Ep.3 Vanessa Schaefer - How to Create Your Own Unique Hockey Journey

Sound Bites
"Taking the courageous choice to step right out of minor hockey for about three years and just train and work on your game and explore your other interests."
"It was all because of Colin Miller. He called me up one evening and he asked me to do just like a practice of skate with him."
"By playing the year in Zurich right now, you are eligible, that made you eligible, right? You had to play a season."
Summary
Vanessa Schaefer shares her journey as a female hockey player, from playing with boys to taking a break from minor hockey to train and explore other interests. She then went on to play for the Vancouver Comets and Delta Academy before moving to Switzerland to play in the women's professional league. Vanessa recently represented Switzerland in the World Championships. She discusses the process of playing in Switzerland and gaining eligibility for the national team. Vanessa also talks about her upcoming plans to play for UBC and pursue a degree in psychology and business.
Takeaways
The importance of taking risks and exploring different opportunities in sports
The value of training and focusing on skill development
The process of gaining eligibility to play for a national team
The significance of taking ownership and responsibility for personal growth
The excitement of representing your country in international competitions
The balance between sports and education in pursuing a university career
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:11 Playing in Switzerland and Gaining Eligibility
06:25 Playing in Zurich and Qualifying for the National Team
09:20 Exploring Different Sports and Skills Development
11:37 Encouraging Athletes to Take Ownership and Responsibility
13:24 Trying New Things and Embracing Failure
14:11 Learning from Playing as an Underage Player
15:20 Putting on the Swiss Jersey and Realizing the Dream
16:10 Looking Forward to UBC and Pursuing Psychology and Business
Keywords
female hockey player, playing with boys, training, exploring, Vancouver Comets, Delta Academy, women's professional league, Switzerland, World Championships, eligibility, UBC, psychology, business