Our Girls Play Hockey: PWHL Playoffs - A Day in the Life with Haley Scamurra

SPEAKER_01 1:35

Hello, hockey friends and families around the world, and welcome back to another edition of Our Girls Play Hockey. It's Lee Elias with Haley Scamora and Mike Bennelli here today. And we're doing another fantastic day in the life episode with Haley today. I'm going to title this one Gold Medal to Walter Cup Playoffs. Because we're going to talk about all of this today. So where we're at, let's let's we're actually going to date this one, but it's an evergreen episode in the sense of life in a pro hockey player, right? So today we're recording this on April 28th. We're on the dawn of the PWHL playoffs. The four teams have been selected. We're going to talk all about how that selection process goes, how Montreal, the Victor finished, obviously the team that Haley plays for, and how this postseason is going to go. I'm actually really excited for this one, Haley, because uh we've talked about so much stuff this year about the preseason leading up to the Olympics, the Olympics, winning the gold medal in the Olympics, getting back to the regular season. Now the conclusion of the regular season, uh, it's a pretty cool time to be alive. So let's start there. All right. First off, big congratulations. Montreal clinched first place uh over the 30-game season. A lot of hard work goes into earning that position. Uh, you know, from inside the room, let's just start there. What is what is finishing top of the table actually represent?

SPEAKER_03 2:52

I I think it's so hard to finish at the top, especially in our league with the way like the standings jumped all the time. It was like it moved constantly.

SPEAKER_02 3:00

Right.

SPEAKER_03 3:00

Uh, so it was never like a for sure thing, but I think, you know, within the room, we always just felt really confident what we had. And truly, we didn't really care where we finished. Like we knew we had home ice advantage for the first round. Like we just wanted to continue to get better with each game. Like I wouldn't say it was like a focus in our locker room at all. Uh, but obviously, you know, we knew we just needed any sort of win against Seattle to get first place. And so we were definitely excited. I think it showed like all the hard work and dedication we've had this season and our consistency throughout the season. Uh, I think, especially with like a shorter season uh in order to get first place, you have to be winning a majority of the time the whole season. Like you don't really have like a ramp up period, right? Like in the NHL, they kind of have a little grace period, like first 10 games. Like for us, that's the third of the season.

SPEAKER_01 3:45

It's a great point.

SPEAKER_03 3:45

So we really have to be like on it like all season. And so I just think it's a testament to that. And it's definitely something we celebrated. But now we're like, all right, next step, round one.

SPEAKER_00 3:55

I mean, it's it's funny, right, for you, because like in the in the NHL, there's so many games that the only time people talk about the single games is is at the end of the year, is that oh, if we would have won, you know, if we would have won that one game, we'd be in the playoffs right now. But your games actually do matter. Like, and I mean, and and and you know, just wondering, you know, that that that regular season grind, you know, and and and and how you go through the process of of being ready to play. It's almost like you guys are thrown into that mindset right from the very beginning. And it must be it, it's actually probably almost it's pretty pretty hard. It's almost like you're running, you're you're in a long playoff run, basically. The way you have to think about every game really does mean something.

SPEAKER_03 4:41

Truly. And I think you know, it by the time we clinched, like the games leading up to us clinching, it felt like playoff hockey. It's like every game mattered, and it did for the whole league. And then honestly, like we didn't even know the fourth spot until the very last day of the regular season. So, like those teams were fighting to the very end, and they had to get a win on that last day. So everyone's been in playoff hockey mode, honestly, for a while now. And you're right, like it kind of uh increases the intensity of each game, and you can't really take any games off or any stretches off.

SPEAKER_01 5:11

Yeah, we it was when you say it was tight, I think we're underselling it. I mean, this stuff was not decided till the last day of the season, and you gotta remember in the PWHL, the team's not in the playoffs, they're playing for draft position. Like there, there's no there's no gimme games, right? You know, and I think that is first off, I think that's one of the most brilliant aspects of the PWHL is every game matters, right? No matter whether you're in or out. But but you said it, Haley. Like, like I said, nothing was guaranteed there until the end. Um, and and you came through. And it's not like just kind of quickly reflecting on the regular season, uh, it's not like you commanded this spot all season. I mean, there were times in the seasons, season where uh, you know, a couple of loose losses in a row. I mean, the big I also gotta say this too. I know we've talked about this, but it's not like just home and away. I think there was a record set for how many like off-site games there were this year. You're traveling all the country, you're you're in NHL arenas, you're at your home arena, which typically sells out. You know, it's a lot, it's a lot on top of just the games. And I'm sure it's not pressure, I wouldn't use that word. There's just the added, we'll say responsibility. Um, it's a younger league, you got to grow the league, you gotta do the media, you gotta see the kids, you gotta get to the skates, you you gotta do all these things, and then there's the Olympics on top of it, which which again we'll kind of tap on that again. I don't want to overdo the Olympics, yeah. But I mean, have you ever experienced anything like this in your life?

SPEAKER_03 6:35

This is a first for sure, and it's something we've always wanted. Uh, and then to actually have it this year, you know, you see, it's a grind for sure. This season has been a lot. Um, I actually feel really good though, going into playoffs. Like honestly, my body, my mind, like everything's feeling great right now. So I think that's huge. Uh, you know, obviously, I also won gold at the Olympics, so I think that helps as well. Sure. Um, yeah, but yeah, it's definitely a grind at times. But I mean, we absolutely love it. It's what we've always wanted. We've wanted a professional league to play in where we could also show off our talents year-round and not have it just be at the Olympics. Um, and so we know part of that is also going out to see the kids that take over games and uh reaching out to the communities that we're in currently and um just making sure like everyone knows where we are, where they can find us. Cause then once they do find us, they're hooked. Like that's what I always say. Like you come to a game, you are a fan for life, like truly.

SPEAKER_01 7:29

No, I I agree with you on that. If anybody has hesitated for whatever reason to not check this out, you're crazy at this point. Go ahead, Mike.

