Tell us about yourself!

My name is Robin Bilsborough. I am originally from Maple Leaf, Ontario, Canada, but now call Cedarburg, Wisconsin, USA my home. I am a mom of five and am a non-profit coordinator.  Growing up in Canada, I always enjoyed watching hockey, but didn’t play—ringette and broom ball were my ice sports. While four of my five children played, it wasn’t until I joined an adult learn to play program that I truly fell in love with the game.

Having both sons and daughters in the sport has also shown me the vast differences in opportunities, which led me to become actively involved in growing the sport for girls and women in my local rink. I have had the role of Girls Coordinator at Ozaukee Youth Hockey for the past seven years, helping guide tremendous growth in the number of girls playing hockey, as well as a thriving women’s learn to play program. From there I began focusing on growing State wide programming for girls and relaunched the Girls Division of the Wisconsin Elite Hockey League. This role then led me to running for a Board of Directors seat at the State level, which I won in 2018.

I am a Region 5 Director of the Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Association and sit on the Girls and Women’s Committee. I play rec hockey with my local women’s league and coach our new to hockey women’s program.

What made you want to be a WHL Brand Ambassador?

Finding opportunities to connect and collaborate with others who advocate for girls and women in hockey is always a priority to me. I hope to learn and share so together we can become stronger.

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

Learning and sharing with players, families and leaders in hockey as to what opportunities they want and how they are making those happen.

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

Liquorice is my weakness, and my strength—I do some of my best thinking with a stash of liquorice.

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

Hayley Wickenheiser—she is so inspiring and has such a broad wealth of knowledge as both a player and now working with the Toronto Maple Leafs. I would love to hear what advice she would give to women looking to forge their pathways in the world of sport.

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

You can’t control what happens to you,  but you can control how you will react—you have all the power over that, so react how you want people to always remember you.

What’s your dream for women’s hockey?

My dream is not about women’s hockey, but women in hockey. I would love to see a woman as the head coach of an NHL team.

Want to be a #WHLAmbassador?

Apply here!