From andria Sun Oct  5 22:36:07 1997
To: Sdhockey@aol.com
Subject: Re: I got your phone message

Hi Phillip,

I just got your phone message.  Sorry for not answering your questions
sooner, but I've been away for the weekend, and things were busy
towards the end of last week!

>Sorry, I've been busy the past few days. Would it be possible to
>answer a few questions by email to get things started. I need to have
>the story finished by Oct. 10 for InLine Hockey News.

>I'm in a rush right now but could you start by providing some
>background on yourself as far as hockey goes,

[You may already know this if you've looked at my web pages,
but here it goes again, just in case...]

I started playing ice hockey when I was 8 years old.  I played girls'
hockey for a nearby town and I played for my high school.  After high
school I went to the University of New Hampshire on a women's hockey
scholarship for my BSc (in Computer Science), and then I went to the
University of Toronto and played there while I was working on my MSc
(in Computer Science).  I played in Switzerland for one season, and I
played for Team Canada at the 1992 and the 1994 IIHF Women's World
Hockey Championships.  I am no longer playing for the national team
because of a groin/hip injury that just won't go away, but fortunately
my injury doesn't bother me nearly as much when I play in-line hockey!

I started playing a little pickup in-line hockey outside with some guys
in Toronto, and then in 1995 Sandy Nimmo put together the Toronto
Tornado team that competed at the 1995 NARCh (2nd).  Since then, I
competed with the Toronto Tornado at the 1996 NARCh (1st) and the 1997
Winternationals (1st).  Then I played for the Toronto Franklin-Labeda
Typhoon at the 1997 Canadian Hockey In-Line Nationals (1st), the 1997
NARCh (2nd), and the 1997 USA Hockey In-Line Nationals(1st).  (We've
also competed in a few other regional qualifier tournaments.)

I really enjoy playing in-line hockey!  For me, the differences that it
offers compared to ice hockey provides new challenges.  This is very
exciting at this point in my career.  It was like a breath of fresh air
to try a new sport that is so similar to a sport that I love so much,
but yet offers new challenges in a number of different areas.  I also
like the fact that I can lace on my in-line skates and go outside to an
outdoor arena in Toronto anytime I like ... no planning to arrange time
at an ice arena is necessary.

>what it means to you to be at the top
>(women's world champion, NARCh champion),

Well, for me to play for Team Canada at the World Championship was
a wonderful dream come true!  I can still remember the excitement of
the moment when the coaches told me that I had made the team.  I was
flabbergasted!  It was such an honour and so exciting to put on that
Team Canada jersey, and to represent my country.

We're really excited to have faired so well in women's in-line hockey
too.  I think it is the skills we have gained from so much ice hockey
experience that is helping our team to do so well.  The teams keep
getting better and better each year, so we're going to have to keep
working hard if we are to stay near the top!

>the pressures to be a leader on the
>team and looked up to as a veteran player,

Surprisingly, I don't really feel the pressure much at all.  I think
that playing on a team that has so many talented players who all have
had a lot of hockey experience, there isn't pressure on particular
players.  I do find it rewarding to share my experience with some of
the younger players on our team.

>your own thoughts on why you have
>personally been so successful (secrets of your game),

I think the key is to never think that you have learned
all there is to learn about the sport.  You still have to keep
practicing regularly, and to keep challenging yourself if you
are to improve, or even to stay at the same level.

>and the excitement as
>you have seen women's hockey develop and thoughts on its future, both
in
>Canada, the U.S. and worldwide.

[I'll assume that you're talking about women's in-line hockey here.]

Over the three years that I have been playing women's in-line hockey,
I have been very impressed with the improvement in the caliber of play
and in the interest each year!  If this continues, I hope we'll have a
women's world in-line hockey championship to look forward to one day!

Please let me know if you have any other questions.  I'll try to
answer them more quickly!!

Good luck with your article.  Take care,

Andria

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