As athletes like Chloe Primerano and Laia Stewart continue to make history early in their careers, the door opens for the next generation to set goals to do the same.
Sometimes history happens in the most unexpected places, like in the car on the way home from school.
Chloe Primerano was there when she found out she had been selected by the Vancouver Giants in the 13th round of the 2022 Western Hockey League Prospect Draft, becoming the first female skater to be drafted into the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). .
“I had heard some rumors and there was talk that it might happen, but I wasn’t sure if I would be drafted or not, so I didn’t want to get my hopes up,” Primerano said. explain. “I saw it happen on my phone and the GM called me. It was a pretty surreal experience to be the first draft pick.”
Trailblazers like Hayley Wickenheiser, Manon Rome and Kami Granato opened the door by recording historic “firsts” in the men’s game. As the women’s game continues to advance, more athletes are making history.
A year after making history when she was drafted, Primerano earned another “first” by attending the annual Creative Artists Agency (CAA) Summer Prospect Camp in Los Angeles, becoming the first female skater to attend. experienced. At camp, she was on the ice with heavyweights like Hlinka Gretzky Cup gold medalist Barkley Catton and Ryder Ritchie.
“It was really great to be on the ice with everyone,” she says. “All the players were at a super high level, so it was great to be pushed every day. It wasn’t easy, but it definitely helped me.”
Chloe Primerano plays the puck against Germany.
Primerano isn’t the only member of Canada’s U-18 national team to make history. Goaltender Laia Stewart makes history by appearing in a preseason game for the Cape Breton Eagles of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, becoming the first woman to play for the Eagles and the fifth woman to play in the CHL. left his name on.
Stewart said he was really excited when he learned from Eagles head coach Louis Robitaille and goalie coach Blade Mundixson that he would have a chance to play.
“I knew it wasn’t an opportunity that many women would get, so just being one of the few was definitely an honor,” she says. “It was one of the key moments in my career and I was really excited to have the opportunity to see what I was capable of.”
Stewart played 30 minutes against the Moncton Wildcats on August 25, stopping all 24 shots. The 16-year-old from Antigonish, Nova Scotia, received a standing ovation when he was removed from the game and named first star.
Looking back on the game, Stewart said he was impressed by the support from the fans he received.
“The building was pretty crowded because it was a preseason exhibition game,” she says. “The reaction when it was over and all the young fans that were there to see me was so cool.”
Lia Stewart made a save against the Czech Republic.
Both Primerano and Stewart also made history at last year’s Canada Winter Games. With British Columbia and Nova Scotia advancing to the gold medal game, Primerano helped BC win its first gold medal, while Stewart made history as Nova Scotia’s first medal in women’s hockey history.
“It was great to have a chance to win. I don’t know if everyone expected it, but we ended up coming out on top,” Primerano said. “You get to meet so many different people and meet so many new people from different states. We get to go watch some different sports. It’s pretty special. Yo.”
“It was an incredible experience,” Stewart added. “One of the memorable moments for me was the semi-finals.” [against Ontario] When we came in as heavy losers. It was just incredible for us to get that win. ”
A series of historic firsts are occurring in women’s hockey, helping to inspire the next generation’s “see it, give it a go” spirit.
“I think that affected the growth.” [of the women’s game] It’s huge,” Stewart says. “For someone to be able to come in and break down barriers proves to other women that they can do it too. If the younger generation understands that, they can strive for higher goals. I think it will.”
With continued advances in the women’s game, such as the inaugural season of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), more young hockey players are looking to play professionally, including players who have already made Women’s Hockey League history like Primerano and Stewart. The door is open for you to dream of playing. career.
“I would love to play in that league,” Primerano says of the PWHL. “It’s great to be able to play all year round and compete at a high level.”
“I always wanted to play professionally, but that came with uncertainty. I didn’t know what kind of league I was going to be in,” Stewart explains. “His new PWHL opened the door for me and made me really want to work toward that goal.”