The transition from college hockey to the professional game is rarely seamless. For Seattle Torrent rookie Lily Delianedis, it has been a process of adjustment and discovery, both on and off the ice. Between navigating a new city, building chemistry with teammates, and adapting to the pace of the pro game, Delianedis has quietly put together an impressive start.
In this conversation, she reflects on settling into Seattle, the realities of rookie life, and how her game is evolving at the next level.
Q: Off the ice, how has the transition to Seattle and the Pacific Northwest been for you?
Lily Delianedis: I’ve really been enjoying it. I love the mountains, I’ve never really been around the mountains, so it’s been so cool, especially when you can see that when it’s not raining out. And as first time out of college, it’s been an adjustment a little bit, just being on your own in a new place and new house setup, but all the girls have been awesome, so I feel like when you have that, it makes it a lot easier, too.
Q: Are you living with teammates right now?
Delianedis: Yeah, I’m living with two other rookies: Marah Wagner [and] Lyndie Lobdell… it’s been awesome. We live right in between Climate Pledge and the practice rink, so it’s been a perfect little spot and it’s awesome to just get to explore the neighborhood. I love walking around and seeing what’s around.
Q: How has the food and coffee scene treated you so far?
Delianedis: Absolutely love it. The coffee scene has been great. I’ve been trying out a lot of different places and food [and] I’ve also been trying to cook a little bit more. That’s new, but really been loving the food and the coffee around.
Q: On the ice, what’s stood out to you about the Seattle fanbase?
Delianedis: It’s been so awesome at the games, seeing the community of fans and how energized they are. I feel like even when it’s mid-week, it’s super loud and that’s been so cool. Especially after we’ve been on the road, I feel like I find myself missing [the fans] a little bit.
Q: You made your debut earlier this season—what did that moment feel like?
Delianedis: Yeah, it was super surreal. I think I just couldn’t stop smiling and it was awesome to get out there and play with the girls, the team and also just the experience. Climate Pledge and the fans were just super.
Q: Now that you’ve had a few games under your belt, how has the transition from college to the pros felt?
Delianedis: I feel like it’s definitely feeling different from college in a good way, but also, it’s been challenging too. You’re playing with the best players in the world. But I feel like in practice, getting to go against those same players has really helped me adjust as a player to the pace in the games too. So I feel like they’ve definitely helped me prepare for the games and feel like I’ve gotten my feet under me a little now that the season’s progressed.
Q: What parts of your game are you focusing on the most right now?
Delianedis: Yeah, I think something I’ve learned coming into the pros and being here now is probably just making quicker decisions. The pace of play is very fast, so it’s just making decisions faster and being confident with your decisions.
Q: Has anything surprised you about how your game has evolved so far?
Delianedis: I think something we do here, which is really awesome and new for me, is starting a practice off with just a passing game. I find that’s been really helpful with also getting my head up and just making passes quicker. Not necessarily a surprise at all, but it was something new and I think it’s definitely helped me just be able to find teammates.
Q: Do you have a favorite memory with the team so far?
Delianedis: Oh gosh, I would say probably just going out to eat with the girls on the road. We had a fun time in Boston at a restaurant, and it’s just fun when you can get to sit down, enjoy a meal, be with different players. And I think one time when the girls were away too at USA versus Canada [for the Rivalry Series], a bunch of us watched them play. That was fun to get to experience. Not everyone was there, but it was fun to be a part of and get to see your team excel in other ways too.
Q: If you could go back and talk to yourself in college, what would you say about this experience?
Delianedis: I would say it’s even better than you could have imagined. It was so surreal even just thinking about it, but I feel like it’s honestly been really exciting getting to be a part of this whole experience, and especially in Seattle, and getting to know the veterans, the other rookies, and just such great people too. It’s just been so exciting. I think I would tell her to keep pursuing that dream so you get to be a part of that amazing experience.
Q: Last one—what have you been reading lately? Any recommendations?
Delianedis: Okay, that’s actually a great question because I have been reading a lot on the road, especially. I think I read Resurrection by Tolstoy. I thought it was a deeper read, super meaningful. And then I read Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney. That was a good one, a lighter read. And Dune [by Frank Herbert]… For non-sci-fi people, I would still really recommend it because if you like a longer story, it’s great storytelling and the writing is really wonderful.