This week, over at The IX Newsletter, I talked to Toronto PWHL draftee Rebecca Leslie about the draft and the upcoming season. Our conversation was much longer than would fit in the newsletter, so rather than leave the rest on the cutting room floor, I’ve brought the rest here for you!
What would you say you’re most looking forward to about the new about a new team, a new league or just even the new season and upcoming season?
It’s exciting for us to finally have a full season of, and I don’t want to say like commitment to hockey, but that’s kind of the word I’ve used. Because now we have the ability to train properly, practice properly, and have the professional resources that we deserve as athletes. I think that the past few years we’ve kind of been lacking that and didn’t have so much professionalism behind our games.
So I think that this year, it’s going to be great to have all those resources and just be in a professional environment, be able to practice with your teammates every day, be able to travel with your team and play a full schedule. I think that’s one thing that I’m really excited for, personally, is to be able to commit myself to hockey fully.
Are you looking forward to going back to that kind of, you know, more college like, regular schedule?
When you’re in college, until now you’re at the peak of your sport, probably the most support you get, the most regular schedule, good competition every weekend. So I’m excited to kind of get back to that and have all those resources like I mentioned. But then obviously the past few years we’ve been living in certain cities, but then not practicing every week with our team so to actually be able to have that camaraderie of being with your teammates every day. That’s something that I missed too and excited to have that back.
How would you describe your style of play?
I would say that I’m a two-way forward who can kind of play in all scenarios of the game. I’m someone who is a playmaker, someone who has the ability to see things on the ice and make their teammates look better and and help set up good plays.
Do you have a favorite teammate, favorite linemate you’ve played with in the past?
I would say my senior year at BU I played with Victoria Bach. She was also drafted by Toronto so it’d be cool to reunite with her and kind of build our connection or continue our connection. Then obviously playing in the CWHL and with the National Team players like Brianne Jenner and Marie-Philip Poulin. Those are just some incredible players who I’ve looked up to for a long time. So being able to actually share the ice in the past was really cool. And this year, obviously we were playing against each other but still just great players for sure.
