Meet Kayla van der Walt!

Tell us about yourself!

I am from Gauteng, South Africa. I started playing ice hockey in July 2018 and made the provincial Gauteng B side in July 2019. I’ve been a field hockey player for 22 years and thought that trying out ice hockey would be good fun. As a kid, my parents never let me play ice hockey because of the sport’s supposed “reputation” of being dangerous, especially for women, which I have subsequently found it not to be nearly as dangerous as many people perceive. I love ice hockey and would recommend for all girls to give it a try.

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO BE A WHL BRAND AMBASSADOR?

I would really love to create more awareness for women’s ice hockey and to show women that they’re capable of anything they want to set out to achieve.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO AS A #WHLAMBASSADOR?

I am very stoked to help create a larger awareness and excitement for women’s ice hockey.

WHAT’S SOMETHING NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT YOU?

If you tap me (even gently) on the head, my eye on that side of my body twitches. Some of my friends call me Twitch because of it. It’s rather funny if someone does a drum roll on my head.

WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER BEEN GIVEN IN HOCKEY OR IN LIFE?

If you can’t do it today, try again tomorrow. The day will finally come when you can look back at what you’ve accomplished and say you’ve achieved something you never ever thought you were capable of.

WHAT’S YOUR DREAM FOR WOMEN’S HOCKEY?

I wish to see a world that holds women’s ice hockey as a valued sport, for all young girls and women. I would like to show people that women’s ice hockey is such a positive sport to empower women and positively grow their self-esteem.

Want to be a #WHLAmbassador?

Get more details and apply here!