Sarah Fillier is only 24 years old and entering her first year in the PWHL after being the first overall pick in the second draft in league history.
She already has won three world championship gold medals and an Olympic gold medal with the Canadian National Women’s team.
Fillier was selected No. 1 by the New York Sirens. Her representatives are in the process of negotiating a contract with New York.
On Tuesday, Gatorade Canada signed the Georgetown, Ont., native to an endorsement deal normally reserved for established pros, not pros entering their first year.
We sat down with Fillier and peppered her with questions.
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MG: First off, congrats on your endorsement deal with Gatorade Canada. Is this your first major endorsement?
SF: “Yeah, first with a beverage company, so that’s really exciting. Gatorade is such an iconic brand and something where I grew up watching the commercials and seeing the best athletes represent this brand. So now to be able to wear the branded sweatsuit and be tied to this brand is really cool.”
Have you treated yourself to anything since the draft?
“I did get myself a draft watch. I think maybe that was my big spend.”
Who is the player in the PWHL you are most looking forward to playing against?
“I can’t wait to play against Marie-Philip Poulin. I grew up idolizing her as a Canadian athlete and had the chance to win an Olympic gold medal with her and world championship golds so to play against her, I’ll finally feel like I kind of made it, playing in a league against the best player in the world.”
A coach or player who has had the most impact on the way you play the game?
“I think honestly, probably Bradi Cochrane. She was my coach here with the Oakville Jr. Hornets and I think she was the first coach who coached players and found out what they needed individually as people. I think going through high school and trying to find a college to go to and starting to get involved with the national team program, it was a very overwhelming time. She was the first coach that got to know me as a human or as a person and I think that is when I gained a ton of confidence on the ice.”
If the PWHL didn’t exist, where would you be playing hockey this year?
“I don’t think there was necessarily a plan. I think the timing of my college career (Fillier played four years at Princeton with a two-year break in the middle) was perfect because those two years off I was training with the national team and training to go to the Olympics. So, I kind knew things were happening under wraps.
“I knew there was a plan in place and luckily I was going back to school for two more years after those Olympics so I always knew something would be there for me. But yeah, I think for girls growing up now, having a pro league to be that dream but also the option to go play in Europe is great. There are so many opportunities now. The more we can get girls playing hockey after college is awesome.”
Can you describe your first interaction with Poulin?
“I remember this so well. We were roommates at my first ever … I think it was the formations, which they don’t do anymore, but I was 17. It was my freshman year of college and I remember being so nervous. My mom always texts me at whatever event I’m at. ‘Who is your roommate? Who are you playing with?’ So I text her and tell her MPP is my roommate and she calls me and I’m in the room with Pou and I’m like, ‘Oh my God. Don’t call me right now.’ It was definitely a little bit of a fan girl moment, but she is the most humble and nicest person ever. She made me feel so comfortable right away.”
Who are three people in hockey history you would like to have 10 minutes with just to pick their brain?
“I think I would love to pick Jayna Hefford’s brain. Just because she has been a huge force in creating this league and to be able to sit down and ask her about that and her career would be amazing. I think maybe (Connor) McDavid. A tremendous player who just sees and thinks the game on a different level which would be cool. And maybe Gillian Apps honestly. She wore No. 10 before me on the national team, so I think it would be really cool to make that connection and be able to talk to her about her career.”
What is some advice you would give your 12-year-old self?
“I think just to live in the moment a little bit more. Playing hockey with your best friends, going to tournaments and staying in hotels were some of the best memories I have of growing up and playing hockey and formed some of the best relationships of people who I am still really close with today so yeah, I think just to remember why you play the game in the first place and have fun.”
You are heading into Game 7 of a championship final, who do you call to get in the proper frame of mind?
“I would probably call my twin sister (Kayla). We grew up playing hockey together. We went to Princeton and played hockey together. She stopped playing after college but she loves the game, we think the game the same way and obviously, when you have a twin sister, nobody really shares that kind of bond with you, so she can tell me how it is if I need to wake up a little bit and always knows how I’m feeling.”
What is your most time-consuming superstition?
“I feel like I am a bit of a superstitious person, so I always take a really long nap before pre-game meal. It’s like two hours if I can fit two hours in, but at the rink it would taping my stick before every game.”
You have one cheat day in your season, what are you eating?
“Breakfast, probably French Toast with whip cream, strawberries, the whole thing. For lunch, maybe just a burger and sweet potato fries and dinner I would probably do all-you-can sushi.”
Who was the most famous hockey player from Georgetown when you were growing up?
“We have a big ref from Georgetown. Brian Lewis. He was a big name in hockey but maybe the Dickinsons, Jason and Josh Dickinson. Jason plays for the Chicago Blackhawks now and he was quite a bit older than me, but we went to the same high school, too.”
What does a successful first year in the PWHL look like for you?
“I think just gaining experience and being a sponge. Learning as we go. It’s completely uncharted territory for me playing in a pro league and not having to deal with the stress of an Ivy League school, so that’s what I’m excited about. I think being prepared that it’s not going to be an easy transition so being OK with struggling a little bit, but hopefully adapt right away and make an impact offensively every game.”
What is your favourite hockey trip ever?
“Ohhh, probably Denmark worlds in August a few years ago. It was the first worlds that had been in August and we spent a week in Copenhagen and the weather was beautiful. It felt more like a vacation a little bit than a hockey trip and then we went on to win gold, which was pretty cool.”
What was the best bodycheck you ever delivered? Where were you and who did you lay out?
“The first thing that comes to mind is my first game in college. We travelled to Wisconsin to take on the Badgers and they were ranked No. 1 and won the national championship the year prior. Obviously my first game as a college athlete, I was terrified and I remember coming across the blue line, trying to stay onside and just ran into Annie Pankowski, who is a notable name on the U.S. national team and kind of laid her out a little bit, so I found my footing pretty quick.”
You get to choose any two women in hockey history to play on a line with, who are they?
“Marie-Philip Poulin, of course, and then maybe Hayley Wickenheiser.”
Bucket list sporting event you dream of attending?
“The Masters.”
Which female athlete outside of hockey do you admire most?
“Maybe Kia Nurse. She has done so much for women’s basketball and being a Canadian female athlete, honestly it’s inspiring for me to see what she has done in her career and the way she has used her voice and her platform.”