: 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 and honored to be joined by B. V. Vinica, a Finnish forward who has had an impressive SDHL career, and that's putting it lightly. And someone preparing for the next chapter of her hockey journey as she looks ahead to the twenty twenty six PWHL draft. Vivi, welcome to the show. How are you doing? Speaker 1: I'm doing good. Thank you. Great to be here. Speaker 2: I'm so excited to have you on the show and to learn more about you. And I wanna start by finding out a little bit more about how you found the game of hockey or maybe how hockey ultimately found you. Yeah. Speaker 1: ⁓ just ⁓ having fun with the friends. I played a lot ⁓ at school. ⁓ it was just so fun to me that I I wanted to try and I I've been sticking around since then. Speaker 2: Yeah, it it it certainly has worked out for you. So I'm glad that you stuck with it. ⁓ you so you, you know, you've mentioned ⁓ a few times in the past about those early days, about playing with your friends. I feel like the answer kind of it's it kind of answers itself here or the question answers itself here, but what do you remember about those early days, about what it felt like to be able to play this sport with your friends and build like a foundation of like, I just really love this sport. Didn't feel forced to do it. You just did it 'cause you got to spend time with friends and have fun. Speaker 1: Yeah, exactly. Like that was the whole whole point about it. Just ⁓ be with the friends, have fun. But then the same time like the competition between us. ⁓ it was ⁓ it was it was so much fun and ⁓ I think that was also one of the things that I liked a lot. ⁓ and ⁓ yeah, ⁓ that's why. Speaker 2: Absolutely. ⁓ what did I guess then, you know, what when you think about the hockey culture, the the the passion for the sport ⁓ within Finland, what was that like from you for or for you from from that perspective, especially early on in your career? Did you find that there was, you know, a lot of support for you in the in the in the space? There was a lot of excitement for the sport. ⁓ or have you seen that kind of continue to grow as you've continued to grow in the sport? Speaker 1: Yeah, for sure. Like I I played a lot of with guys and boys. Like yeah, boys when I was younger and at that time I didn't really know about like how how ⁓ far you can go as a girl. ⁓ there was no ⁓ highest leagues like ⁓ in North America or something. So I I never like dream ⁓ dream about it like from a girl. So I always thought that I'd be playing NHL. But yeah, like I mean, ⁓ ⁓ yeah, for sure. Like it's it's it has been ⁓ better and better every year. ⁓ it's still a lot of things to do better in here in Finland too. Like like ⁓ for the smaller girls. But I mean it's yeah, it's getting better every year. ⁓ so yeah, that's a good thing. Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I agree with that. Yeah. And then having ⁓ role models like you, and we'll get into this later on as well, but having role models like you, ⁓ that's inspiring for the next generation as well. And I think that's really ⁓ that's really exciting for your own hockey journey as well. ⁓ so when we look at your junior career, ⁓ I I also wanted to highlight the fact that at a very young age, 15, you joined Niceton Liga, you made your d debut ⁓ within that league. What was that like for you to de make your debut in one of Finland's top leagues? What was that like for you? What experience did that instill or did that give you or so early on in your career? Speaker 1: Yeah, it was lot of fun. I mean I enjoyed it a lot, but it was also like ⁓ what I wanted to do. ⁓ and it was a big s big step for me at that time. ⁓ but it definitely ⁓ helped me a lot to to develop and ⁓ get better ⁓ playing against ⁓ bigger and stronger girls. It was ⁓ it was a really good thing for me and I I really enjoyed it. Speaker 2: What was that like for your confidence too? Cause see, like you said, like playing against, like, I mean, first of all, it was a big unc probably an uncomfortable jump. But also, ⁓ you know, you're playing like you said, you're playing against top players, right? Like though it's not easy to do at such a young age, but to see the success that you had, what did that do for your confidence so early on in your journey? Speaker 1: Yeah, for sure. It gives gives you a confidence when you see that you can ⁓ you can play there. ⁓ it definitely helps ⁓ and gives you a motivation to be even better. and then also yeah, it was just like it was a good thing and ⁓ it was it was really really great to play against ⁓ older older ones. So it helped me a lot. Speaker 2: Now, ⁓ you've had the opportunity to represent your country, Finland, of course, on a number of different occasions. We're gonna get to a few more in just a few moments. But early on in your career, you also had the opportunity to represent Finland at the U eighteen's, the world championships, winning bronze. When, you know, of course, winning is