MEET STELA!
Tell us about yourself!
I am Estela Vazquez aka Stela from NYC Manhattan. My hockey story started watching the NY Rangers play on tv with my Dad & Mom at a very young age. He also happened to show me his PlayStation that had NHL 15 at the time and I was automatically hooked. I stumbled upon goalie mode and became mesmorized with the position. I started by trying hockey for free for girls only at the NYR practice facility. I instantly fell in love with the game and continued with their learn to play program as a goalie. I became bored waiting for shots from the beginners so I was encouraged to skate with them as a skater. I loved playing as a skater but would always be the one to try goalie first with the quick change outfit. I became a fast aggressive skater but loved playing defense more than trying to score goals and help my goalie. I played Mites in a local rec league and then Squirts on a boys travel team the Westchester Vipers. The summer before my PW season I asked my parents if I can try goalie again for fun during early summer camps. After a month of playing goal I fell in love with the position again and wasn’t bored this time haha. I ended up playing for the Danbury Hat Tricks girls tier 2 team and we made it to States however we lost to the MFF Stars in the semis. We had to get closer to home for the following season and ended up playing for the Stateline Hawks AA team. We also made it to States however lost to the Buffalo Regals in the Finals. This coming season I will be playing for Ironbound Elite u14 tier 1 and look forward to improving my skills and assist my team win a championship! That’s my story and I’m sticking to it 🙂
What made you want to be a WHL Brand Ambassador?
I stumbled upon Women’s Hockey Life’s instagram page promoting women’s/girls hockey in all different ways so I asked my Dad if I can be one similar to other girls I follow. I enjoy giving feedback to other kids about goalie gear and the position when they ask me in the comments. I hear there is a shortage of goalies especially for girls so I try to make the younger ones feel comfortable about asking questions on the position.
What are you most looking forward to as a #WHLAMBASSADOR?
I am looking forward to representing WHL in many ways on and off the ice by posting my hockey adventures/ tournaments/games to help make other girls feel comfortable about hockey being for them as well.
If you could sit down and have dinner with one hockey player, who would it be and why?
That would be Aerin Frankel goalie for the Boston PWHL team & USA women’s team. Her size & style of play is similar to mine and she is also originally from NY and used to train with the Ironbound elite program like myself now 🙂 If she were to be unavailable then Igor Shesterkin of the NYR would be my next choice. My social media nickname “Shestela31” is a combo of his name & mine with his # that I also use. Ironically it’s Aerin Frankel’s # for Boston 🙂
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given in hockey or in life?
Since I’m a goalie the best advice I’ve been given is to play in the moment and forget the past since you can’t change that. I also try to apply it off the ice as well to live in the moment and not harp on the past and look forward to the near future.
What’s your dream for women’s hockey?
My dream is that the PWHL teams continue to grow as well as colleges & high schools having more women’s hockey programs. Ultimately for our Puerto Rico Ice Hockey Association to also grow the girls side of the program to have a future women’s team playing in the IIHF world championships and eventually Winter Olympics representing the island of Puerto Rico!
CONNECT WITH STELA!
@shestela31
WANT TO JOIN OUR #WHLAMBASSADOR TEAM?
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In this article: #FemaleHockey, #GirlsHockey, #GirlsInSport, #InspireTheNext, #WHLAmbassador, #WomenInSport, #Womenshockey, #youthhockey, grow the game, Hockey
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