Emma Maltais - Olympic Gold Medalist & PWHL Toronto Player - Episode #205

Get set for a compelling journey on ice with the phenomenal Emma Maltais. As a former captain of the Ohio State women's hockey team and a player currently ready to dazzle the ice for Toronto in the Professional Women's Hockey League, Emma takes us along on her extraordinary journey. From her humble beginnings in Burlington local rinks to her Olympic debut and beyond, her story is sure to inspire both athletes and sports enthusiasts alike. Buckle up as you are about to get a front-row seat to the life of a professional female hockey player.

This journey is more than just about winning games and scoring goals. Emma shares the trials and triumphs of her life as a professional sportswoman. Remember the day she was drafted? We revisit that day, the adrenaline, the excitement. We delve into her training regimen - a lesson in strength, mobility and proper alignment. Take notes as Emma talks about her functional movements struggles, and how she turned them into her strengths.

Finally, we move off the ice and into personal territories. We chat about the new team jerseys and what it means to be authentic in the world of sports. We talk about friendships, like her camaraderie with Marie Philip Poulin, another hockey player, and how they remain close yet unique individuals. Emma leaves listeners, especially young girls, with a powerful message about being themselves. Ready for some real-world advice, wrapped in a story of grit, determination and authenticity? This episode is the one for you.

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

But you're living a pro life. It sounds like right. This is what you've been waiting for. This is what you dreamed about growing up.

Speaker 1: 0:06

You're the most decorated racquetball player in US history, world's strongest man, from childhood passion to professional athlete, eight time Ironman champion. So what was it like making your debut in the NHL? What is your biggest piece of advice for the next generation of athletes, from underdogs to national champions? This is the Athletes Podcast, where high performance individuals share their triumphs, defeats and life lessons to educate, entertain and inspire the next generation of athletes. Here we go, because I would say Toronto's actual team name, but those haven't been announced yet. So the professional women's hockey league Toronto star, soon to be star, emma Malte, on the Athletes Podcast.

Speaker 2: 0:50

Thank you. Yeah, there you go. Yeah, I've had a nice ring to it.

Speaker 1: 0:53

There you go. Former captain of Ohio State women's hockey team. Hey, thank you for coming on the show, excited to chat, chop it up with you, learn a bit more about the Burlington Ontario. Were you Oakville, burlington?

Speaker 2: 1:04

Burlington, it is Burlington. Yeah, I just played for the Hornets, so it's just like that A little bit of a traitor.

Speaker 1: 1:09

But that's okay. That bubble that's right off the hop You're going to get lit up for that yeah, I know. Why? Why did you change?

Speaker 2: 1:17

Well, I played for the Burlington Eagles like the boys program for a while until I was Bantam. And then Warren Edgar, who's like just like the biggest people person ever, came and like recruited me almost Not recruited but like came in and watched and was like, oh, like we would love to have you for the Oakville Hornets. And at that time the Burlington Barracuda's program hadn't taken off as like it has now. Okay, um, and Oakville kind of just had a little bit of a. They weren't like the number one program but I had some really good people involved and, um, yeah, I get heat with it. I coach with the Barracuda's a little bit now and they're like traitor. But no, it was. I was surrounded by really good uh coaches there, like Brady Cochran was like probably the key to a lot of my growth in at that level. So kind of happy with my decision.

Speaker 1: 2:13

So what was that transition like playing with the boys to to women's afterwards?

Speaker 2: 2:17

Yeah, um, I mean, I I played a little bit of girls hockey, maybe like in the summers, to like my parents wanted me to socialize into, like like being around girls and like a hockey environment and stuff. And I think like, um, boys definitely got me ready to be physical. I feel like I was one of the bigger ones at that age. So all of a sudden they were just sprouting and I had to get out of the men's game because I was like always really physical and like I still played the same way as I do now. So it started to slowly not be as effective. So I think, like I brought that same speed from the men's game over to the women's game and then the women's game was like I feel like there was more plays at that age, like for boys, I feel like they were just starting to introduce hitting and everyone was distracted by that. And then, um, yeah, I felt like it was a bit I could use my speed more and and also bring like the plays into it. I don't know.

Speaker 1: 3:19

Yeah, I'm sure you probably credit those years of being able to play for boys.

Speaker 2: 3:24

Yeah, for sure, for sure.