great. There's a lot that comes with winning. ⁓ man, that's really what you're doing it for, right? It's about the winning. But ⁓ for you, I guess ⁓ I'm gonna ask a two-part question. What was that experience like for you? ⁓ that that that tournament winning and having the opportunity to win, but what did that winning teach you because you won at such a young age, what did that teach you about what it takes to s to be successful in the sport? Speaker 1: Yeah, for sure. Like ⁓ it was awesome. ⁓ awesome to experience that and ⁓ it definitely gives you ⁓ like a confidence and motivation for for the future, but it also shows that nothing comes for free, like you have to work really hard for it and ⁓ yeah, it was definitely a din came ⁓ an easy way. Like ⁓ if you wanna win it it takes a lot. It's it's really hard to do actually. Speaker 2: Mm-hmm. you've mentioned there have been a few, ⁓ and I'm sure that there's even more, but there you've mentioned a few role models, a few mentors throughout your journey. So I wanted to to touch on a couple of them. One that pertains right here in Ottawa, ⁓ so Ottawa Charge fans are very familiar with her, but I wanna start with Rika Salinen and you've mentioned her impact. on you. Could you maybe expand on that and what she's meant to you? Speaker 1: Yeah, a lot. ⁓ she was ⁓ with the national team when I when I came there in my first ⁓ first camps and tournaments and she was ⁓ from start like helping me and ⁓ taking me in in a really good way and ⁓ told me what it takes and ⁓ just ⁓ being able to see her every day there and ⁓ I get get a lot of tips from her and it it really helped me and ⁓ I'm I'm forever grateful for that. Speaker 2: Yeah, and so I'm assuming the same can be said for the one and only Ronia Sevelainen and her the mentorship that she's been able to provide you specifically, especially with the national team, is that fair to say as well? Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah. She ⁓ she's like a big ⁓ big sister for me. ⁓ she ⁓ when I came to Sweden, ⁓ she ⁓ she was ⁓ helping me. I was ⁓ spending a lot of time with her, ⁓ outside of the hockey too. ⁓ she she told me and teach me things outside of hockey and I was ⁓ pretty young at that time. So there was a lot of ⁓ good things I learned from ⁓ from her. ⁓ and also on the ice too, like she's always pushing me forward and ⁓ help me ⁓ with everything I needed. So ⁓ yeah, forever grate grateful for her too. Speaker 2: You have set me up perfectly with this next ⁓ for this next question. And that's, you know, having those role models. ⁓ again, you know, because we're focused on your on your ⁓ you know, earlier days, that's why I keep harping on the fact that like that building that foundation and having those mentors and having those people who can support you on and off the ice, help you learn on and off the ice is so important. But could you maybe talk about how important it's been for you to have those role models to To not just be able to see them, but you're like you're playing with them. You're right there with them ⁓ in those moments. How important that was for you in your growth, especially again laying that foundation in your ⁓ in your early days. Speaker 1: a lot. Like seeing ⁓ how they handle situations, ⁓ and just being able to see how they ⁓ work every day and ⁓ yeah, it's just something where you can't ⁓ yeah, buy from anywhere else. It's just like you have to see them work work in a daily basics and ⁓ you you just try to catch ⁓ so much tips and ⁓ whatever from them and ⁓ use them in your own own career and ⁓ in a harder situation what comes up and ⁓ yeah, it's just like ⁓ so much good good things from them. Speaker 2: Yeah, nothing beats on-the-job training and mentorship like that, right? Like you can't you just can't buy that anywhere else, right? ⁓ so as I had mentioned, ⁓ you were in the Nice Nice Liga, and then you ultimately have made ⁓ later on in your journey made the switch to or moved to the SDHL. And I wanted to talk about that. choice and that choice in your development because at least statistically speaking, it didn't look like you missed a beat. Like it looked like you were very comfortable making that switch and that it probably came at the right time. But that's just looking at his at stat sheets. There's more to it than that. So I want to hear from your perspective what went into that decision and how did you find that transition? Speaker 1: Yeah. In Lula at that time it was a lot of ⁓ lot of girls who played in ⁓ national team same time. ⁓ so Yenny Hyrikowski who has been ⁓ she has been a longtime captain in the national team and ⁓ yeah, everyone knows her. ⁓ So ⁓ those her and many others ⁓ top players, ⁓ also from other countries. So I I thought that I would be ⁓ best environment for me to get better, ⁓ learn from the best. And ⁓ yeah, that worked out really good. I ⁓ I really enjoyed my time there and ⁓ yeah, I learned ⁓ a lot. ⁓ but yeah it was definitely biggest reason was that I I could ⁓ play with