Meet Erin King!

Tell us about yourself!

My name is Erin King. I am from Waltham, Massachusetts. I play NCAA DIII college hockey for King’s College out in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. I started playing hockey at age seven. I was supposed to start at age six but I sadly broke my wrist so I started a year later. Throughout my life I played boys and girls hockey. During boys hockey a lot of the guys would hit me just because I was a girl. I would hit them right back though. I played for boys for many years but just for my town team.

For girls hockey I played for my town but also played select for Assabet Valley. I played there for about six years and we won a national championship in 2011. Then I switched over to the North Shore Vipers and played there for three years. For high school hockey in seventh and eighth grade I played for my town high school. Then I went to Arlington Catholic and played there for three years and then switched over to a prep school, Cushing Academy. I repeated my junior year there and played hockey there for two years.

I was originally a defenseman throughout my whole hockey career but recently playing in college I am playing defense and center. Hockey has always been my life. I have made so many sacrifices to play the game I love but I wouldn’t change it for the world. Besides playing the sport, I also volunteer to coach whenever I can. For the past few summers I have been an assistant coach for the Bay State Games.

What made you want to be a WHL Brand Ambassador?

I wanted to be a WHL Brand Ambassador because I love the game. I want women and girls to feel comfortable playing ice hockey no matter what league they are playing in. I have always believed that female sports should be taken as seriously as men’s sports. I want to raise awareness about women’s ice hockey and spread the love of the game as much as I can.

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

I am looking forward to being able to spread the love of the game. In Pennsylvania, women’s ice hockey is not really that popular so I would love to spread the game to places that don’t really have women’s hockey. I also want female athletes to feel strong and confident when they play the sport they love.

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

I can wiggle my ears and I also play the clarinet and the piano.

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

I would have dinner with Meghan Duggan. She has always been someone I look up to because I saw her speak at a hockey camp I went to. She also graduated from my high school, Cushing Academy so it was amazing to see her graduate from the same high school as me and follow her dreams to be the captain of the USA Olympic team and win a gold medal. It would be amazing to be able to sit down and talk to her about her experience at Cushing and winning a gold medal.

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

Throughout hockey I have been given too much advice to remember. I think one of the most important pieces of advice I’ve been given is if you want something, work for it. Hockey has taught me determination and goal setting. It taught me how to set long term goals and short term goals and how to accomplish them. The best things in life are those you worked for. Hockey has taught me how to succeed in many areas of my life.

What’s your dream for women’s hockey?

My dream for women’s hockey is for the game to grow. Hopefully as time goes on there will be more teams developed around the world. I want women’s hockey to be taken as seriously as men’s hockey and for the female athletes to be paid the same. I want women to feel comfortable and proud to play hockey and have the opportunity to play for a living.

Want to join the #WHLAmbassador Team?

Apply here!