Speaker 1: 3:26

It's uh, it's unlocking those uncharted territories, but you don't know what you're capable of. Um, you know, obviously, playing in frozen for Olympics. We could probably talk for days about your experiences on the ice, but I wanted to start first off going down as a Canadian playing did one hockey for Ohio State. That's kind of a big deal. Kind of a cool experience. Maybe shine light on what that was like cross in the 49th parallel being a part of that insane organization institution.

Speaker 2: 3:52

Yeah and saying I mean, like it just, ohio State's such a awesome place Like even I know we lost Michigan. I know I came and say Michigan, I shouldn't be saying that but um, just like going and like bringing all my teammates this past weekend to watch the game and like how like into it, like people who went to Ohio State are, it's just like such a cool alumni, like the people, the tradition, the excellence, what they say, and it's like so true, I don't have a state it's like it's such a different level of pride to wear the logo and to be a part of something like that. Um. So I think, as a Canadian, I was just like shocked by how big everything was and how like the resources that were available. Um, I committed at such a young age. I remember like I was the summer between grade eight and nine, I went on a visit there and I was um visiting like for like the first ever football game of the year, like the homecoming, and LeBron James was speaking at like the opening event and I just was like.

Speaker 2: 4:58

I just was like standing there, like uh, and then I went on the field, like on the football field, and I was just like, where are we right now? It was another world, um. So I just committed at a young age and I just loved the school and I it lucked out for me. So I think I'm nothing but uh grateful for like how it ended up turning out. But they weren't a great hockey program back then and everything kind of just fell into place.

Speaker 1: 5:22

The uh, the recruiting system worked well on you there, oh yeah. They didn't get out on the field, 80,000 people probably screaming on their feet yeah. Was uh any tailgating involved?

Speaker 2: 5:32

Not at that age. No, that wasn't a part of my recruit, obviously I was so young. But um yeah, no, it was. It didn't need to be, I guess.

Speaker 1: 5:42

Yeah, yeah, clearly they had you sold beforehand. Yeah, I'm sure that came afterwards, yeah.

Speaker 2: 5:47

A little bit of that. But I remember asking the coach I committed to um, oh, like, do you let the girls drink after the games? And my mom was like Emma, like don't ask that, cause I was like so young, and they were like um, and he was like yeah, like we do. And then I went there and we ended up having like a dry season for five years. Whoa, that's kind of I know, but Wow.

Speaker 1: 6:10

Yeah, so the girls thrilled about that.

Speaker 2: 6:13

No, we like originally, um, like when we got there, like we definitely needed a culture change, um, and coach Muzaral took over and she was from Minnesota, like, had a lot of success, um, in her playing career and then coaching career, and she just like was a very tough person and she knew what needed to be done, kind of and instill that culture. And I think we kind of bonded over it, like how much we didn't like it, and we also found ways to connect that weren't drinking which is like difficult in college, I think.

Speaker 1: 6:48

Very.

Speaker 2: 6:49

Um, like, obviously we had our fun in the off season. No, no doubt about it, but I think it's kind of cool that, like you think, at Ohio State that's like a major part of your experience and it was but in, not in, season.

Speaker 1: 7:01

Yeah, no, and it's probably your performance Obviously showed.

Speaker 2: 7:04

Right.

Speaker 1: 7:06

I think there's a test for most athletes. You should reconsider how much you consume alcohol, because it'll probably impact your performance. I can testify and say for as a fact that my performance goes down when I'm drinking. Um, no doubt about it, but I imagine some of the faces you guys made were similar to a Mitchell Pellke frog.

Speaker 2: 7:24

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 7:25

When you heard about that can you give me your best frog?

Speaker 2: 7:28

I can do it. I love Mitchell Pellke.

Speaker 1: 7:32

There we go. She was looking at me. You were doing the frog. That was amazing, mitchell Pellock. He's going to appreciate that one. I had to do it. Throw that in there. He's creating some cool content. I know you guys are interacting online.

Speaker 2: 7:43

Yeah, he's a cool, he's a fun guy. He's always been around our team. We got pretty close in our last spring and he was just running around doing the frog, so it was great.

Speaker 1: 7:56

I couldn't believe how many Ohio State alumni were drafted in the PWHL draft this year.

Speaker 2: 8:02

Oh yeah, I know, and we're all on different teams. We're literally like six. First, I think there's one of us, for the recent are on each team.

Speaker 1: 8:12

I feel like there was like eight or nine.

Speaker 2: 8:15

Yeah, maybe. Well, there's more that, like Mintu, didn't end up playing.

