I recall becoming aware of gender when I joined my first hockey team. It just so happened that I loved hockey, I had a true passion for it from the moment I stepped on the ice.

 

It also just so happened that I was very talented at the sport I loved so much. So when my parents offered me to play both boys and girls hockey, I jumped at the chance.

 

I was in grade three when I was pulled into an office with the head of the boys league where he told me that my boys’ team would always have to take priority over my girls’ team. He did not care whether my girls’ team was in the finals of a tournament and the boys’ team had a practice, I was to be at the boys’ practice.

 

My parents had prepared me for this conversation. I was to nod, smile and not worry about what this man was going to say. I did not want to ruin the chance for other girls wishing to play boy’s hockey in the years to come.