them and see how they work and yeah. Speaker 2: Yeah, it definitely ⁓ again speaking specifically s about statistics, it certainly paid off and it has certainly set helped to set you up for this next chapter, which I I can't wait to talk about at as we at the end of this conversation. ⁓ so again, we've seen on statistically how that ⁓ how that move went for you, but there's a lot more to it. There's a lot of things that happen off the ice. So I wanted to learn as well, what was that experience like for you? Like What did you learn about yourself away from the ice? Because on the ice, your skill set translated. I mean, I'm sure there was an adjustment, but it translated quite ⁓ successfully onto the ice. But for you, off of the ice, where did you grow and and learn the most ⁓ from that experience? Speaker 1: Yeah, you you gotta you're going to spend a lot of time by yourself too. ⁓ and especially at that time when you are so young you kinda yeah, you miss family and you miss friends and ⁓ you are in a different country. ⁓ luckily Sweden is kinda similar to Finland, so it's it's not that big difference. But anyways you are f ⁓ far away from ⁓ home. ⁓ and then also like ⁓ yeah, how you just everything from cooking to ⁓ cleaning everything like you you kinda learn it and ⁓ yeah, kinda like ⁓ just being by yourself more. Speaker 2: D and and what did that independence teach you about yourself as well? I I I love like to have the opportunity to learn more than just the skills on the on the ice. That's something that I that I feel really passionate about. So learning like the independence. Like you got a crash course on what it was like to be an adult. ⁓ and what was so what was it like for you to to learn that independence and to ultimately You know, you learned it while you're also trying to be successful on the ice. You're trying to find that balance. And that balance isn't always easy. But I mean, it certainly looked easy from the outside. What was it like from the inside, especially that independence piece for you? Speaker 1: Yeah, definitely like you said, it's the balance with both. ⁓ both things, like you wanna get better on the eyes, but also ⁓ in the life there's like so much things you can learn and you have to learn ⁓ when you get older. and then definitely like ⁓ just ⁓ being able to ⁓ live by yourself and yeah, just getting older kinda. That's like or like growing up, ⁓ That's the biggest reason and then also ⁓ it helps you a lot of in the future when you when you know how to live by yourself and ⁓ survive in a other way and then like well you have to learn how to fix things by yourself. ⁓ so it's it's definitely helps a lot in the future. Speaker 2: Yeah, and that future very well could be right around the corner for you. So it's certainly ⁓ let's see how well it paid off for you. I'm sure it'll be just as great as it has been throughout the rest of your journey. ⁓ be f so ⁓ we're gonna talk about the PWHL and the draft ⁓ in just a moment, but I also wanted to talk about the fact that you made the decision not to declare ⁓ heading into last the last draft as well. And you had cited ⁓ Brinus Ives ⁓ GM Erica Graham. As being her vision for that program being the ultimate reason why, I guess I should have said that's the team that you were playing for. but you ⁓ but you ultimately said like that vision and her vision is what really stood out to you as a at least one of the reasons why you said, you know what, I'm not going to declare. Could you talk maybe more about that? And and maybe I'm completely off base and maybe I didn't I didn't get it there, but that's kind of the impression that I got was that it was that vision. that kind of s kept you there. But could you talk about more about that vision and and ultimately why you chose not to declare at that point? Speaker 1: Of course. ⁓ yeah. I was in Lula like a really long time, five years. ⁓ and I thought that ⁓ I wanna I wanna change the environment a little bit and I still thought that there is things I wanna get better at hockey and maybe like ⁓ develop myself ⁓ even more and I I really wanna feel ready when I step ⁓ step in ⁓ bigger leagues and ⁓ So yeah, that was like I I had a really good ⁓ conversation with Erica and ⁓ it worked ⁓ it it was really good environment, really good club with ⁓ with ⁓ good coaches and ⁓ good teammates and everything. It was just ⁓ perfect fit for me and ⁓ I thought that that would be a good time to change the environment and ⁓ learn something something else and ⁓ being able to Yeah, being in ⁓ other places too before I jump ⁓ out of Sweden. Speaker 2: Mm-hmm. Yes. And to clarify, I meant that you ultimately played last season with Brinness. ⁓ before, of course, it was ⁓ Lulia. So just to ⁓ just yeah, it sounded like I I misspoke there, but I kind of jumped the gun a little bit. But yes, that's what that's what I meant. Yes, absolutely. Yeah. A decision that you made to ultimately stay there and you join Brinness from Lulia. and You know, you've you one