SPEAKER_00 7:37

No, I'm just I'm gonna say I'm just saying it's like a very entrepreneurial league. Like everything you're doing is has to be cutting edge and different and and and have some kind of uh flavor to it that you know separates you know what everybody else is doing. And I think one of the one of the to me, like one of the coolest things, like I mean, as a player, you know, you don't you don't hear you know, you're going into the playoffs, oh we don't care about our opponent, doesn't matter, we gotta go through the best anyway. You know, wherever we're gonna get at the end, we got to play, you know, great hockey. But in in in the PWHL, the the first place team gets to pick your opponent. I mean, I mean, talk about laying the gauntlet out. I mean, it's such a it's such an in-your-face. Like, and I know I just like to hear, you know, from a player perspective and the process and the like the whole piece of that, because to me it seems like, oh, you know, I'm gonna call you out. Uh, we want to, we want you, we want to play you. But that's really not like the strategy behind it, right? I mean, what is the thought process that goes into having the opportunity instead of just saying, hey, just throw some names in the hat and let us know who we're playing.

SPEAKER_03 8:40

So this is the first time I've personally been in this position. Um, so it's definitely very interesting. You only get 24 hours to decide, like after we clinched. Like it was fast. And honestly, we traveled that whole day. So like the next day. And so we're at the airport, we're like, all right, who we playing? What's going on? And so, you know, they uh the staff like surveyed the girls, like we had to answer like that next morning, like, you know, what our thoughts were, why those were our thoughts. Um, I'm not gonna go into what I had said, but um ultimately it's obviously the coaches and the staff's decision. I think, you know, they went with Minnesota. I think both teams are great teams and they have their own strengths. And obviously, head to head, we've done really well against Minnesota this year. So I think that was probably a big factor. And uh to be honest, I always really said, like, I don't care who we play, we're we're winning. Like, we're gonna do this. Like we have the team to do it, and I think we need to have that mindset going into it. Uh, however, you are also giving that team some fuel.

SPEAKER_02 9:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 9:41

So I think um, I think that's what we've seen in the past two seasons, is that the lower seeds have made it to the finals every season. And so I think that's an interesting factor for sure. We're looking to obviously change that this season, but you definitely do whoever you choose, regardless which team you end up picking, you are giving them fuel.

SPEAKER_00 10:02

Well, well, from a league perspective, right? It it it it actually it bolsters both sides. It gets it gets the it gets the team that was selected to play you, their fan base and their, you know, they get ravenous because like, hey, we we mean something, like we are important. And then it gets you guys in a place where, you know, the the you know, when you're in a in a long season and you're playing in a in a regular league, and you know, you'll you'll see you see it every day, like in the men's side is you know, you'll play a team, three, four, five teams, and sweep them through the regular season, and all of a sudden you'll play that team in the first round of the playoffs and you lose in four games. Like, it just doesn't matter, right? It all it like, you know, it so I love the fact that the players were surveyed to a certain extent, and that the coaching staff was like, okay, let's hear from every side of this piece. Um, but at the end of the day, like you'll have to get through everyone anyway.

SPEAKER_02 10:50

Exactly.

SPEAKER_00 10:51

Right? So, I mean, if I if I, you know, I'm not gonna get into the psychology of what you guys thought about, but like to me, it's like, listen, it what let's get through the toughest, like let's get through the toughest battle, like at the at the at the fact that we're the healthiest.

SPEAKER_01 11:05

And it's I can I can tap on this too, Mike. So Haley, I'll save you here because I have been in these positions as a coach when I coached in Europe, okay. So we don't have to make it specific to to Montreal and Minnesota here. But I I can say that when I when I was coaching in Europe, we had the same structure of we got to pick our first round opponent.

SPEAKER_02 11:24

Oh, cool.

SPEAKER_01 11:25

Yeah, so so and I was coaching, right? So so the the quick logic, the non-thinking logic is obviously go with the bottom seat. Okay, and uh you know, obviously that that plays into the consideration if you're the last team in the playoffs, and then there's there's a little bit of okay, that's what was supposed to happen anyway. Um, so it that does kind of alleviate a little bit of the oh, they they they're calling us out, but that's the quick, easy decision when you really start looking into it, and this I'll I'll say this like perspective for the audience, right? Yeah, you're looking at the matchup. You're it's who do you match up well against? How does your system match up against another team's system? And then obviously, how did you feel in the regular season against that team? And in my experience, and again, Haley, I'm not asking you to comment on this. In my experience, if we owned a team in the regular season, we wanted to play that team again in the playoffs. And even even though Mike, you mentioned it too, it it feels like oh, there might be a mental edge. I actually found, and and and this was proven in our on our victories, that that um, and I'm gonna use the word kind of ownership in the regular season over a team carried over into the playoffs. The doubt, the doubt the opponent had trumped any kind of anger that they had with us picking them, right? But it and also we matched up well against them, they did not play well against our team. And that's what's funny about pro sports, right? Like you could be one, two, three, four. Sometimes there's a team lower in the standings that just plays you well. Yeah. All right, and you don't want to play them.

SPEAKER_00 12:52

Yeah, we have to do a whole show, I think, on the strategy of this because I think there's so many nuances. I mean, it's amazing it's a really amazing thing when you start thinking about it from a from a organizational and coaching perspective, not only about matchups, but about health, about like if you knew you have a player coming back into the system in two weeks, but they're they're out now. Maybe you wait and you try to match that player up against somebody. Like it is there's so many different nuances to the the choice, which is really kind of cool because it gets people like us talking about it to a point where like this is so interesting. I mean, I I heard them talking about it on you know the the uh any on Sirius uh XM on the NHL show at length, like breaking it all down, talking about the the women's hockey and why they're doing this and and and actually some of the cool things about it, um, that it's not, you know, it shouldn't it shouldn't be like this novelty. It should be like, hey, wow, that's a really thought-provoking piece of the way they're running their league. And I I I don't know, I think it's great. I think it's uh, you know, we'll see how it works out. But I think it's uh but I think it's a great thing to to to debate. It's almost like when do you pull your goalie or you know, all that kind of stuff. Like there's all these debates that like you know, it it's it's it's a really be cool to sit in a room with a with all the coaches at the end and say, okay, what was the thought process about this and what maked it what made it work and didn't work?