Speaker 1: 8:19

Okay.

Speaker 2: 8:21

Like there's some that are trying out still, I think, but for, like, the ones that are recent grads, we're all on different teams and we all have like a group chat and like techs like what are you guys doing Checking in?

Speaker 1: 8:33

What are the differences Like? What's going on team to team? Do you guys know it?

Speaker 2: 8:36

I don't know, like it's fun to learn about it, but I also like don't want to know. I'm like I don't know. I kind of want to focus on Toronto, but I also I'm curious but we're going to be competing here soon, so I don't, almost don't want to know.

Speaker 1: 8:49

Yeah, no, and with the season a couple months, so we're actually less than a couple like a month in a bit away, I guess, right? You guys are a couple of weeks into camp. Maybe give the listeners some insight as to what life is like right now for you. With the new PWHL inaugural season coming up, Any insights? What's what's camp like? What's practice like? How are they feeding you? When are they feeding you Apparently? You said that's different. You're liking that.

Speaker 2: 9:13

Yeah, it's like it's crazy. So I get to just like get up in the morning and go to the rink and have breakfast and there's coffee and I could just like hang out with the girls and then we like slowly get ready for our. We usually have like a lift or speed workout and then a practice and then we get to eat after practice and go home Like it's kind of it's similar to college but it's it's like the main part of your day, right. Like you're not like rushing to the rink, like sweating from class or like stressing out about like a school assignment. Like you could actually like be in the moment and like, if you want to do things away from the rink, like it's kind of your choice and it's more like fills you up rather than drains you.

Speaker 2: 9:58

So, that's kind of a cool, a cool way to put it. I'm definitely still getting used to it. I think, like the biggest adjustment is I don't know everyone, so I think, like you know how exhausting it is to like get to know people like for real, so that's for sure the biggest adjustment right now.

Speaker 1: 10:13

Yeah, Not just surface level relationships, right, and. But you're living a pro life. It sounds like right, this is a. This is what you've been waiting for. This is what you dreamed about growing up.

Speaker 2: 10:22

I never thought it would be like possible. I like all through my college career I was like trying to further my education so I could do school with playing hockey or like you know, so I'd be like set up for after. But now it just like feels like this is possible.

Speaker 1: 10:40

What was that feeling like? Getting drafted, going through that process, having CBC there filming you getting there, getting all dolled up, like what was that whole experience like?

Speaker 2: 10:49

It's so, like it's just like out of body, like I just like I can't even explain that day, like it was so overwhelming, so amazing, like it was all of the above. So I think, just to like feel like that was our day and everyone was watching and like actually tapped in was so cool.

Speaker 1: 11:09

It was really cool. Phoenix and I were in attendance representing Coke Stark management LDC talent. I got to ask how many compliments did you get on your pink power suit and pink shoes?

Speaker 2: 11:21

Yeah, I definitely went for it with the pink.

Speaker 1: 11:23

I was like I have to.

Speaker 2: 11:25

I was like I don't know. I was like I'm going to show my personality here, let's do it. And a lot of people liked it. Yeah, it was.

Speaker 1: 11:33

I think it was a massive success. I think everyone was in awe, you know, and you strutted your stuff up there. You're like, hey, I'm owning this. I think everyone was pretty reserved, actually, for the most part the outfits.

Speaker 2: 11:44

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 11:45

I was expecting a bit more pizzazz.

Speaker 2: 11:47

Like some clean, like a lot of girls went for, like the clean, like chic look, I feel it.

Speaker 1: 11:52

And some good sneakers. Yeah, there's some fire kicks out there too.

Speaker 2: 11:55

Not, I'm not the biggest sneaker head Like I am like, but I find it tough to dress up sneakers like I mean, because I'm so short. But some of the girls really killed it with their sneakers, but not for me.

Speaker 1: 12:08

You're not the tallest, that is, we have confirmed that Needs the heels. Yeah, you've got a couple of extra inches on those, those work.

Speaker 2: 12:17

Platform mugs too, yeah.

Speaker 1: 12:19

How do you transfer, maybe not being the most vertically gifted to on the ice and being able to perform, compete against women who maybe are larger size? Like? Do you bring that knowledge from playing as a female with boys growing up or yeah, like I don't know if it was like I like vertically gifted.

