Alison Hanson – Etobicoke Juniors
Like many kids, I started playing hockey when I was very young. I played Tyke at the age of four and worked my way up over the years to Select, A, then AA. In addition to playing rep hockey, I also competed in many high school sports including hockey, snowboarding, track & field, field hockey and basketball. I have always enjoyed playing a variety of sports!
I came to the Etobicoke Dolphins in Midget AA, and subsequently played for two years on the Etobicoke Intermediate AA team. It was an awesome experience playing in the PWHL against 19 very competitive teams across Ontario. The coaching and personal development opportunities I had (as Captain and Assistant Captain) from my coach, Jess Turi, the Assistant Coaches, Manager, and Trainers were invaluable in helping me become a better player both on and off the ice. And the friendships I have made with my Dolphins teammates will last a lifetime.
I worked hard to get to this level of hockey and I worked hard to stay there. The main challenge I faced in my high school years was to balance my demanding hockey/sports schedule with academics. I made schoolwork my #1 priority and found a way to get it done around my busy schedule. My ability to focus and prioritize academics around hockey helped me achieve good grades and kept me in good standing with my teachers.
The focus on both academics and hockey served me well as it has given me the opportunity to accept a CIS hockey scholarship to the University of Waterloo to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in the Fall. I am looking forward to the great academics at Waterloo and also continuing to develop my hockey skills at the university level.
My best memory as a Dolphin was a team trip we took in my first year playing Intermediate AA. The team went to Boston by bus for a weekend to watch both the Harvard and Boston College women’s NCAA D1 hockey teams play. It really showed me what was possible if I continued to work hard at school and develop my hockey skills. Although we did not play any games on that road trip, it was one of the best weekends because I spent it with my team and got to experience what university hockey would be like.
Hockey for me is the ultimate team sport offering many benefits in terms of character development, friendship, self-discipline, athleticism, mentorship, and leadership. I enjoy every minute I spend playing hockey and I cannot wait to get back on the ice in the Fall!