SPEAKER_01 14:08

Well, I I always joke too, Haley, you'll appreciate this, you know. It inevitably, and this isn't a bad thing, but inevitably it comes to can you imagine if the NHL did this? Can you imagine if I'm like, yeah, but the PWHL does it, so you don't have to worry about that scenario, right? They're doing it. Um, but yeah, look, just to kind of close the loop on this, it it is a very in-depth thought process. You know, you can overthink it too. But just for those of you listening, and I'm not again, I'm not making this specific to Montreal and like Ottawa, for example, but it's like, look, if if I if we come in first and the team in fourth has owned us all season, I don't want to play them, right? So it and again, like that's and it that's not what happened here. But I'm just saying, like, that's you think about things like that, right? The other thing too is um, and and I'll kind of this is me being more of a PWHL fan, but like you're going through Boston or Minnesota at some point. Yeah, so it's like it doesn't matter, like you said, Haley, you're gonna have to go through these teams at some point. Yeah, Minnesota, the back-to-back reigning champs from the first two seasons. Um, and then I'm gonna kind of transition here to the next question. Yeah, whoever you play, you've got Team USA teammates. You're playing, right? It's like it's like you're going up against Heisey, like right away. It's yeah, it's amazing to think about, right? And and I find that fascinating. So, so this is where I want to go now, all right? And I love these days in the lifes because we talked about this months ago at the start of the season. You talked about how great you're feeling right now, which I love for you. At the start of the season, you didn't know. I remember you were like, We'll have to see how I feel. Yeah, you know, so look, timetabling for everybody. It's it's April. Won a gold medal, like the one of the greatest moments in history, hockey history in February, right? A few months later, now you're getting ready for the Walter Cup. I don't even know how to think about this, right? You had to get yourself in a playoff mentality for that tournament in Italy. Now you're doing it again. I imagine you could easily fall into the trap of, well, I already know I won this year, right? And you I know you well enough. You're not doing that, right? So, how are you staying present right now with everything that you you've had so far this season?

SPEAKER_03 16:22

I I mean, just being with my Montreal teammates has just been so much fun. We've had such a great season, and I think just we've been having fun along the way. That that's truly what it is, and it's just such a great culture. And so I think I really want to win with this team, and I really believe that we can, and I know our whole room does as well. Um, I think, you know, we're built different this year. I think uh you can kind of feel it in the in the locker room on the ice. Like I think we have what it takes, and so I, you know, we're all super excited, and I think everyone's been contributing, and we all believe everyone can contribute. So I think that's been a huge factor as well. And um, I really want to win for this organization, for my teammates, for the community. Like the Montreal fans are unbelievable. Like they are so loud. Every time I go on the ice, I somehow am like they're louder today. Like, how is this even possible? Like, so I cannot wait for playoffs like the first game. They're gonna be amazing. I get chills every time. Um, and I've been to a lot of other Canadian markets, and I I swear they're the loudest for sure.

SPEAKER_01 17:24

Oh, they're showing up. Montreal shows up. And you know, I want to say this too, just about the brand hockey. Did you play in Montreal? Like, you're fun to watch. I mean, I mean, the team the team is fun to watch. I mean, there's there's no lack of excitement in these games. Um, I again I've seen you get in fights this year. I've seen uh Hatrix, we'll talk about that in a minute. I've seen some some amazing comebacks, you know, um the rivalry stuff. Uh and I don't mean just like rivalry series, I mean just rival is is pretty cool. Um, here's another question for you from a hockey mindset, right? Uh, I think to a casual fan, they look at Olympics and Walter Cup, and it's oh god, that must be exhausting. That must be so exhausting. And while there is probably like, okay, yeah, it's a lot, I imagine having two potential championship situations. You must be thriving in that. That's the because that's why we play, that's why we coach, like we want to be in these moments, right? Can you can you expand on that a little bit about how like I'm sure that's filling you up, you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_03 18:27

I, you know, I have the opportunity I can have a gold medal and a walter cup champion in the same year and be the only one to do it. So that's another motivating factor right there.

SPEAKER_00 18:37

You're like the Kenny Morrow of women's hockey. That's amazing.

SPEAKER_03 18:41

Yeah, that's so like that's pretty cool. And um, you know, that's the my whiteboard manifesting right there is I'm a Walter Cup champion. So I've been writing that every morning. And um, but I think just it's just that internal desire. You always want to win, you always want to be the best. And I our whole team has that. And so I think we go into like every practice, every game with that mindset that we are the best. And regardless of what the situation is on the ice, we can overcome that. And I think that was huge to see in our last few games that we dealt with different adversity in each game. Like it wasn't just smooth sailing the whole time. Like uh we came back from deficits, we, you know, we're in tight games, and it wasn't like all blowouts or anything like that, which honestly it's not really ever in this league. But I think it was really good for us to have different scenarios to play through uh to prepare us for playoff hockey.

SPEAKER_00 19:31

You know, it's it's uh that that that so I'm wondering, not not to take it off your day in the life stuff, but really leading up to it. Like at the youth hockey level, a lot of times, we're we're like the kids are playing for championships like every weekend. Like, you know, it's just like it's like like like you know, you went, you know, you're going, and you know, again, I think when you're at your level, right? I mean, rest is, you know, when like the when you're dead, you'll rest. I mean, the fact is like right now you're playing. You're like, I'm playing, like this is what we do. Yes, it's painful, yes, it's tiring. Yeah, but it's it's like, yeah, but it's not as tiring as not playing and not you know, not wanting to perform and get to where I want to get to. So I'm thinking, like, what advice would you give to like the youth hockey players to sustain that level of uh ability to stay on top of your game? Like you win a uh, you know, a CCM invite championship, like, all right, we won the championship the next weekend, you gotta win the Rose Series invitational, and then the next week, like it's there's always championships. And I think is there a way to kind of reset your mind and say, hey, that was awesome and that was a great opportunity, but now we're just kind of now I'm now I'm moving on to the next thing because it's another another you know rung in the ladder to climb.