Speaker 2: 12:39

I like that. I'm going to use that. But no, I take pride in a lot of my office work is majorly to keep me in the game in terms of strength and power and in my speed I have a very low center of gravity, so like, in a way it's helpful against bigger girls, like it's harder to knock me off the puck next because I'm closer to the ground. It's just what it is and definitely when I first came to senior camp like and I went up against like Spooner and like Renata, I was like, oh my goodness, like they're not. Like they don't look massive, like when you watch them on TV, but they're just like. They're not massive, I should say, but like strong and just like powerful to the max. Like Spooner, coming at you at full speed is just like. So it was a big adjustment to like have the confidence to go into the corner. But yeah, I definitely work a lot on that in the gym.

Speaker 1: 13:37

Yeah, I can tell you do have some sizable quads to you. It looks like you can leg press heard that before and it's well. I feel like there was a couple of people at the draft that were like yo do not challenge her in a leg press contest because I feel like you would win. What does your training look like? Did you absorb a lot of that at school? Have you always been gifted in the quad department?

Speaker 2: 14:01

I like almost the gymnastics. Growing up I always had like a little bit of power.

Speaker 2: 14:05

And like my mom was super powerful. I don't know I my training looks like I love to train, so like when you love to do it, it's easier. Ohio State was a big training like environment. In the summer I was there every day at 6am till 8am like long days, but it gave me that foundation to continue and now I'm working out. I was working out this summer at Shield in Burlington, which was great for me and like trying new things with it. I think now I'm past that strength foundation phase, but adding different parts to it too.

Speaker 1: 14:41

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 14:42

That mobility that I need. I needed that this summer.

Speaker 1: 14:46

I need to get on that train. It's tough. Mobility is hard, you know.

Speaker 2: 14:49

It's horrible.

Speaker 1: 14:51

It's something that you got to do while you're watching like TV or watching a movie, and it's just never ending. You can always get better. It's just that constant. It's always hovering over you.

Speaker 2: 15:01

Yeah, it was so humbling this summer Like I went and he's like we need you to be more foundational, like functional movements, and I was just like struggling with like the proper way to do a squat and I was like, oh, my goodness, like this is so hard.

Speaker 1: 15:16

But what was he making you do? Like dead bugs, like anything in particular?

Speaker 2: 15:19

Like, yeah, like a lot of core, which I feel like I've never really focused on that much before, and also just like the alignment of every movement, like I don't know. Like sometimes, when you wanna do a chin up, you like hip or like a little bit. She's like removing all those tendencies which was built up, I guess.

Speaker 1: 15:41

That's what happens when you're an athlete you just get the job done. You're not trying to be a bodybuilder and focus on squeezing your lats so that you get the best Literally.

Speaker 2: 15:49

Yeah, hypertrophic, you know.

Speaker 1: 15:51

I don't know whatever word I was gonna use there. You know what we'd also love to hear from you guys, specifically the males watching this Athletes Podcast episode what are you guys doing for your face? You guys are probably brushing your teeth every day, but are you washing your face? Are you applying the good every night to make sure that you're hydrated, moisturized, making sure that your skin looks young, youthful, glowing? I personally use Caldera Lab. I start off my day by washing my face with the clean slate. You can tell it's still wet. That's cause I used it this morning. Then I follow it up. I throw on the nice little icon here in the middle underneath the eyes, keeps those black, dark spots away, and then, to finish it off, we use the beard product to make sure that the beard's looking nice and full.

Speaker 1: 16:35

Check out calderalabcom. Use the code AP20 for 20% off yours. It's the best deal that they offer anywhere out there, and I can't recommend the products enough. I use Caldera Lab every single day. As you can tell, my skin's looking all right and I'm very happy with it, to say the least. I want to know, though, if you're using it. Let us know down below. Guys promise you're gonna love it. Tell me about your time with Voice and Sport, cause you were an intern there and I noticed that on your LinkedIn profile. I was curious.

Speaker 2: 17:03

Yeah, I'm a very I love to do things away from hockey. Like I said, it fills me up and that's one thing. I did that internship before the after the Olympics.

Speaker 1: 17:16

After the Olympics yeah, after the Olympics.

Speaker 2: 17:20

And I just did it. I wanted to get more exposure in the marketing side. All my education has been in health sciences area, so I wanted that. But I also thought that advocacy part was so cool and I got a lot of really good experience just how to ask for things that are meaningful and then how to portray yourself in that environment and message properly to get people on board, and you know what I mean.

Speaker 1: 17:51

Can you give me an example?

Speaker 2: 17:52

Yeah, like having to, like I'd send a lot of emails, a lot of emails, a lot that weren't replied to, but that's okay.