of the things and again, we're gonna kind of jump to the PWHL bit of a conversation there before we ⁓ come back to your ⁓ your time with the the national program, but you've you were very honest last year when you said that ultimately the PWHL was your dream. That's where you wanted to play, but you j that you just you didn't feel at that point that you were ready to make that jump. That you were there was still time to grow, there was still time to develop. You've mentioned The program ⁓ with Greenus a little bit as well. ⁓ but I what I wanted to do was highlight, you know, that that self-awareness piece, that understanding of where you are in your growth. And despite the fact I'm sure you wanted to d to declare for the draft, but you chose not to. That self-awareness piece I really wanted to highlight. Could you talk about that self-awareness? Has that been something that you've always had throughout your career, like a clear understanding of where you are? where you wanna be and then how you're going to get there. Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, yeah, for sure. I I wanna play there as soon as possible, but I also wanna be smart. I ⁓ I thought by myself ⁓ that I ⁓ that's the best decision for me to stay one more year in Sweden and ⁓ work ⁓ work everything ⁓ to be a little better. And ⁓ I wanna like I said, ⁓ I wanna feel ready when I jump there and why I wanna have that confidence. ⁓ and ⁓ And that way I can play play the best game. And ⁓ yeah, it's it's definitely like I think it's smart to think ⁓ a little bit where you are and ⁓ where what things you wanna devolve and ⁓ I think like I said, ⁓ Brunus was just ⁓ perfect fit for me and I knew that I there I can ⁓ I can dev default those things what I wanna and ⁓ then I then I will feel more ready. Speaker 2: Yeah, I guess it's it's interesting because I don't know that I I know I wouldn't necessarily have to be able to have that same ⁓ restraint. So to be able to to see you ⁓ so aware of where you ⁓ where you are in your development is just maybe an admirable quality ⁓ for sure. I wanted to also, you know, when you think about your SDHL career as a whole, could you talk about that growth that you've gone through maybe when you started in the SDHL and now that you're that you're I'm gonna say graduating from the program, but that you're ultimately leaving the ⁓ the league. Could you talk about that growth that you've gone through over the over the years? Speaker 1: Yeah, it was ⁓ when I first came there it was like you couldn't really hit. Like the rule there was like ⁓ it was not allowed and the hitting rule actually came like ⁓ yeah, three years ago maybe. But that was also like ⁓ like the physicality like the how ⁓ fusish the game is. Like it's like the players are so much stronger and ⁓ bigger and skilled. So it was like just from the first season to the last season, it's like the game has grown and being faster and faster. From that way also, like every season when I step on a new new season, so I have been wanted to be even stronger and faster and ⁓ yeah, being always like ⁓ a couple of steps ahead. So I ⁓ yeah, just wanted to work really hard and ⁓ it's it has been a perfect league for that. Speaker 2: Mm-hmm. Absolutely. in, you know, we we spoke earlier about the your first opportunity to play ⁓ for your national program ⁓ with the with it with the Finnish team at the ⁓ U eighteen ⁓ worlds. I also wanted to more broadly talk about your experiences with the national program, but I want to start by asking what it's been like for you for to see firsthand. the growth of and the success of the Finnish program ⁓ internationally. Speaker 1: Yeah, it's ⁓ we have a lot of talented and ⁓ top players ⁓ from our country and I think yeah, like I said, we have a lot of skilled young players, but I think if I'm being honest, so it's like that's why most of the ⁓ maybe top players wanna go somewhere else from Finland to play in Sweden or or yeah, somewhere else, 'cause ⁓ especially in Sweden the program is ⁓ is really good. ⁓ that's why I also wanted to go there. it ⁓ it really makes the players to be better and I I if I'm being honest, the things in Finland could be better ⁓ for the younger girls. ⁓ so yeah. Speaker 2: And when you think about two like what from your perspective, what did it mean maybe when you first put on the finished colors in that in that jersey and knew that you were representing your country to maybe more recently? Have you seen a growth in your understanding of okay, you know, it's it's you know, maybe early on it was, ⁓ it's so cool to wear the national colors. I'm so excited. To now it being much more like you understand the role. The you know, the the fact that you are now certainly a a role model for so many young young girls back home. Do you have you seen a growth in your own understanding of why it's so important to wear that ⁓ that that jersey? Speaker 1: Yeah, like I mean, first time when I could put on that jersey it was more like like I mean