SPEAKER_03 20:38

That's so interesting. I've never actually thought about that for the youth stuff, but that's so true. It's like there's always something to play for, which I mean that also just makes it more fun. So why not just like go keep winning everything you can keep winning? But I mean, I think the biggest thing to focus on would just be improving with every tournament and like always getting better and just kind of focusing on that and maybe not always focusing on like winning the trophy type part, especially because there's so many in a season. So I think you can also maybe like uh, you know, flush it, if you will. Like if you have a bad weekend or you don't make that tournament, it's like, hey, there's another one coming up next weekend, right? So I think, but I think you can always have the mindset of like always wanting to get better and always wanting to win that next something to kind of keep your head in the game and in the present moment.

SPEAKER_00 21:25

Yeah, I guess you'll be pretty lucky if you only get to get the chance to win two championships in a season. That's pretty lucky. Like so I think it's great. I think it's a great mindset, like you just said, to, you know, just if you're going to be in that situation where it's like championship weekends every weekend, then take whatever you can out of it because ultimately it really doesn't mean anything. Like nobody's having an alumni game for the 2008 Rose Series champs, right? But they're but they are but but they but but there is a there is the mental piece that you can learn from that experience and and then transfer that as you move on to your game. I love it. Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 21:58

Nothing like winning that summer league in the middle of July in a really bad design jersey. Um and weave together a question here that making me think about, and this is both for the youth and and kind of the pro-level stuff is uh I I always like to talk about sustaining excellence. Okay, and one of the things I think youth players miss a lot is at the pro level, excellence is an all-the-time thing. It's all the time eating, sleeping, how you take your garbage out, how you make your bed. And Mike, to your point, like when you're in a championship every weekend, and yeah, we're exaggerating that a little bit, but you know, there's a lot of opportunities. I think it's missed on kids. Like, we just have to win. And it's like, no, you have to build sustained excellence. That's the habits you should be learning right now. It shouldn't just be on the weekends when you're playing. So, Hilly, I actually want you to talk about yourself, but also your teammates here. You are the look, you are the top team in the PWHL. And again, uh one of the things that I I I've changed my mind on over the years, I you know, when I lived, I'm gonna say this again, when I live in Europe, coming in the regular season champion is actually the big championship for most teams in Europe. It's not the playoffs, right? And I hated that when I moved there because you grow up the Stanley Cup, right? Yeah, but you start to start to realize that, and you said it, like the sustained winning to be on top of that table by the end of the season is unbelievably hard. Right? The most consistent team in a lot of different ways. But it comes from sustained excellence. Talk to me about your teammates and the habits that you see that helped this team get to where they are that are uncommon, that are probably not seen on your interviews and not seen on your on the screen, right?

SPEAKER_03 23:40

Yeah. I mean, I would say it comes down to just like the will of the players, but also just like what the staff provides as well. Um, I think we have a great staff and we get a lot of free time on the ice where either a skills coach will come out to work on something or the players themselves just go out either before and or after the practice. Right. And there's always people doing that to the point where it's almost too many people and you have to like find your space to do something.

SPEAKER_02 24:04

Right.

SPEAKER_03 24:04

Uh, but again, like everyone wants to continue to get better. Everyone's like perfecting their craft as much as they can whenever they can.

SPEAKER_02 24:11

Right.

SPEAKER_03 24:12

Um, off the ice, we're doing, you know, warmups, primers, speed stuff, workouts after, like cool downs, um, getting, you know, just tailoring what you need for your body going into, you know, the week, whatever it may look like. Uh, you know, so for us, we had a warm-up and primer this morning, then we had practice with free time, then we had um free time after practice, and then a workout, and then a cool down. So it's like, and then a mental mindset talk as well with our sports psych. So it's like we we're on it. Like we're doing all the things you can do, and everyone knows what they need for their routine as well. And um, and you know, and the coaches are always looking at things that we can improve on too. So we had like hockey talk before practice, like what we're gonna focus on for practice for throughout the week. Um, and I think we're all on the same page. We'll do whatever it takes to win and focus on what we need to in order to be the best we can be against our opponent.

SPEAKER_01 25:11

Yeah, it's kind of a and now I'm thinking about it, it's kind of a complete reversal on a previous Olympic year where the Olympic team would have kind of gotten this stuff. You didn't get that this year. No, now it's the pro I think that's that's a pretty big statement for women's professional hockey that it's not that it replaced the Olympics or anything like that, but it's wow, like that now that's where the focus is with this stuff. It's a great answer, Haley. And and like I said, you know, for the kids listening, I love that for first off, thank you for mentioning the staff because like I'm in that role now, right? The the the hours that we put in, but also you're alluding to it that this this never-ending desire to get better, to learn, to find education. Um, you're relentless at that, right? And and again, kids, it's not like we wake up every day and it's like I can't wait to do it. It's like it's not like that every day, but you do it. Yeah, it's relentless. That the key is relentless. Um, so speaking of relentless, Haley, you had yourself a season this year. Um, we're gonna talk about that. Um, actually, no one yeah, I I I'm actually wondering how many of these stats you're even aware of because you're such a team player. But let's talk about your season. Obviously, 30-game season, uh, eight goals, right? Three of which came on the fastest hat trick in league history. We will discuss that on a future episode. We're gonna dedicate a whole episode to uh net front presence uh because you scored the I don't want to say the same goal three times, but you scored three similar goals in front of the net. Uh, eight assists, 16 points. That's good enough for top five on your team. Again, I don't know if you realize that. Um, when we started the season, you were very like open. Um, I'm looking to contribute. My game is more of a mind game. I think top five in points, right? Yeah. So, how do you evaluate your own season?

SPEAKER_03 26:54

Yeah, I am very proud of myself. I had a really hard year the year before. I think I had three points total in the whole season. Like it was just, and then I was trying so hard to get points. Like that was my only focus that season. And then, of course, the harder you try, the more it's not coming. And so, exactly. And I think, you know, my focus this year was just to continue playing my game, and whatever happens, happens. And I just wanted our team to win. I think not that I didn't want our teams to win before, but I was so focused on my outcome that I think I just had tunnel vision a bit and I lost sight of what my game was. Um, so I just felt like the fresh start in Montreal was hugely helpful. I think um, you know, I was clear on what I needed to do in order to be the best for this team. And it's obviously paid off. I think I've also gotten along really well with like the line mates I've been playing with. There's been great chemistry. Um, I think our D are great, our goalie's amazing. Like from that all helps and helps contribute to allow us to kind of play our game uh on the forward end. And I also got moved to center this year and I handled it pretty dang well. And uh the fact that I've had the most points in my pro career so far in this season, uh, yeah, I'm really proud of myself. And I think it's just a testament to just kind of like the change of the mindset, to be honest. Like that's all that really changed. Like I didn't train any harder or work out anymore. I did the same stuff basically, but I really just focused on my mindset and kind of getting into a good headspace with that and not feeling like I had to have points to show value. I knew where my value lied. And then the points came after that.