Speaker 1: 18:00

Sales life, yeah which.

Speaker 2: 18:02

I never experienced before, which was really cool. And then just also like on calls, like actually speaking from your heart on past experiences and the authenticity of like advocacy and like being okay to talk about inequities in certain ways, but in the right way. So I think that's been a big thing with my voice and sport chapter at Ohio State, which was kind of a challenge through the internship that I kept on going and still heavily involved in it. It's just like building that confidence amongst female athletes to talk about that kind of stuff.

Speaker 1: 18:38

Right, yeah, and I think Wasserman posted was it 2018, 4% of media was headed towards women's sport and now it's up to 15%.

Speaker 2: 18:47

Is that right Is?

Speaker 1: 18:48

that accurate, okay, so that's gotta be a little exciting for you to see at least progress.

Speaker 2: 18:53

It's not quite 50-50 where it should be, yeah like I think the growth there and I think like I think like the thing is, those like we can't be like satisfied with growth and I think that's something I've really learned is like as women, a lot of times we're very grateful for opportunities but it's just like like not satisfying with always being grateful, like understanding that there's opportunities to grow even more.

Speaker 1: 19:20

Yeah, I mean, there's still 35%, at least to get to even yeah exactly, and that doesn't even include all of the brand deals, you know, sponsorship dollars that should be equitably distributed. I'm curious from your perspective have you been Given those opportunities from brands marketing representation agents like, are you getting the same exposure as, like your Guy friends on the Ohio? State hockey team, for instance.

Speaker 2: 19:49

I actually I was very fortunate with after the Olympic year the NIL stuff happened so that got me kind of out and thinking about it a lot. Individual. I did that and then I I work with envision now and they've been helping me a lot with just how to like again, advocate for yourself and like what's worth it and and what's not, and how to pick and choose, and I think I work with CCM so that's like my first kind of like big staple brand, like for longevity purposes. I think that's really cool and that's really started to help me get a momentum.

Speaker 2: 20:28

They've they've been instrumental in their support for women's hockey yes, and I think that's super important is aligning yourself with brands that are like aligning with what? What you think, yeah, and there's a.

Speaker 1: 20:41

There's been some chatter around some, some new gear that would be there to back up their support. I don't know if there's anything we can release right now currently but, I've heard some through the grapevine put it that way. So it's exciting times to be in professional women's sports.

Speaker 2: 20:59

Exactly exactly.

Speaker 1: 21:00

I mean that was probably pretty cool on its own, having, like Billie Jean King, there in attendance, some other legends in the space. Was there a highlight from that draft for you?

Speaker 2: 21:09

Oh, I think just like being like watching it, like after I got drafted, I think before I got drafted I was just like freaking out kind of like where am I gonna go, like what's gonna happen? I think after just like taking a step back and like seeing everyone sending their watching and getting texts from home, being like congratulations, like we're watching, and you know, I think that part of it was really special.

Speaker 1: 21:36

I think it's something that probably you guys have dreamed up for your whole lives right to have it actually come to fruition is crazy. I also heard you you've skated on Lake Louise. Yeah yeah, how cool is that really cool.

Speaker 2: 21:51

I went there in centralization and skated on that beautiful outdoor rank.

Speaker 1: 21:55

It was so cool top ODR you've ever said for sure for sure.

Speaker 2: 21:59

I mean, there's nothing that compares to it with the mountains in the background, right so cool.

Speaker 1: 22:04

It's funny. It was a roundabout story because the reason I met Mitchell is because of Bobby Ryan, who we had on the podcast previously. He was a skier at Colorado University and he screwed up. He mentioned about the Rockies whether they were in BC or Alberta. He wasn't quite sure that Canadian geography is tough for Americans. I get it, but that's how. Last month we went to Cape Cod, met Mitchell down in wherever Cape Cod, and we were training Mitchell's like man, you've got to know some of these people. And then Emily Duke, who I don't know if you're familiar with.

Speaker 1: 22:36

Obviously, yeah, you would be. You're on Tiktok, yeah, what was it? I mean that's the other cool part is NCAA athletes have a good community like, and you're able to basically go up to anyone, say hi, say what up. Yeah trade skills? Were there schools that you loved traveling to best places to maybe consume sports or participate in sports?