it has always been like it's every time it's like wow. I feel it's the same same feeling every time I put it on. But at the same time of course you get older, you your role is so different every time when you get older and ⁓ yeah, for sure it's like I really wanna I really wanna win something big too. ⁓ so it's like every time you have that jersey on you wanna give your everything and ⁓ and that way also help the younger girls and ⁓ to be at that point too. Yeah. Speaker 2: You ⁓ speaking of wanting to win, ⁓ you have also mentioned in this conversation how badly you wanted to win and to ultimately make that jump to the PWHL. Well, that is right around the corner. It is officially right around the corner for you. So before we dive into some more of the ⁓ nuances within that, I do want to ask, what does it feel like? To finally, you know, you you I'm gonna say you delayed it. You you ⁓ stayed back in the SDHL like we've talked about an extra year to make sure that you were ready. Well now it's here. How does it feel? Speaker 1: It feels it feels good. I mean it feels amazing. I mean, ⁓ sometimes I really can't even re realise that it's like around the corner kind of thing. ⁓ but I feel ready, I feel really excited, same time. But of course, I would life, I would say that I'm not nervous. I'm I'm nervous and like but in a good way. ⁓ but it's it's so cool that it's it's coming soon kinda. Speaker 2: What's it been like then to make that prep like to prepare for this? Because you know, you know, and and I think, you know, even now with the the playoffs going on, like it's it's now it's more more obvious than ever just the level of play, the what it will take to to win, what it takes to even just score goals in this league. ⁓ how do you prepare for that? What's gone what's going into your Maybe your off season game plan. ⁓ don't give away all the secrets, of course. But what what are some of those things that are or how are how are you ultimately preparing to make this next jumping and turn professional in the P WHL? Speaker 1: Yeah, I think ⁓ you gotta be in all in all around ⁓ like very good player in every situation. You ⁓ you gotta be fast and you gotta be strong. ⁓ the game is gonna be yeah, it's smaller eyes also, so the situations come much faster. so just being ready ⁓ ready to win battles and ⁓ playing against ⁓ big ⁓ and ⁓ stronger girls, so it's like ⁓ all of that and it's like just make ⁓ also like I wanna get better also at a things where I'm already good. I wanna ⁓ push those things even more forward and make those ⁓ make those better. ⁓ just like being stronger and ⁓ yeah and on the eyes of course I ⁓ I like to devolved my skating and I I spend a lot of time with my ⁓ skating coach and skill coach on the ice so it's like a lot of small details what you can do now ⁓ in the summer. Speaker 2: you know, throughout your journey and throughout this conversation, we've talked about sort of i during each stage, how the prior stage helped to set you up for the next stage. So whether that's going junior to ⁓ Neisten Liga, Neistel to the SDHL, now SDHL to I hopefully ⁓ most certainly the the PWHL, could you talk about, you know, when you look at that entire journey that you've been on? Could you talk about how those each of those stages, whether they were good moments, whether they were really challenging moments, but but how those have helped to set you up for this next jump into the PWHL? ⁓ Speaker 1: ⁓ yeah, it's always like ⁓ it helps when you get the next jump ⁓ to ⁓ in the better league and you you wanna always play against the best and ⁓ it definitely helps when you when you can go that bad and and ⁓ you have a lot of time to ⁓ train and ⁓ get better and ⁓ yeah, study your game. Just ⁓ I think those jumps are really important that you have those small steps on the way ⁓ that you can achieve and then yeah, take steps forward. And I think it's really important to how you prepare when you when you eventually someday gonna jump from the on the best lane in the world. Speaker 2: So y you know, you've talked about how excited you are to be able to make that jump finally to get to the the PWHL. But I also wanted to give you maybe a moment, because you mentioned it right off the top, playing with the boys teams and you know, dreaming saying like I c I guess I'm going to the NHL. ⁓ but now to have your own league and to be so close. to have the opportunity to join that league. I I I did I did just want to find out from you like, what does that mean for you too? Because like you didn't have this league. It was four years ago, you didn't have this league. So it's very, it's still very new and you're seeing expansion and all those things. What does that mean for you as well? Speaker 1: It's amazing that now finally like girls can also say that they can play. Play ⁓ in the highest league. I think ⁓ it just like it's amazing that that league is now there and they give so much opportunities to young girls and ⁓ yeah, girls in general to ⁓ dream