Sasha Nanji ’13 is a former Big Green hockey player and will write a column every other week about her life post-Dartmouth as a professional hockey player in Canada.
The roar of passionate Dartmouth fans and the face that women’s hockey head coach Mark Hudak made every time I touched the puck remain clearly entrenched in my mind.
I played defense for the Big Green women’s hockey team as a member of the Class of 2013, and last summer I was selected 12th overall by the Toronto Furies in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League draft. The CWHL, a professional women’s ice hockey league, was founded in 2007 and includes five teams — Toronto, Montreal, Brampton, Calgary and Boston.
On senior night, last February, I was gunning for a hat trick against St. Lawrence University. After scoring two goals, I suffered a serious ankle injury, robbing me of competing in the playoffs that season. After two surgeries, and a third in waiting, I thought my career as a hockey player was finally over.
The sport had been part of my fabric since age 8, so I wasn’t ready to give up without a fight. Driven by the passion and love I have for the game, I knew it was an uphill battle, but I was determined to get there.
After returning to Toronto from my summer internship at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Md., I couldn’t wait to get back on the ice. That summer I had worked on strengthening and stabilizing my ankle.
When tryouts came in early September, I prepared myself for what would be my first experience back on the ice. I walked nervously into a packed dressing room, not really noticing any familiar faces. It was all business — a far contrast from freshman year at Dartmouth, where everyone was welcoming and friendly.
I was well aware, regardless of which team drafted me, that I had to earn my spot and my teammates’ respect.
Following the first tryout skate, I was in a lot of pain and my ankle was severely swollen. And I was out of shape. I worked with the team trainer on my ankle after each skate to get the swelling down. For the first time in my career, I was unsure whether or not I would make a team.
After three tryout sessions, it was time to meet the coaches. I hoped for the best but braced for the worst, knowing how much I had struggled on the ice.
Girls left their meetings with the coaches some sporting Furies gear and a smile, others with heads down in disappointment. Then it was my turn. I walked out clutching my new blue and white gear, feeling proud and fortunate to have made the team.
I was one of seven defenseman selected, but was the only rookie blueliner. I did my very best at each practice and knew that, if given a chance, I would prove myself worthy of a roster spot.
As the season opener drew near against Calgary, I wondered if I would dress for the game. My hard work had paid off, as I stood dressed in my No. 24 jersey, tears streaming down my face, as the national anthem played. The rink was sold out, fans of all ages filling the stands.
During my first shift of the game, I stepped up on a play on the blue line, intercepted a pass, decked a couple of players and passed it to my center, who sniped it into the top corner to give our team a 1-0 lead, marking my first CWHL point.
It felt good to make an immediate impact on the team, and even sweeter defeating my fellow Dartmouth buddy, Jenna Cunningham ’10.
Following the game, younger girls waited in line to collect players’ autographs. We happily obliged.