SPEAKER_00 28:29

Yeah, it's it it's it's a great lesson for youth hockey players to understand the selflessness of being a team player first, and the rest of it will come. Like, or it won't. Like it's just it won't it's one of those things where if you can accept the fact that you're trying your hardest, you're working, you're doing your job, and you know, I think it's it's ironic, right? At the beginning of the year, we're like, well, you know, we described you as like points really didn't matter. Like that didn't define you. Like, and all of a sudden now it's like, oh, it kind of defined you a little bit, right? But you know, you score three goals in eight seconds or whatever it is, it's like all of a sudden, it's like it's like it starts defining the person who you are on the ice, right? Now, it might not always transfer to goals, but that's still that that hunting mentality is there all the time. And I think sometimes it takes that little spurt of, oh wow, like this this eye-opening vision of what you're doing. Like, yeah, I do this all the time. It just it just the pot doesn't happen to go in like that all the time. Like, so yeah, it's just it's just a funny thing how when you can take your when you take the burden, because we sit we see it so much, right? We use players on the bench that like if they're not scoring, they're not happy. And you know, if they're not contributing in in uh with points, like they're not showing value. So can you just talk a little bit about before you got went on this you know, historic point run? Like what what was the what was the messaging you were getting from your coaches that kept you in a great mindset and a great place to say, like, hey, I'm I know I'm contributing, they're letting me know I'm contributing. Like the other stuff will come.

SPEAKER_03 29:58

Um I think I think what was huge is like they focused on things that weren't related to points. So it's like defensive zone play, battles won. Um I think there were maybe times where maybe I wasn't getting points, but you know what? I was in charge of stopping the first line on the other team, and then they didn't get any points. And so I think that's also a big factor to kind of focus on and take pride in as well. And um, and then if there were games that we did get point get points, it was because of our teammates and everyone who contributed in that sense. And so um, I really think it came down to like our coaching philosophy, our systems, and the culture in the room, um to why it was just so easy to like kind of keep playing my game and do what it took to make the team successful. And so if there was a night that I didn't get points, I wasn't hard on myself or worried about it. It was just like, hey, we we won, whatever it takes to win, I'm good with. And I did my job out there. I know that I I played hard defensively, I created opportunities offensively by my hunting style of forecheck and um I love that too much.

SPEAKER_01 31:03

Yeah, uh Mike, just so you know, it wasn't eight seconds, it was two minutes and 44 seconds on a hat trick. The highlight was about eight seconds, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 31:13

Social media made it sound very good.

SPEAKER_01 31:16

I'm gonna tease this episode, Haley. You know, what's funny is I shared I shared the hat trick on social media, and I actually I just kind of went back to watch it just to make sure it was working. And two of the plays started so similar. Yes, that like I actually was like identical. Yeah, I was like, Oh, I posted the wrong the wrong one, and I had to watch it. It's like that's not it's the same, it's the exact same play. I mean, which is wonderful. But um, I love that you said that kind of hunter style. Uh, just building on this again in your mindset. Uh, kids listening, good things happen when you go to the net, good things happen when you go to those danger areas. Haley, there's so much poise in your game and the timing about how you get there, like and again, that's what you focused on, and you were rewarded for it. Now, here's another thing I wrote down, and this is what I love about you. All right, I felt like at the beginning of this season, the PWHL season and the Olympics, there was kind of this question, it felt like of where do we put scams? Where do we put her? 13th forward, right? Like, even coming into Montreal, from you, there was look, I'm gonna contribute, but I don't really know where I'm gonna be. I remember that. Like, and by the way, for the listeners, it was like, I'll do whatever I have to do wherever I'm at. We've got to explore this because you have willed your way to being prominent on both the Olympic team and this team. And I think it's important because kids listening come in, I don't know where I fit on this team, that can be a huge downer. All right, you willed your way into a position of not just importance, but you are contributing massively. Can you talk to me about the mindset of that? And again, yeah, you're a very humble, beautiful person. Don't get me wrong. But like you know where I'm trying to go with this, right? Because there's something different about you to do that.

SPEAKER_03 33:08

Yeah, I think with USA, I definitely was still the 13th forward, but my mindset with that was always just like, I know my ice time is limited. I'm going to go out there and do what I do best for whatever ice time I get. Because clearly I will have the energy to do that every shift, right? Like, I have no excuse. I can give a hundred, like 100% of what I've got. Like I can, yeah, I'll be the energy but you know, energizer bunny out there. Like, go battle, get a four check going, like get the girls going. I think like so many times I would do that, and you could just feel the energy like lifted up on the bench when you got back, because it's like that next person wants to go do that too. And so, in that sense, like the energy is contagious. And I I just felt like I was told that was my role. And I think that made it super clear. And I was like, okay, let's do it. I'm down, like whatever it takes. And um, and then with Montreal, I was kind of like, I knew what my season looked like before. So I wasn't expecting to be put anywhere um like super high up in the lineup chart or anything like that. But I also knew what I was capable of. So I just kind of kept my head down and kept working hard and um kept focusing on my game. And I think my game spoke for itself eventually. And then that's how I got moved to center because of my defensive zone responsibilities. And um, and then I was also working on being poised with the puck and being able to manage the puck better. And as a center, you really do need to do that, especially in the defensive zone to break out pucks. And so I think that's really helped develop my game too and kind of given me more confidence because you have to have confidence to carry the puck out of the zone. And I think that's been huge for my game. I think that's actually kind of helped me elevate my game a bit in a sense because as a winger, I was always just chipping it out or like winning those battles, which is also very important. But that centerpiece is a little bit different in that sense, and you kind of have to have a little bit more patience. Um, so I think it's really helped develop my game uh in all zones, honestly. And I and it wasn't like I was looking to be moved in the lineup. I just wanted to bring what I knew I could bring to the team, and it just kind of eventually led to that. Um, where now I've been like first or second line. Like obviously with Pooh out, I was helping out more first line, but now like second line, I would say.

