After three years and two championship appearances with the Ottawa Charge, Emily Clark is headed to one of the league’s newest teams, PWHL Hamilton.
Planet Fitness hosted an event in July to showcase Clark’s gym routine with them, and invited a whole host of fitness influencers, and also, me, who hasn’t set foot in a gym in over a year.
Once Clark walked everyone through her gym routine, (I even managed to keep up), including her post-routine that includes massage chairs and red-light therapy, we sat down to talk about her off season so far and her excitement about joining a new team next season.
The Ice Garden: Let’s start with your thoughts going into this new season with PWHL Hamilton!
Emily Clark: Yeah, honestly, I’m really excited. You know, it’s obviously a big change because I’ve been in Ottawa since the inaugural season, and I’m like so grateful for my time there and the organization and for like amazing relationship with Mike [Hirshfeld] and Carla [McLeod], obviously, she was like a mentor to me when I was 16. So, just feel really lucky to have like, been coach by her, and that’s really cool for our relationship.
But yeah, obviously expansion is amazing for the league, and having the opportunity to go to Hamilton and like, speaking to [Megan] Duggan and Kris Sparre, and obviously, what he was able to do in Boston last year in one year, I feel like those are things to be really excited about as a player.
So yeah, I’m like really grateful for my time in Ottawa, but also really excited for this next challenge and opportunity in Hamilton. Obviously, with an expansion team, like, you’re starting something from the ground up. But after my conversations with Duggan, it’s kind of like, work that you’re excited to do. Yeah, that’s how I’m approaching the season.
TIG: You’re reuniting with some of your teammates from Ottawa, but some of your teammates from before, even. Zoe Boyd has been posting a lot about how excited she is to be back with you and back with Brianne Jenner. What’s that like? What’s the excitement around that?
EC: It’s super fun, and I think really comforting, like just knowing that you have those relationships already. And you know, I think as any team at the start of the year, like being a player on a new team, I think relationships take time to build trust and those connections, and to already have a handful of teammates that I feel like I have a really strong foundation with is just really comforting.
And I’m also excited to be reunited with Zoe. She’s obviously a fun person to be around and yeah, it’s a pretty funny experience, like you know, you sign with this team, and then all the other phases are happening, and you get to see in real time like, your new teammates and players you’ve played against or played with and it just makes you really excited.
TIG: A little bit ago, the PWHL Players Association, they put out the salary information, and you’re at the top of the list. Obviously, you have a new deal now, so maybe things have changed. But how did you feel about that? And do you feel any added pressure now that fans know what you’re making?
EC: Yeah, I mean, I think it’s great for the game and that transparency and, you know, people to be able to have that information, and you know, it’s obviously like only one year salary release, so, it’s not maybe necessarily the full picture in AAV and obviously it’s not my year, that wasn’t my yearly salary *laughs*, very much front-loaded, but yeah, I mean, it’s just a part of being pro now, and definitely like a weird experience, just being on the other side of it. But, like I said, I think ultimately, it is good for the game and good for the girls.
But yeah, no, I wouldn’t say added pressure because you know, it’s just part of it. I have really high expectations for myself, so yeah, I don’t think about those external pressures because I’m very highly motivated internally, and it’s just part of it.
TIG: We’re here at Planet Fitness. You told us all about how you like to workout, what your routine is. I’m curious, like this off season is quite long with World Championships moving to November. How are you enjoying your off season? You got engaged, you’re here [in Calgary], and then you’re back in the GTA. How do you kind of approach it differently with such a long period of time?
EC: Yeah, I think the off season and the length of it has been something— like we’re only going into season four, and this is now my third off season in the PWHL— I think I’ve learned a lot from the previous off seasons about, you know, the different phases as an individual. I think it’s an awesome time to like do what you truly need to do, and there’s no perfect blueprint that works for you. You have to figure out what works for you.
Last year, I spent almost the entire off season rehabbing an injury, so I think going into the Olympic year, it was just an offseason where I was really focused on my rehab and trying to get to be on that Canadian roster and be the best I could be for the Olympics.
And this off season, I think definitely taking the break was necessary, I was pretty all in for a full season. Like within 365 days, it was two PWHL finals and the Olympics. So, it was obviously a great year. You know, hockey-wise, obviously not the results I wanted in any of those cases, but to even get to those points and get those experiences. Time and perspective helps. But, it was a hard year, so yeah, I didn’t get to do, you know, some of those things that fill up your cup outside of hockey last year. So I’ve definitely been playing pickleball, and golf, and spending time with family and obviously, the engagement a couple of weeks ago, so I think my approach this off season was like, really resting and recharging mentally and away from the game, and obviously having a major life event with that.
So yeah, I’m just like, really taking the start of this off season to be a person and recharge, but I’m like so motivated for the year, and you know, obviously, like getting to the finals and losing motivates you too. That’s like a dream of mine to win a Walter Cup, and you know, obviously, my year last year, like production-wise, wasn’t my dream year. I’m still proud of how I played, but like I want to contribute more on that front, and especially going to a new team.
I’m kind of looking at this off season in phases. Like, the resting phase, like that’s important to me to be better for the season, to like enjoy my engagement, and these life experiences. And I’ve been working hard in the gym and like really excited to ramp up the on ice stuff pretty soon here, too.
So yeah, I just feel like I feel really excited and energized, honestly, for the off-season, and as motivated as ever for this upcoming season.
Want to hear this interview with Emily? Listen to the IX Sports Podcast Hockey Edition on YouTube or your favourite podcast platform.
The transcript may have been edited for length and clarity.
