ESTEVAN — Three-time Olympic gold medallist Colleen Sostorics delivered an inspiring Gold-Medal Talk on Aug. 8 during the first All Girls Hockey Camp, which is being held from Aug. 6-9 at Affinity Place.
The camp, a joint initiative of Lemon Wedge Marketing and Meg LeBlanc Fitness, has drawn young female hockey players from across the region, eager to learn from some of the best in the sport. Sostorics, originally from Kennedy, shared her journey to becoming one of Canada's most decorated female hockey players, offering insights into the dedication, resilience and teamwork required to achieve success playing at home or on the international stage.
"I wanted to play in the NHL. I was going to play for the Calgary Flames because they were my favourite team," Sostorics said, reflecting on her early ambitions.
However, she acknowledged that given her stature and the opportunities available to women at the time, this dream was unlikely.
"I found out that women's hockey was going to be in the Olympics for the first time in ... 1998. And that's so awesome, because I didn't really have to change my dream. I just had to shift it a little bit."
In her insightful and fun talk, Sostorics – who helped Team Canada secure Olympic gold in 2002 in Salt Lake City, 2006 in Turin, and 2010 in Vancouver – stressed the importance of support systems in achieving one's goals.
Family and friends played a huge role in her success, she said, as the encouragement she received from them, both at home and on the national team, was crucial.
During her talk, Sostorics also shared memories from her Olympic experiences, particularly the camaraderie and the shared joy of victory. Winning gold and celebrating as a team are moments you never forget, she told the young athletes, noting that what stands out even more are the friendships and the journey you take together.
The camp attendees were moved by Sostorics' emphasis on resilience in the face of challenges. She said overcoming hardships, whether it's injuries or losses, is a significant part of achieving success, and she encouraged young athletes to not let the struggles put them down as they are only meant to make them stronger and push them to improve.
"In order to realize your dreams and be the best that you can be, you have to go through struggles. You have to not be able to do something, you have to get better," she shared.
Sostorics, who was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 2019, concluded her talk by encouraging the young players to dream big and remain persistent.
She encouraged the girls not to be afraid, to chase their dreams and aim at being their best while remaining themselves.
SaskToday and the next edition of the Mercury will have more on the All Girls Hockey Camp, providing young athletes with the opportunity to develop their skills under the guidance of experienced coaches and mentors.
