Meet Mary Plastino!
Tell us about yourself!
My name is Mary Plastino. I am 13 years old, and I live in Nevada, but I have also lived in Missouri and Northern Ontario (Canada). I currently play hockey for the San Jose Jr Sharks 12U AA Girls team, as well as the Tahoe Grizzlies Pee Wee BB Boys team from South Lake Tahoe, CA. There isn’t a rink where I live in Reno (yet – one will be built next year!) so I travel 1.5 hours each way for practice/games in Lake Tahoe, and four hours each way for practice/games in San Jose. My dad and I spend A LOT of time in the car together!
What made you want to be a WHL Brand Ambassador?
I wanted to be a WHL Brand Ambassador because I love hockey, and I love girl’s hockey. Being a WHL Brand Ambassador lets me show people how much fun it is to play a sport you love, a sport that in the past was always known as a sport for boys.
What are you most looking forward to as a #WHLAMBASSADOR?
As a #WHLAmbassador I hope to inspire new and/or younger girls. When I first started playing hockey I loved when older girls would stand at the boards watching us and cheering us on, or they’d high five us when we would leave the ice. I try to do the same with younger girls when I see them on the ice. I also volunteer for Girls Give Hockey A Try events for new players or other Learn-to-Play programs in my area.
What’s something not a lot of people know about you?
I can make one eye go cross-eyed.
If you could sit down and have dinner with one female hockey player, who would it be and why?
Kendall Coyne Schofield – she’s amazing! I was lucky enough to take part in an on-ice clinic with her and other members of the PWHPA Dream Gap Tour team in San Jose. She was so friendly and really wanted to teach us.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given in hockey or in life?
You only live once – take chances, have fun, no regrets.
What’s your dream for women’s hockey?
Personally, I want to play college hockey (while earning a law degree) and play for Team USA in the Olympics. I also want to see women play in the NHL, so many that it’s normal and it isn’t considered news when it happens.