and ⁓ yeah, just ⁓ catch up that dream and I think ⁓ yeah, I'm just so happy that it It came and just so excited. Speaker 2: Okay. So then let's fast forward then to draft night. ⁓ you hear your name called. What are gonna be or who are some of those people that are going to come to mind? Who were those some of those maybe those those people that challenged you, that pushed you early on in your career? and what are some of those moments that you're also gonna be thinking about as as you realize, as you recognize that your professional dreams and the PWHL in this case are coming to reality. Yeah. Speaker 1: ⁓ family ⁓ coaches ⁓ along the way I think ⁓ especially those those people and all the teammates around ⁓ I think there's so many people along the way that I I am forever grateful ⁓ who have helped me and pushed me forward. ⁓ I think ⁓ it's it's hard to just think one person or just couple it's so many who has helped me and ⁓ yeah it's just ⁓ It's gonna be like I mean, there there is no words that I can describe to say thank you for those. ⁓ but yeah, definitely like ⁓ family is one of the biggest biggest ⁓ Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, they're always ⁓ they're always in your corner. Good times, bad times. They're always in your corner rooting for you. And it's of course it's great to hear that you're gonna be thinking about them on your big night. ⁓ I want to now move to the final buzzer segment of the show, which is a fun rapid fire way for us to wrap up the conversation. I always say that it's rapid fire only because I'm gonna try so hard. Not to ask any follow-up questions. But I cannot make any promises and I almost always fail. ⁓ but you can take as long as you want to in answering the questions. I will just try not to ask any follow ups. Okay. we are going to start with what is your go to pre game meal? Speaker 1: rice, chicken or some salmon. ⁓ yeah, probably that. Speaker 2: Okay. What's one word your teammates might use to describe you? And you can either go maybe national program or you can go S D H O, like wherever however you want to answer that question. It's totally fine. Speaker 1: I think they would say I'm too much energy. Okay. Speaker 2: Too energetic. Okay, got it. Yeah. ⁓ okay. ⁓ okay, I won't ask full I won't use the follow up question there. ⁓ if if you weren't ⁓ if you weren't playing hockey, what do you think you would be doing instead? Speaker 1: probably be a hockey coach, skill coach. Speaker 2: Okay. So one way or another you're gonna be involved in hockey. Yeah. Yeah, okay. That's fair. Yeah, I sh I guess I should have seen that one coming. w what is some of the music that is on your game day playlist? Speaker 1: ⁓ it depends a lot, but country, rap, pop, depends today, kinda thing. Speaker 2: Okay, good. So there's a good mix on your playlist then. Yeah. Yeah, good. ⁓ what's one thing that people may be surprised to learn about you? Speaker 1: I'm terrible at cooking food, actually. Like terrible. Speaker 2: ⁓ no. Speaker 1: Yeah. Speaker 2: So okay, I'm gonna use the follow up question here then. Do you have ⁓ have you f leaned on other people to cook for you? Or do you maybe order in a lot? Do you order a lot of takeout to kind of like or maybe the team helps out with that a little bit too? Speaker 1: No, I try to learn actually. Like ⁓ I I'm trying to learn. Speaker 2: Okay. That's that's all that matters. As long as you're putting the effort in, that's all that matters. That that's points right there. That's points right there. ⁓ so if you could go back to your younger self, we're gonna wrap up with this one. If you could go back to your younger self and give her some advice. Say like, Hey, this is how you're going to be, this is what's gonna help you to be successful in your journey. What do you think you would tell your younger self about that journey ahead? Speaker 1: ⁓ just probably like not stressing too much what is coming ahead. Like just being in a moment. ⁓ just having fun. ⁓ yeah, just not worrying too much in ⁓ things you can't affect. Speaker 2: I love that. It's it's the the old like ⁓ be where your feet are. Yeah be in the moment. Yeah, absolutely. Yes, absolutely. And you most certainly have, and that's helped you to be so successful in your career. ⁓ as we wrap up today's episode, I wanna say, Phoebe, thank you so much for taking the time to join the show, share your story. I have been, trust me when I say that I've been looking forward to this conversation. for a lot longer than you think. ⁓ so to have the opportunity to chat with you, especially as you're on the verge of making this ⁓ next jump into the PWHL, I just want to say thank you. Good luck. And this has been an absolute pleasure. Speaker 1: Thank you that I'd be joined. Speaker 2: That's awesome. And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your fellow hockey fans. Your support helps me to continue bringing you stories just like this one from 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.