For some positive Fleet news today, assistant coach Stefanie McKeough was recently on a podcast where she talks about her journey from youth hockey in Ottawa to Wisconsin to coaching in the PWHL. It is a really great listen if you have the time!
Watch it on Youtube here or it is also on Spotify
Some highlights from the pod:
Meghan Duggan and Vicky Sunohara were role models for her
The Fleet equipment managers rank the popcorn at each arena
She never considered coaching until suffering a career ending injury
She moved to a town in Sweden with 85 people to escape Hockey
Googled the local girls team to volunteer and ended up with a coaching job in the SDHL
Moved back and coached at UOttawa during Covid
Courtney Kessel texted her the day after the inaugural draft saying the league was legit, and convinced her to come to Boston
A film crew followed the team every day of year 1, making the Rise documentary, but it was originally supposed to be much longer
Cassie Campbell-Pascall signed autographs for 4 hours in a McDonald's after winning worlds
Some college coaches drove into the Carlsbad Springs ditches trying to get to her house for recruiting visits
Doesn't think she's a brilliant tactician but focuses on building player trust and buy-in to the system
A big step for her as a coach was learning how to teach others how she sees the game