Hi all! If you’ve been reading Women’s Hockey Life for some time, you may remember me from 2015 when I held the role of communications intern with WHL. I’m happy to be writing this two years later as the newly instated editor-in-chief of Women’s Hockey Life. I want to introduce myself to the WHL community and give you some insight into the mission of WHL, a community that each and every one of you have helped build.
First off, I want to thank all of you who read the articles on our website, who follow us on social media and who are involved in the women’s game in some way. Without your ongoing support, contributions and involvement in the game, none of this would be possible. You help give women’s hockey a voice—that certainly doesn’t go unnoticed. I’ve had the opportunity to correspond with various members of the WHL community and it’s an absolute pleasure that I can’t wait to continue.
Secondly, I’d like to thank Jaclyn Hawkins, the founder of Women’s Hockey Life. Without her passion, vision and steadfast dedication to growing WHL, none of us would be here today, connecting on the scale that we are. She has believed in me since the day I reached out to ask for an internship with her company and continues to share her wealth of knowledge and insight with me as we work to build WHL into a powerhouse of information, connection and inspiration in the women’s hockey world.
As for myself, I couldn’t be happier to be living out my dream right here, right now. When I was four years old my dad laced up my skates and helped fuel my passion for the game. He took his own life a year later, but each and every time I step on the ice or watch a hockey game I know his passion lives on. I like to think he taught me to love the game before he left so we’d always be connected.
I played minor hockey on and off growing up. My mom, being a single mother, did her best to keep me in the game, but I didn’t have the fortune of playing consistently through my childhood. I now play ice and ball hockey as a goaltender on men’s and women’s teams in Edmonton, AB. Due to being limited in being able to play growing up, as well as suffering from multiple concussions and knee injuries/surgeries that kept me on the sidelines for months—sometimes years—I had to find a different outlet for my passion.
Five years ago I started university with the goal of working in the hockey industry upon the completion of my degree. Four years later I held a degree in professional communications and started working at Oilersnation (a division of The Nation Network) as a communications coordinator. While I loved my job there and gained experience I wouldn’t have found elsewhere, I always knew my calling was in making a difference—I wanted to give people a voice and fight for a sport and community of people that deserve more than what they’re often given.
And here I am today, doing exactly that. After my internship Jaclyn and I stayed in touch and when I got word that the beginnings of my career could come full circle with WHL, I jumped at the opportunity. I always scoffed at people who would tell me that if I did what I loved, I’d never work a day in my life—until I found WHL. Every single day I get to do what I love. Since I re-joined WHL, I haven’t worked a single day. Instead, I’ve had the pleasure of connecting with inspiring people in the women’s hockey community, sharing valuable information and stories, and giving people an outlet to let their voices be heard.
Hockey has given me some of the most important people in my life. It’s given me a purpose. It’s seen me through mental health struggles. Now it’s given me a rewarding career that I can be excited about each and every day. Nothing compares to that. I want to share the power of the game with as many people as I can and I want to make sure the people who are a part of this game feel like they have a platform to perform on, to connect on and ultimately, to have a voice on.
Women’s Hockey Life is committed to sharing the power of this game and the people who are a part of it. We have great things in store for all of you because the women’s hockey community deserves it. I’m privileged to get to be a part of this community and I can’t wait to continue living my dream while you all live yours. Together, we can do great things.
If you have any questions, suggestions or just want to chat, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected] or connect with me on Twitter or Instagram (@KylaJLane). Women’s Hockey Life is about YOU, so please share your voice with me.
