Illustration by The globe and mail
It was a Sarah Nurse goal in overtime against upset-minded Sweden that propelled Canada into Saturday’s semi-finals at the women’s world hockey championship in Brampton.
The veteran forward has four goals at this tournament, where the host country tries to win a third successive gold medal this weekend. The 28-year-old Hamilton native is one of the most high-profile women in hockey, and not just because she scores big goals regularly.
After setting the record for most points in a single Olympics (five goals and 13 assists) and helping Canada to gold in Beijing, Nurse became the first woman to make the cover of an EA Sports NHL video game. She was invited to this year’s NHL all-star weekend in Sunrise, Fla., where she skated in on New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin during a skills challenge, flipped the puck to her backhand and tucked it around the outstretched pad of the Vézina Trophy winner.
Nurse often shares her experiences as a woman of colour in hockey, and advocates to elevate minority voices in the sport. She’s also a player and board member for the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association, a group working since 2019 to secure a new pro league for females.
Nurse – who says she’s introverted – spoke with The Globe and Mail earlier this season.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
I think the freedom to do what you want, to go where you want and say what you want.
What is your idea of misery?
Being stagnant, like not pushing your comfort zone, not being willing to grow and evolve, just kind of staying in the same place.
If not yourself, who would you like to be?
I would like to be my dog. His name is Romeo. He’s a Pomeranian with a pretty sweet life. Yeah, he’s spoiled.
What is your favourite occupation?
I wanted to be a doctor until I took some chemistry classes in college and then I gave up that dream. Other than that, I always wanted to be a pop star, but that also didn’t come to fruition.
What is a book that resonated with you?
I loved reading the Harry Potter books growing up and Twilight. I loved the fantasy worlds that they presented, but I’m more of a nonfiction girl now. The 101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think was my most recently finished.
Who are your heroes in real life?
Growing up, my aunt Raquel [Nurse] played basketball at Syracuse and I always thought that she was the coolest ever. Somebody that I looked up to, because she was this absolutely beautiful, intelligent, athletic woman, and I wanted to be like her.
What is your greatest fear?
For a long time, I feared failure, but eventually you learn that failure is not the worst thing that could possibly happen.
What’s your greatest extravagance?
I love shopping, and handbags are definitely my thing. I am 100 per cent a purse girl.
On what occasion do you lie?
Little white lies to my parents. They’re like, ‘how are you doing?’ and I’m really stressed but I say ‘I’m really good mom’. Just something to keep my parents happy.
Which talent would you most like to have?
I would love to be the best singer in the world.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I think that I have decently long toes, so I would like to shorten them up a little bit. Like, I don’t have big feet, but I have long toes.
But what if the long toes are your secret weapon? If you shorten them, are you still going to be a great skater?
Hm, it could throw off my whole balance.
Who is a woman you admire?
I really admire Cassie Campbell-Pascall. Obviously she’s a former Team Canada captain for women’s hockey. She’s a Sportsnet broadcaster, and just the woman she is, the way that she’s able to speak and captivate a room. She has this amazing presence and she’s somebody who has become a friend and a mentor, and she’s just a total boss woman.
Who is a man you admire?
My dad. He has never tried to dim my light or tell me that I can’t achieve my dreams. I think if more men stop putting these limiting beliefs on women, we’d have a much better world.
If you died and came back as a person or thing, what would you like it to be?
It would be cool to be a bird so I could fly.
What is your most treasured possession?
My puppy. He can’t be replaced
What do you most value in a friend?
Honesty. I think that having honest conversations, sometimes tough conversations, but somebody that you can just lay it on the line with, and be okay being vulnerable and authentic and genuine.
What is the thing you most dislike?
Bad breath.
What is your greatest regret?
Probably not keeping my room clean growing up because I think it’s turned into a bad habit, and I realized that when my space is messy, my mind feels messy.
What’s a quirky talent or a habit that you have?
I don’t like to sit on my bed with my outside clothes on. Shoes are obviously an absolutely not; I never sit on my bed with shoes. But if I have been outside all day wearing clothes, I can’t have those clothes on my bed because those clothes are dirty.
That sounds reasonable. I never thought about that.
I bet you’re going to now. It’s going to change everything.
What’s a personality trait you wish you possessed?
I wish I was more outgoing. I think that I am very introverted. Like I would never just walk up and start chatting with someone. But I have friends who are like that and I’m envious of it.
What is something you believed as a child that you don’t any longer?
That money equals happiness.
What is one thing in which you have impeccable taste?
I would say fashion, I think that most of my teammates come to me for honest approval of outfits, and although we may not have the same style, I think that I have a good eye for seeing if things work or not.
What is an invitation you would love to receive?
I usually say no to everything, but maybe an exclusive opening of a new clothing store and my own personal styling appointment.
What is a sport skill you wish you had?
I wish I had better hands, like silky mitts on the ice. I would also like to have proper running mechanics, because I think that I’m naturally pretty fast, but I could be even faster if somebody taught me how to run properly.
Scoring a goal on an Olympic ice feels like...?
Magic.
Scoring a goal on an NHL goalie on all-star weekend feels like...?
Um, just casual. That’s going to make some people mad.
Seeing yourself on the cover of a video game feels like...?
Surreal.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
I think that I have different achievements in different aspects of my life. Graduating university is a huge achievement. Representing my country in sport and winning a gold medal at the Olympics was amazing. And working with different partners that I have – like I have like a Barbie that was modelled after me. There are many different things that I’m proud of. I can’t pick just one.