SPEAKER_01 35:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 35:24

Um and specialty.

SPEAKER_01 35:26

But again, and yeah, yeah, you're okay.

SPEAKER_03 35:28

And power play and penalty kill. Yeah. And I love my penalty kill. So I'm my favorite on uh USA and with uh Montreal. But and definitely with USA, that was obviously a huge role that I uh took a lot of pride in as well. And um, so yeah, I think it's just owning your role, whatever it is, and it'll make the team better if you do do that. Like otherwise, you're like the downer on the bench that's bummed about their ice time. It's like no one wants to hear that or deal with that. Like, and you can still have an impact with limited ice time, as was shown.

SPEAKER_00 36:01

So I think yeah, I think I think coaches value that so much too, because on their side, right? Not the really the player side and not caring about your side so much, but caring about like, oh my God, this girl's gonna go out there and she's really gonna get these other girls, these other women, like really nervous about their playing. Like, oh my god, I gotta do that. Like, if I'm not doing that, like like I'm not scoring either, but she's killing everyone out there. Like, and I think that that, but that's the people you need on your bench. Like, you have to have those people. And I think you know, so my question really would be and and it is it's kind of a it's it's it's a little different, I think, with your league, right? Because we talked about how you're playing such a shortened schedule already. Um, I mean, Jesus, 30 games. You're playing less than most youth hockey teams. You know, I think every youth hockey team actually. That's so you know, and as the postseason starts now, I mean, do you feel pressure or do you feel not even pressure, but do you feel an obligation that your role maybe changes or goes back to something that you were doing earlier in the year? Like, how does that work for you? And knowing that, you know, we all know that defense was championships, right? So everybody's role changes a lot.

SPEAKER_01 37:07

Unless you got a great offense, then offense has.

SPEAKER_00 37:10

That's always my point. I go, I could care less about the defense. If we score eight, seven, that might give me a heart attack, but we won. And I think it's just like I think that but but how does your look, how do you look in on that? Um, knowing that it is a different season, there is a different expectations, and it's each each series is a compressed season. So it you have to you have to you know uh look at that differently each time. And and do you how do you uh deal with that and and how do you prepare for that for the postseason?

SPEAKER_03 37:40

I think for myself, I'm kind of like I understand it's like different, but I'm also not going to change my game. I think the only thing I might focus on more is just hitting more, honestly, being more physical, because I think that's usually what kind of gets ramped up in the postseason. Um, and so I think I can always be more physical. I think there's times where you forget you can hit or like things like that.

SPEAKER_01 38:03

I just think it's a love that answer, by the way, if you're a Montreal fan.

SPEAKER_03 38:07

Um, so I think that'll probably be my main focus, I would say, but also just staying consistent with what I have been doing, I think will translate to the postseason. Uh, so I'm not gonna go like too crazy. I think we have, you know, part of our team meeting today, we kind of just talked about like continuing to do what we've been doing will make us successful and not trying to do too much as an individual because it's playoffs. It's like, no, we this has been working because of our collective, and just because it's playoffs does not mean we have to like all of a sudden do everything on our own. It's like continuing to do the things um as a team that we have been doing. And I think uh for me, that's continuing to be really hard on the forecheck, continuing to be really good in the defensive zone, creating offensive opportunities where I can, and obviously putting some in the back of the net too. But um yeah, I'm just I'm super excited for it. I cannot wait for it to get started. But yeah, maybe a little more physical play would be my my answer for what I can bring.

SPEAKER_01 39:05

You know, you know what I always tell my teams, Haley, around this time of year is it's the word is amplification, amplify, right? It's not about changing anything, it's everything needs to be amplified. The the focus, the mindset, the play, the physicality, amplify. Yeah, right. Because if you play regular season hockey in the playoffs, you will not go far in the playoffs. That's in any league, division, doesn't age group, it doesn't matter. If you come in with a regular season mentality, you're gonna get not regular season results. Yeah, right.

SPEAKER_00 39:33

So so in well, that's and that's that's what was my question, I guess. In the in the in the PWHL, like you like in a regular hockey, you can go on a three or four-game losing streak. Like, but the PWHL, you really can't. Like it's hard. It's it's like it changes the whole aspect of where you're at. And then which is why I like it that you're going into the playoffs, because the playoffs, you can't go on a three-game losing streak. Well, it's just a bit of a big thing. Oh, you're out, but Pittsburgh and able to come back, but you can't, you can't, you can't just, you know, it's it's it's really tough, right? It is it is a different season.

SPEAKER_01 40:12

Well, and let's say this too, Haley. Let's set it up the playoffs, right? These are best of five series, correct? Yep. Right? So it's six six wins to the final to the to the to the trophy. Like again, six wins to the trophy. That's yeah, that's okay. It doesn't sound like a tall mountain to climb, but that's a really tall mountain to climb. And and and you're crawling for every one of those victories, right? So, so I mean you've you've been here a little bit before, right? Talked about amplification, everything's amplified in the PWHL this time of year, right? Like it's it's in a best of five series, man. One loss is a lot. One win is a lot, right? How do you how do you approach that as a team? Are you not even thinking about it? Just one game at a time.

SPEAKER_03 40:55

One game at a time. I think otherwise you get too kind of far ahead of yourself. And it's also if there, you know, if there is a win, if there is a loss, like not getting too high, not getting too low, I think that's also huge. Like we can't take it super hard. Like we can be mad about it for you know the night, and then next morning it's like focus and go to game two. So I think that has to be the mindset. I think we can't, yeah, we can't get those like peaks and valleys.

