MEET KOURTNEY NYMAN
Tell us about yourself!
Hi everyone! My name is Kourtney. I’m from Blind River, Ontario, and I currently work full-time at a financial institution. I’m currently playing in the WHL in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, as a goaltender.
My hockey story begins at the age of nine, after convincing my parents to let me try hockey after quitting figure skating at the age of eight. I always thought, if boys in my class could be having so much fun with this sport, why can’t I?
I played left wing on an atom boys team for a year, then transitioned over to goalie at the age of ten. I then played on a OWHA sanctioned team in Blind River, where we played against girls and boys teams from across the province up until the age of 18. I’ve never had the chance to ride the pine, as I was the only full-time goaltender on the team throughout the years.
I moved away to college, at the age of 19, where I played intramural and extramural hockey for Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario. Since options are currently limited in my home town for my caliber (and unfortunately, gender), I now currently play as much shinny as I can with men, aged 18 and up, and I also travel an hour and a half 2-3 times per week to play in the league I am currently in.
I never had the opportunities to go further and beyond the level of hockey that I did play while growing up, but I am forever thankful for my parents who gave me the opportunities that I have had, and helped to keep my love for the game ever so strong by sacrificing so much for my sister and I.
What made you want to be a WHL Brand Ambassador?
I wanted to become a WHL Brand Ambassador because I believe in women being in the sport of hockey. I believe that females should be given the same opportunities in the sport that boys and men are given.
What are you most looking forward to as a #WHLAMBASSADOR?
I’m looking forward to the new connections that I will make within the female hockey community, and to share my perspective, as a goaltender, along the way.
What’s something not a lot of people know about you?
One quirk that not a lot of people know about me is on days where I have a game, I have a certain way of going about my day, and if I can’t listen to my playlist before jumping on the ice, I never play well, haha!
I am very superstitious, to say the least!
If you could sit down and have dinner with one female hockey player, who would it be and why?
I would definitely love to sit down and have dinner with Shannon Szabados. She is one of my female hockey idols, and I respect her in many ways. I’d love to hear about her journey around the hockey world, and to pick her brain on certain goalie topics!
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given in hockey or in life?
“It’s not how good you are, it’s how good you want to be.”
What’s your dream for women’s hockey?
I would love to see a professional, paying, women’s hockey league. I find it irrational that the best of the best need to work a full-time job outside of all of the dedication they continuously put towards the sport.
Want to join our #WHLAmbassador team?
Get more details and apply here!
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