The Road to Boston

December 12th, 2023. 

On December 9th, I loaded up my truck in Edmonton, said my goodbyes to friends & family, and started my journey to Boston. It took me 5 days of driving to get to the East Coast, but I was lucky to have my mom join me for the ride to help with driving and keep me company. We survived the drive and even got to stop in Rockford, IL to watch my brother Josh play a game. This was something super special to me because we never get to see each other play in person. 

After arriving in Boston, my mom stayed with me for a few days to help me search for an apartment, get settled in, and unpack. We had planned our trip so I would arrive a few days before training camp started up, allowing me to figure a few things out and get as comfortable as I could. Within those first few days I had made some trips to the rink to meet a few of the girls that were starting to roll into town while also checking out our training facilities and meeting our staff. After taking a few days with my mom to explore the city, and training facilities, I couldn't wait to get things started.

Like most training camps, we started with on & off-ice fitness testing. Let’s be honest, every athlete dreads this part of camp but of course, it’s always a great way for teams to see where players are at fitness-wise heading into the season. Per usual, I was a little nervous before fitness testing, but as we started to complete test after test my nerves went away and my off-ice training shined through. The staff and players were so supportive and the energy was great throughout all of our tests. We had music blasting and rotated from station to station in our groups for different tests. It was an awesome environment to be in - A bunch of pro athletes cheering each other on and getting work done. 

After testing was done, it was time to get to work on the ice. I was a bit nervous heading into practices and ice sessions knowing some players who would be out there. There are a lot of experienced and seasoned players on my team with Olympic medals, world championships, and national team experiences under their belt. Players that I had watched growing up and who have created a name in Women’s hockey, were now my teammates. Everything on the ice was just as I expected… fast-paced, intense, stronger players, detail-oriented and tough. I don’t think I had ever been so focused as I was in my first week of camp. Although I was a drafted, signed player, I knew I still needed to prove that I deserved to be there and continue to earn my spot in the lineup.

Week 2 of training camp kicked off with a road trip to Utica, NY to compete in 3 games vs Toronto, Montreal, & Ottawa. This was super exciting to get some pre-season games in and shake out the cobwebs. Some of us haven’t competed in a game in a year or maybe more. My first game was vs Montreal and my D partner was Megan Kellar that night. If you’re not sure who Megan Kellar is all you need to do is google her… she’s been with Team USA since she was under 18 and since then is a 5x World Champion and 2x Olympic Medalist. To say I was excited to have her by my side on the blue line for my first game was an understatement. I was buzzing with adrenaline. To finish, we played 3 on 3 and a 5-man shootout. We fell short in the game but it was fun to play in different situations/scenarios and get a full 60 minutes in. It was also a great chance to get a feel for the pace of games along with building chemistry with new teammates.

Along with Kellar, my team has many players who are well-known in the Women’s hockey world such as Hilary Knight, Aerin Frankel, Hannah Brandt, Jamie Lee-Rattray, Loren Gabel, Sophie Shirley, Amanda Pelky, etc. Sharing a bench and locker room with these players has been incredible to learn from their work ethic, leadership, and attitude. Reflecting on the games, we knew we had lots to improve on and build from, but that's what pre-season is for.

One of the best parts about playing professional hockey is that I'm playing in one of the best cities out there. Boston is a historic town; streets are unique & every neighborhood has its own vibe and charm. The city is filled with great food, music, events, and most importantly sports! In the first week of training camp, our team got to experience a Boston Bruins game sitting in the owner's suite. We ended up getting a shoutout on the big screen and my teammates and coach got interviewed. We have also enjoyed Top Golf as a team and I am looking forward to exploring other sports teams such as the Red Sox, Celtics, college hockey, and let's not forget about cheering on all the Boston Marathon runners in April. It is exciting to join the league in such a sports-focused city.

Aside from the amazing sports culture, Boston is also known for its unique coffee shops & historic buildings. Some buildings have been around since the 1630’s. Sometimes as I am strolling through the city, I find it hard to believe how much American history has taken place here. Some of my favorite historic parts of Boston so far are the Freedom Trail, Boston Common, Beacon Hill & The Bell In Hand Pub (EST 1795). 

We’re now one week out till Christmas break and we have been training and practicing in a consistent routine. Our days consist of a workout at 9 am followed by practice at 10:30. We’re lucky to have a lounge where we get to chill, watch sports highlights, and eat meals together. I spend most of my time chilling in the lounge when I'm not on the ice or in the gym. I am looking forward to the holidays, where I will spend 4 days back home in Edmonton with my family. It is a great time to reset before we kick off the season in January!

• Jess