SPEAKER_01 41:21

That's all you can control. And here's the thing about why we bring this up for the kids listening, right? Is that you can get lost in that if you're not careful, right? Look, I'm gonna I'm gonna again pay you a compliment here. I wrote those notes down. Something about you, it it seems like you know, one of the things we talked about today on the show is that roles really matter. And this is for the coaches listening. You it you will do yourself a huge favor if you assign real roles for your players, not BS roles. Don't tell a player you're an energy person, never put it on the ice, yeah. Right? Roles really I'm a gamer. I'm a gamer.

SPEAKER_00 41:54

You're never a practice, I'm a gamer, though.

SPEAKER_01 41:56

Yeah, so roles matter. It's it sounds like kind of reflecting here on last season to this season that this season there's belief in yourself. Yeah, where it seems like last season you were you know believing in maybe someone else's standards a little bit of what success is. I don't want to gloss over that, right? Because when you when we asked you about your success this season, it wasn't like, well, I got the points this year, and you did, you did get the points this year. You're averaging over a half point a game. That's that's big money, yeah. All right, in any league. So um, but that wasn't your answer. Your answer was I just believed in myself, my coaches believed in me. I just I just want to make sure we're saying that, right? Yeah, and when you apply this to the game, like like you know, third, fourth lines on a team, coaches, it is so important you establish the role. I I just had a great experience with the teamless coaching where we had a fourth line that um I will just say they had limited ice time, but we were so upfront with them about the goals and they executed. I remember there was one that this was really cool where um I put them out there at a very specific time to match a line, and because the other team was matching lines too. We put them out for 30 seconds and we said change after 30 seconds so we can put the top line out. And they understood it, they forechecked hard, they got off our first line went out and scored right away. Yeah, it's they felt like they all got an assist on that goal, and they did. They did, and they did, yeah, not on the score sheet, obviously, but I don't care about that, right? And and man, did they feel like they're part of the team, and the whole team celebrates that, you know. Another thing, too. Sorry, I'm I'm rambling a little bit, I'm just trying to get started to the coaches, is that you know, when you when you enable those players, I don't mean just fourth line, it can be 13 forward, it can be role players, you know, your team recognizes that, right? Like, like the team recognizes if I don't do my job, that player won't get their ice time tonight. Right? That's the environment you want to be in, not the competitive, I gotta keep them off the ice so I get my ice time. Uh show me that, I'll show you a team that's not doing too hot. Yeah, you might have a lot of points, certain players, but not too hot. So I just love that the belief is there, and the belief is not about someone else's standard success. Fans look at points, right? Right? The points took care of themselves as you as soon as you started to believe in yourself. Exactly. You know, so anyway, that was yeah, more of a duck clip picture.

SPEAKER_00 44:18

I I do I do have a question though, because I want to speak this day in the life uh that I want to get a little, I want to gain a little knowledge from this as well. So, Haley, when you're going through your game strategy and going through the the the matchups, can you just talk about like because I got the groups I work with right now are like mostly like nine to twelve, nine to thirteen year olds, right? And the concept of situational hockey keeps coming up over and over and over again and just understanding, and I don't think most parents know this, I don't think most like like not real hockey fans don't realize how important the last change is, where the benches are, you know, the the difference between playing in the first period and the second period. Can you talk a little bit about how that goes into the daily uh you know process of your team in situational positions, whether you're home or away, and then whether you're at home ice advantage or you're on the road?

SPEAKER_03 45:13

Yeah, I think um changes is a huge thing we've focused on, like all season. I think there's always times where you need reminders a bit. Um and you know, sometimes you're playing against a team where maybe you're in the ozone a lot and people are not as tired and then they're staying out the Really long extending, and then all of a sudden, like the lines get all mixed up, right? Um, and then a bad change happens, and then who knows, right? You give up an opportunity. So I think I feel like that's always been a focus for every game. It's like, hey, we gotta shorten our shifts up a little bit here. Let's set up the next line for success. Uh, that's a big thing we'll always say. And and yes, period change the changing in the second period is a little bit harder because it's the long change. And um, that can get tricky as well, obviously. So you really have to be more mindful of your changes then.

SPEAKER_01 45:58

Defense to hate you if you don't know what you're doing there. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 46:01

Oh, yeah. And we're like, you know, forwards, like aware of our deer trying to change, like help them out here, you know.

SPEAKER_00 46:06

That's it. When a player doesn't know to get the puck in deep, it's like it's not always go, go, go, go, go. It's always it has to be like, okay, at this point in the game, we need this. And I think that's why, you know, gaining, I think in in a in a league like yours, like gaining that home ice advantage and gaining that, you know, the opportunity to be the last change and controlling the game more. I don't think people realize how important that is. And and the strategy of that, especially, you know, you're in a minute left, and you know, like I love the NHL rule that came up and I had forgotten all about it. That, like, if you you know, you can choose which side you want to take the face off on, yeah, you know, and an icing and that kind of stuff goes like in a youth hockey coach or or a parent, that's like that's rocket science stuff. Like, they're not even thinking about that, right? But I think the strategy that somebody has to think about it between the time it goes over the goal line and the time it gets back down to the other end, that you need to make a decision on lefty, righty, what side, who's on, personnel. Like these are all crazy things that happen. And uh, and it sounds like you guys are covering all that with your team meetings and your strategy sessions, and and obviously knowing that you've had the full season uh to kind of build this into your repertoire of this is how we play the game, this is what we focus on, and these are the things we're gonna focus, you know, concentrate on, not to change our game, but we're actually sharpening our game right now.

SPEAKER_03 47:24

Yep, yeah, exactly. I think it's always sharpening and like always getting better. And I think that's been our focus since we've well mean honestly the whole season, but like since we've clinched, it's been like, okay, we are building to playoff hockey. Let's like tighten up on all aspects of our game. So it's been a continuous process.

