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In Episode 355 of the Glass and Out Podcast, we welcome Canadian and women’s hockey legend Cassie Campbell-Pascall.
The former captain of Team Canada and two-time Olympic gold medallist wears a lot of hats these days. These include roles as a special advisor for the PWHL, an analyst for NHL on ESPN, and, most recently, an author.
Her new book, titled Just a Girl, is a memoir that paints a relatable picture of a kid who falls in love with the game and aspires to play at the highest level possible, all while facing the challenge of pursuing a sport without a clear path for talented and aspiring female players. You can check out the book here.
One of the stats that stands out in the book is that, in 1990, when the first Women’s World Hockey Championships were held, there were only about 7,000 female players in all of Canada. Today, there are over 120,000 female players in Canada.
With only 7,000 female participants in a country where hockey is part of our DNA, it really speaks to how Campbell-Pascall and other female players of her generation had to grow the game through sheer will and determination.
Listen as she shares how her love and passion for the game drove her to incredible heights, the key lessons she learned as captain of Team Canada, and the biggest issues facing youth hockey today.
Timestamps:
- 0:55 Growth of women’s hockey
- 8:30 Early days of female hockey
- 12:10 Dealing with notoriety
- 14:50 1998 Olympic leadership lessons
- 18:10 Sexuality conversations
- 21:30 Losing streak to the USA
- 26:20 Bringing a team together
- 29:05 Decision to retire
- 30:45 Transition to broadcasting
- 34:45 Broadcasting mentors
- 36:30 Evolution of the women’s game
- 39:20 Inspiring young girls/youth hockey issues
- 42:15 Dealing with parent pressure
- 44:40 The social media problem
- 49:15 Coaching challenges
- 50:55 Leading with humility