Speaker 2: 22:57

Oh, I think that I liked playing I'm going to get heat for this, but like and Ritter, like in the Gophers facility, I thought that was cool. And I liked playing in Le Bonne. Like Le Bonne was in Wisconsin it was. It was like terrible at sometimes just because the fans are like insane, but it was also like cool. It's like a nice rank and like there's own. It's the only only for the women's team and I think like that atmosphere behind it's really cool and how people came in watching it's like sold out. I did get to play in the men's rank at Wisconsin to fulfill the bowl. That was cool to me.

Speaker 2: 23:36

I would have liked that too, yeah.

Speaker 1: 23:38

How can you tell me how much swagger your fourth line had at the Olympics?

Speaker 2: 23:43

Yeah, I mean we all, we all have a matching tattoo of the number four. Yeah, so like if that tells you anything about it, that's yeah, we loved it.

Speaker 1: 23:54

I feel like I remember hearing a story of Spooner and your, your warm up group, yelling animal names. Is that accurate?

Speaker 2: 24:03

So before the game, there's like a group of us that like try and get fired up. We like will push each other around, and then one person has an animal they think about it during warm ups and we like make the sound. I don't know how this started, but I supposed to get us fired up and it does.

Speaker 1: 24:17

Yeah, I think there was the whale was the example, I was like oh god, natalie Spooner just making whale noises before game. It's got to intimidate the opposing team for sure. Any highlights from the Olympics that you wanted to highlight? I know you've talked about podcasts on previously, but like gotta be some highlight moments in there.

Speaker 2: 24:37

Yeah, I think, like the Olympics is just like it's so crazy Some of the things that I didn't realize about it.

Speaker 2: 24:47

Like I think I know I went to one that was like pretty unorthodox, with like COVID and everything, but just like how we're all on different villages and like watching each other compete was like such a big, monumental thing. I think that was just so cool. I loved that, like we would just go home after practice every night and watch like everyone else compete and then like talk about it the next day. We're also tapped into our country and how we're doing and like talking to people you've just never talked to before about their event, and I think that's just like there's something so beautiful in that.

Speaker 1: 25:25

The Canadian camaraderie is second to none, and I imagine like there's a clip of I think he's a skier or something, but he he's like double fisting at 9am supporting his wife who's competing in the Olympics. I'm like that's goals right there. Like that isn't the relationship that you're striving for. You need to find someone that allows you to double fist at 9am. Yeah, I just imagine that like, because I think there was also stories you had to wait like five hours on the tarmac when you guys landed.

Speaker 2: 25:54

Oh my God, yeah, yeah, the flight back was pretty brutal, but, like I think, also for our Olympic, that Olympics I went to, like coming home was so cool because I think, like when you go to the Olympics it's all happening at once, like your support, like your family is usually there, like your friends, some of your friends come maybe, and like you know what I mean it's pretty, it's much more accessible and I think for me I almost got like two experiences where we won and I got it like over social media-ish, and then I came home and it was like I got to share it all over again with like friends, family, you know, like I think that part of it I don't know.

Speaker 2: 26:34

And all my friends and family went to like one bar in Burlington and watched it, which was just the Coupe. Cubies. Cubies, which was just like so cool, Like seeing videos of that and like I don't know, I just love that.

Speaker 1: 26:50

Okay, okay, yeah, that that it would be cool to be able to have both.

Speaker 2: 26:53

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 26:53

And to be able to have it with your home. Yeah, that's something that's and I feel like even when you're away from home you don't get that at school right Like something about coming back to your hometown and joining that, enjoying that with your country.

Speaker 2: 27:06

Yeah, like it's like your whole country like I don't know, and Burlington's a great community that like follows their athletes and I've really felt the support, just like walking around Burlington and you know like people recognize me in a rank and it's like that's just not everyone can say that like in Canada. In Canada it's different than any other place in the world when it comes to hockey, in my opinion, and then Burlington especially has been, has been incredible, like me and Renata got like the key to the city.

Speaker 1: 27:36

I was going to ask you guys a little CBC interview there. I was like who's holding that key? We each got one. Nice, no big deal. Where's the key in the gold medal? Are they sitting in like a save or?

Speaker 2: 27:47

something so they're like in. This is just they're in my closet at home and like my Burlington home, like at my family home.

Speaker 1: 27:56

Just chilling.

Speaker 2: 27:56

Yeah, like I feel like a lot of like like trophies, or that guy's kind of in there and it's kind of just like I don't know. You can take him out and look at it, but I don't need them on display or anything.

Speaker 1: 28:10

On to the next.