SPEAKER_01 47:41

Yeah, I I wish I wish hockey fans specifically, like like fans who don't play, could understand how tight the screws have to be. Like just going back to the changes, right? Um, and again, for the for the audience who doesn't know, because we're we're talking pretty high level here, um, you know, in the second period, when we say long change, the the benches position farther away from your net. So what happens with the defense is if it it takes them more ice to get off the ice because the bench is further away. So if the forwards aren't aware of that, and you make a dump at the wrong time or you turn it over at the wrong time, you very well might not have defense on the ice if it just changed, all right. So, and we see this in youth hockey all the time because people miss that. Um, so like these are like the little, it's the minutiae, the tiny, tiny things. Um, and again, when we talk about time and space, especially at the playoff level, Kayleigh, you know, look, you've gone through the whole journey of youth hockey the pro, right? I'm I I'm gonna see if we can do this. Can we even try and quantify what time and space is at your level now versus when you were like 10? All right, and we'll start with like a 10 time and space is about five seconds, right? Like you got about five seconds and you have to make a decision, right? What's it at the pro level?

SPEAKER_03 49:00

I don't even know, like one or less than one or negative five, maybe.

SPEAKER_01 49:05

Yeah, like uh it's an interesting thought, right? Because at the pro level, you when it's that small, uh, and this is for the audience. Like, I want you to think about how quickly, not you only you have to think, but how small the little things matter when it's a half a second difference, when it's a half a second to make a decision. You've gotta have the this the hockey IQ and the skills in your toolbox to make that decision. So, Haley, like you said it earlier, I'm throwing it back to you. You talked about your poise, right? Like, that's not something you snap your fingers and suddenly you're a poised player. Now, I I will make this statement on your behalf. I believe you are the most poised player in this league. All right, I've been watching you all season. Um, I I tell my players to watch you because because of the the poise that you show on the ice. That did not develop overnight. Talk to me about how you learn to develop that skill set, especially now that you're in the middle.

SPEAKER_03 50:01

Well, thank you very much. Um, to be honest, I don't know if I want to say it's been this year is probably the most poised I have felt. True. Um, because I think in years past, I always knew I was giving the puck away too fast or just like chucking it when I didn't need to because I didn't feel confident enough to hold on to the puck longer. I think that's where it stemmed from for me. Um, and so in changing my mindset this season, in believing in myself more, in owning that confidence of who I am, I think that allowed me to be more poised with the puck because I'm like, I can handle the puck longer. Like I can create more opportunities for my teammates by holding on to it a little bit longer. Um, and just still being like, you know, responsible with the puck, obviously, and not like making silly turnovers or anything like that. But and then if they do happen, I have people backing me up. Like we actually just saw a clip earlier. I had a fumble behind our D zone, like I was trying to carry it out and I lost it, and the girl almost wrapped it around because our goal I didn't see it because it was from behind the net. Thank goodness she still saved it because she's amazing. But um, you know, we have backup, right? So it's it's okay when you do make mistakes. But I've been very cautious about being more poised with it this year. So I appreciate it.

SPEAKER_01 51:14

No, it look, what's what's cool about what you're saying is this the skill set was there and built over your whole career. It's when the belief mixed with the skill set that the recipe was there for that to exist.

SPEAKER_02 51:30

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 51:30

Right, and that's such an important point for the youth players and youth coaches. If the belief is not there, it's really hard to get the best out of yourself, out of your players, however you want to look at it. I'm sure you can attribute this to coaching and the mindset training, uh, and Nick as well, for that matter, just the way you've incorporated this into your game, and it's not to be undersold. You don't have to be a pro player to start training like this mentally. In fact, you the younger you start, the better. Right. So, Haley, I just think it's amazing. Um, so here's where we're at. Again, we're recording this before the Walter Cup playoffs. The next day in the life episode, we'll have other episodes in between, we'll be after the playoffs. Um, and again, like no matter what happens, we're gonna be doing that episode. But you heard it from Haley right on this episode. She's writing it every day. I am a Walter Cup champion, right? I love not I'm going to be, not I'd like to be, right? I am, right? That's an important uh lesson for the kids out there. Mike, any final uh thoughts or questions before we close this out?

SPEAKER_00 52:32

No, we wish you the best of luck, and uh hopefully you don't have to keep getting on all these social media sites and doing all these uh all these interviews. It's a real it's a I see you everywhere and I love it. I think you know it's great for the great for the game. It it's that's great for you, but I think it's it's great for people to hear, like Lee, you know, Lee's mentioning it just about the poise part and and just about you know your maturity as a player. And I think you know, watching you, you know, steward a lot of those other, you know, younger players into uh into uh you know a time in their life that they've never experienced in being in a a pro playoff game. I think from an Olympic gold medalist perspective and somebody that's already been in the pressure, uh it'll be fun to uh you know watch you perform and and and watch your team uh you know rally around and and uh and keep uh keep what working through the playoffs.

SPEAKER_03 53:22

Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Yeah, we're I'm extremely excited.

SPEAKER_01 53:25

Well, we love hearing that, Haley. And again, we got to thank you. I know you're a co-host on the show, but I'm just gonna thank you for giving us this uh this view into the the life of a player. It's a great document, documentary series, I guess we could say.

SPEAKER_03 53:38

Um, I love letting people know what we're doing. So, you know, most people don't know what we're doing on a day-to-day basis, so it's nice to be able to share that with everyone.

SPEAKER_01 53:46

Yeah, well, you're a pro and we love it. We love you, pro podcaster too, which is pretty awesome. But uh look, that's gonna do it for this edition of Our Girls Play Hockey, another day in the life with Haley Skimora, the 2025-26 documentary series. Uh being a champion. Uh, remember, kids, adults, anybody out there, if you've got questions for Haley, send them over. You can email us at team at our kidsplayhockey.com or in the description, there's a link. You can tap that, text us, we can text you back. Uh, again, not everything has to go on the air. If you just want to discuss something, we're there for you as well. And we can get stuff to Haley so she can respond. Uh, but that's the way to do it. This has been a great episode. We'll see you next time on our girls play hockey. Enjoy the PWHL playoffs. Find them. It's free to watch. See you next time, everybody. We hope you enjoyed this edition of Our Kids Play Hockey. Make sure to like and subscribe right now if you found value wherever you're listening, whether it's a podcast network, a social media network, or our website, our kidsplayhockey.com. Also, make sure to check out our children's book, When Hockey Stops, at When Hockey Stops.com. It's a book that helps children deal with adversity in the game and in life. We're very proud of it. But thanks so much for listening to this edition of Our Kids Play Hockey, and we'll see you on the next episode.