Tell us about yourself!

My name is Andreya Kotseva and I am from Sofia, Bulgaria. I am a student in the National Arts Academy and my specialty is ceramics. This is my last year and I should make a graduation work and present it at the end of June 😊. My high school was also related to art, so back then I was studying interior design. Related to that, in September I am planning on making a Master of interior design in Madrid, Spain.

Now let me tell you my short hockey history. It all started when I was 17. A friend of mine started practicing and took me with her on an off-ice practice. Seeing those 10-12 girls giving their best made me think that I found my family. I have been playing for six years on the national team, just because there were not enough girls and they needed to take me.

To prove to myself that I deserved that place I started practicing really hard. Making 10-12 on-ice practices every week, off-ice shooting and a bit of fitness. The next year, I was ready to play. I kept on giving my all to hockey for the past few years and during the last tournament the coaches made me an assistant captain and that makes me think about being a role model for the younger girls. After all, this is part of the responsibilities of the captain and the assistants.

What made you want to be a WHL Ambassador?

That responsibility was one of the reasons I wanted to be an ambassador. Being a part of a worldwide team like this one is a precious experience.

What are you most looking forward to as a #WHLAmbassador?

As an ambassador I will try to make ice hockey more popular in Bulgaria and try to give some information to the Bulgarian ice hockey players on how the hockey world looks like outside our country because they see a dangerous sport in it. It is really hard to explain to the parents of a hockey girl that this is a beautiful and dynamic game and has nothing to do with the rules of the NHL and their little girl is not getting smashed on the ice 😃.

What’s something not a lot of people know about you?

My hobby is the sport I have been raised with—tennis. I actually don’t remember when I started. My father told me I was three or four years old.

I watch Disney movies and I cry every time haha. I know a lot of people do it but for my friends it’s shocking because I am known as a strong girl that almost never cries. Everyone is helpless when it comes to Disney 😃.

If you could sit down and have dinner with one female hockey player, who would it be and why?

If I had the chance, I would probably like to have dinner with Hilary Knight. As the most popular and the face of women’s hockey right now she could give me some precious advice on how to make this game popular in my country and of course how to improve my own performance on the ice.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given in hockey or in life?

The best advice? Probably my father’s. It is hard to be understood by a person living outside my country and it might sound like a dream killer but it inspired me to be even more passionate about everything I do. When I was five years old and playing tennis he told me: “Listen, girl! Here it’s almost impossible to become a professional player so do it until it makes you happy. You are just born in the wrong country!”

Whats you’re dream for women’s hockey?

So, according to my father’s advice I chose my dream. I wanted to make Bulgaria THE RIGHT country. Because I cannot change my place of birth, but I should try to change the understanding of people that Bulgaria is the wrong country for everything. Especially for hockey! Ice hockey knows no borders nowadays and we cannot use our country as an excuse!

Interested in becoming a #WHLAmbassador?

Apply here!