For International Women’s Day, there’s plenty of successful women to celebrate, especially within the PWHL Ottawa roster. Captain of the team, Brianne Jenner, spoke about how she feels to be alongside so many talented competitors.
“Got some pretty amazing women on this team,” she said. “There’s no shortage of inspiration for me when I’m with them.”
Jenner also mentioned how instrumental her mother was, on a more personal note. “I owe so much to her,” she said.
“What she gives me is that inner confidence to tackle any adversity that comes my way. She’s always solutions-focused.”
But it’s only until Jenner starts talking about her kids when she can’t help but crack a smile.
“That’s definitely the biggest part of my life. That’s what brings me the most joy.”
Jenner added she hopes she’ll be able to give all the tools needed for her kids in this life. For any young girl out there who’s looking for a future in hockey like her’s, Jenner’s advice is solid, though it has undergone some relatively recent changes.
“I used to say, before this league, ‘even if your dream doesn’t exist, it doesn’t mean it’s not achievable.’”
Jenner added that each of PWHL’s Ottawans didn’t always think their current life would be a reality. Now, they’re living out their own dream. Whether it was fiction at the time didn’t matter, they never stopped striving for it.
“The possibility is there, and you never know what kind of path will unfold for you.”
Jenner isn’t the only Ottawa player who gave kudos to her mother. Emily Clark also mentioned how much an inspiration her mom was, though it’s tied between her and her older sister.
“They’ve been in my corner,” she said, noting her sister is a chemical engineer, a woman in a male-dominated field as Clark described it.
“There’s a lot of rooms where she’s the only woman,” she said, though she never let that stop her.
As for Clark’s mother, she’s also been a huge push, especially when it came to getting an education.
Although Clark might be spending too much time on the ice to get the most out of her economics degree, she’s got no complaints.
“It was very difficult at times. I was like ‘why is she making me do this?’” Clark laughed. “But I’m happy she did, she always pushed me to do well in school.”
Clark, like Jenner, mentioned how much of a hand her mother had in giving her the confidence needed to chase her dreams, especially at a young age. For Clark, it’s the key ingredient in being a success.
It makes negative self talk quite the antithesis, especially in the locker room.
“We have a pretty great culture here that if we hear anyone, even if it’s in light-heartedness, talking poorly about yourself, we like to catch it and correct it,” said Clark with a smile.
“How you talk to yourself really matters.”
Ottawa might have some serious positivity radiating within the team, and the league can be a shining star for young girls to reach for now. But for Jenner personally, she said she thinks the PWHL has even more of an impact to bring, beyond even itself.
“I think it’s going to change things in our communities. I think it’s going to change perspectives for everybody, not just young girls but young boys too.”
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Featured Image ©️ Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL)
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