Speaker 2: 28:11

Yeah, but they're also like you can like look back at it and show people that you're you know, care about, but it's also like yeah, it happened and it's amazing, but it happened you know Sure enough, how's the team looking like this year?

Speaker 1: 28:26

Like you I know we were talking previously you were really impressed about how professional the actual organization has been from start to finish so far. Anything in particular that's really stood out.

Speaker 2: 28:38

Yeah, like we're getting fed just like super healthy meals, and I think that's just like so important, because it's like we're athletes, we need to fuel our bodies properly, and like the fact that like come in every day to the rink and there's options and they're all healthy options and you know everyone's happy. No one's like going to buy food after the rink because they're not, you know because I think that part of it.

Speaker 2: 29:03

that's really standing out to me. Yeah, and just like obviously I've had experience with Troy and Gina before, but working with Mike Ellis too and Rachel has been like really cool just to get to know the different tendencies of coaches and really learning from them and taking a lot in. I think it's cool.

Speaker 1: 29:21

What would you now, having pro experience? What would you give that 12, 15, 16 year old kid who's going through school? He's like I want to play hockey at the next level, whether it's NCAA or pro. There are things that you've learned that you would maybe provide as insights to them.

Speaker 2: 29:38

I think for me, if I didn't like commit to training like super hard at a young age and like not young age, but like, like dedicating a lot of time into, like I tried to act like a professional before it was possible, Does that make?

Speaker 2: 30:00

be a professional and I think the more you can mimic that lifestyle, the more that you will be successful at the level once you reach that. So I think at this point in my kind of career I hope that on my daily basis I'm almost in like autopilot mode where I don't need to think about it and I it just comes naturally.

Speaker 1: 30:22

So I think just those habits so the old adage of you know dress for the job that you want right. Yeah, what other habits or routines do you have? Because I know everyone every hockey player's athletes typically have some superstitions or some habits they follow. Do you have anything in particular?

Speaker 2: 30:39

Like before a game you mean, or like a game I heard.

Speaker 1: 30:42

Supe listens to. Like the same pot the same playlist Different levels.

Speaker 2: 30:46

Goalie Like.

Speaker 1: 30:48

I'm a goalie too, that's why I asked it.

Speaker 2: 30:49

Same with Phoenix, so yeah, supe, supe's different level, but for me I mean I guess you saw it at the drop but I love to dress up, I love to get like spunky, have fun. I'm very like light and fun. I don't like the more I think about it because I want it so bad and like it exhausts me and is tiring. So I think I try and just like like go for it and having fun. And I obviously do like my, my nighttime, like sage rubs and like you know, like those things. But that's just like I want my legs to feel good. If my legs feel good, I'm tapped in.

Speaker 1: 31:27

Nice, okay, that's the key. That's the foundation. Masters, is it bioethics for your fifth year? Okay, sam.

Speaker 2: 31:37

Yeah, bioethics, don't ask me what we did.

Speaker 1: 31:41

Okay, I won't, I won't Roger that. Roger that. Can you tell me how the Frozen 4 experience was?

Speaker 2: 31:49

Yeah, but Frozen 4, so it's actually crazy. I never thought I would go to a Frozen 4 ever. When I committed to Ohio State, like I would have told you we wouldn't want beat Wisconsin one time or go to a Frozen 4. And I, when we went my freshman year, like it was just so cool to be there, like I remember being like this is so cool, like we went back to the same rank, we went back to Ritter, but just like the posters and like like it's a different vibe with NCAA, like they really like go for it and make it feel yeah, like we never.

Speaker 2: 32:21

I made it to the national championship once and obviously we lost last year, but just that environment and being around it and you know it changes year to year because we went and we lost, but now it was still like so pumped about the year and then it's like okay, we won our conference championship and then we lost in the final. It's like I just want to make it to the final and then yeah. So I think like your expectations grow over year, but the first time was incredible.

Speaker 1: 32:47

Yeah, it would have been. And you know you get to bring that adversity, that little chip on your shoulder, to the professional level to Toronto. I got to ask you what do you think of the sweaters? I know they're only inaugural, first year, but I feel like you know I could have made those sweaters People were saying that.

Speaker 2: 33:03

But like, like I think that for us we're not thinking about that stuff. Like it's just like you look on social media, you're like okay if people really waste in their times like roast in our jerseys that are like not even like those weren't even the legit ones are not ready yet. Like you know, like I think, like for us, like I mean, I think it's cool, like they want to invest the time into like making logos and names that, like, the fans will like. So I think like, rather than chirping like the jerseys now, like think a bit about it. From that point, at least they're not just like rushing and naming it something random. That's Everyone's gonna hate.

