AMBASSADOR SPOTLIGHT: Brooke Kabotoff | Alberta, Canada

MEET BROOKE KABOTOFF!

Tell us about yourself!

Hey my name is Brooke I am 13 years old. I am from Leduc Alberta Canada. I have been playing hockey for nine years with the Leduc Roughnecks. For the first year of hockey I played on the first all girls team in Leduc, then after I played mainstream for 5 years and I was one of the very few girls on the team. My association was developing a female program, so in U13 I decided to play in the female program and going into U15 I plan to do the same. One of my worries moving from “boys” hockey to female is that it would not be as physical or the girls would be soft. I was proven  wrong when I ended up in the ER with a broken elbow. I spent the rest of this season recovering, playing lots of hockey and learning a different idea of what female hockey really is. Last year just as the season started I broke my knee cap. So another later start for me, but with the support of my team and awesome coaches I was able to make it back on the ice and I was selected as the captain of our team.

Part of my hockey story is also mentoring. I started mentoring in U13 and I love it. I get to go out and help our association’s younger teams and show them how great hockey is and that big girls play it too. I loved being out on the ice with them to help them to learn the basic skills like jumping over line , skating, and shooting pucks but most of all having fun. I hope one day they do the same for younger players. This last season another player from my team and I arranged for two younger teams that we mentored to come out to one of our games , do some dry land, have a snack and do a craft. To see my team work hard doing our thing it was pretty fun so have so many show up.

What made you want to be a WHL Brand Ambassador?

 I had my 13th birthday at home and I was pretty bummed  we had to end our season early. My mom put out a request for birthday wishes in this Women’s Hockey Life group to cheer me up and I was  blown away with how many people are part of this community, all over the world! After seeing the overwhelming support from the WHL I wanted to be apart of this amazing community and have the chance to so the same!

 Female hockey is such amazing thing to be a part of; I hope to see female hockey become available in more cities and towns no matter what the size.

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

Not only am I looking to being a part of the WHL community, but I want to be a role model for young girls. As an ambassador I want to grow WHL’s following in my association and be proud to support a group that supported me.

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

One of my hobbies is working with natural stones and making bracelets out of these stones . I also like to cook! My grandma and I spent time learning about meals from all over the world and then making them.

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

 I would sit down with Sarah Nurse. She has played for team Canada. She grew up in a family full of athletes so she would have had to really be focused on what she loved. I was able to see her play and I enjoy her style of hockey. Sarah posts lots about hockey and what she does for hockey. I would love to learn more about what motivates her and pick up some tips!

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

To have fun and try your best. You may not be the best player, but you can have the best attitude. To me that is having fun while still trying hard and listen to your coaches. Also give back to your association, I see my dad do this all the time he has coached for my team and other teams . His actions have shown me how important it is to give back so others can have the chance to keep playing.

What’s your dream for women’s hockey?

I want female hockey to be just as important and necessary at all levels as boys or mainstream hockey programs all over the world. I want women’s hockey in every community so they can have some of the opportunities to enjoy this game just like I have.

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