Speaker 1: 33:41

Yeah, exactly that was the. There was a good little asterix up there when they put that. Mention the fact that, hey, we're gonna take into consideration fans opinions now, because the initial drop wasn't well received, put it that way. But that's good to know that. You said they weren't the final.

Speaker 2: 33:56

You know, like you said, yeah, like the ones that are we're actually wearing and it's gonna they're gonna be in like take more time making them. Yeah, just yeah it's a hey.

Speaker 1: 34:07

Like you said, the professionalism is there, the links good. Is there a place you're more excited, most excited to travel to or a team you're most excited to kick it off against?

Speaker 2: 34:16

um, I Don't know. I took a question. I think, like I Mean I'm just excited to like see how everything plays out because I think, like the rivalries, I like they're gonna be like pretty authentic and like Like this year is like really big on, like that kind of you sense. You don't even like I'm excited, like to play our first game, like who's it against? And like is that gonna be the rubbery? Is that meant to be the rubbery? Like yeah, so I don't really know any answer to that. I think it's gonna depend on the first few games that Ohio State group chat.

Speaker 1: 34:50

It's gonna be buzz it.

Speaker 1: 34:50

Yeah, that's one thing I can guarantee you for sure, frogs flying everywhere. Um, emma Malte, I can't thank you enough for coming on the athletes podcast. Is there anything that you Haven't shared on a podcast? Or, if I was to give you space right now, anything that you want to share with the audience that they don't know about you because you know the way we wrap up, we ask our guests their biggest piece of advice for the next gen. But if there's anything you want to draw up before that, maybe tips, tricks, pieces of advice- I don't know if I have anything else.

Speaker 2: 35:21

I Think, just like be yourself. That was one thing that like I don't know, like I think, like that's my biggest thing with, like Woman hockey players especially it's like there's no pressure to be like super feminine, super masculine. I think, like now that you have the floor to like be your authentic self, on on, like, like your brand, like, if you don't want to have a brand, like don't have a brand, there's just no pressure. And I think now, growing up with social media, a lot of young girls are having that pressure to like Do things they don't want to do or, like you know, see things they don't want to see. And it's just like just do, do what you want with it. And like showcase your authentic self. Don't be a trust, don't try and be someone you're not mm-hmm, so true, was there, was them?

Speaker 1: 36:08

was there someone you were trying to be growing up before you became so wise? I?

Speaker 2: 36:11

don't, oh yeah, so wise, um, I don't know. I think, just like meeting your heroes help, like I played with poo and like I Love poo. Like we're really really close but we're nothing alike. Like we were really good friends but we're nothing alike. And I think, like she likes me for me and I like her for her. And I think like when you try and model yourself after someone so much like you can like Follow their tendencies and their habits and their work ethic and that's I still do that with poo every day but I think like you're Like, at the end of the day, no one's really gonna be like you.

Speaker 1: 36:47

Any one particular thing that Mary feelie poo Lane does?

Speaker 2: 36:51

yeah, she, I mean, I don't know I think just like someone who's like super genuine and like Willing to go the extra mile and like everything she does and I'm not just saying that like she's just like Like we'll always do the extra rep, like always. So I think like she's the best player in the world, but it's backed up, so I think that's super cool, like there's a reason why she is.

Speaker 1: 37:17

it's not just like Skill, it's just like she worked for everything says she's gotten that, uh, that checks out, because she spent time with Phoenix and I had the draft chatting and yeah, she, she puts effort into everything. I feel like you do the same though. So, emma, thank you so much for coming on Sharing your wisdom, insights, knowledge with the show. I'm sure we'll have you on again at some point After you crush this first season with the PWHL. And where can people find you on socials?

Speaker 1: 37:45

Instagram is Emma Malte 17 is that gonna be your number this year?

Speaker 2: 37:50

No, it's not I just like I don't know.

Speaker 1: 37:53

It's my college number, you're gonna have to change the handle.

Speaker 2: 37:56

I don't know, I just like haven't. I don't know if I will, but I think my tiktok's just Emma Malte.

Speaker 1: 38:02

Is that where you want to drive people tiktok?

Speaker 2: 38:06

I those two, those two my big ones and scram and tiktok.

Speaker 1: 38:09

Thank you folks.