RED DEER – This month’s Alumni Spotlight focuses on Emily Hill, formerly of the Calgary Fire.
Inspired by her Grandfather, who was heavily involved in the hockey community, Emily began her hockey journey when she was four years old. Her brother has also been a big influence in her life, as she claims she followed him in almost everything she did, and that he is still her biggest fan and critic. Emily was very active as a child and played multiple sports in high school, including wrestling, which she says was a unique atmosphere that taught her the value of work ethic and achieving her goals, that has transferred to her hockey career.
Emily started out playing with the Simons Valley and McKnight associations in Calgary, before switching to Girls Hockey Calgary before U15. She played one year with the Calgary Outlaws and then spent two years with the Fire U18 AAA program. After finishing up in minor hockey, Emily moved on to play two seasons with the Olds College Broncos and has since transferred to the University of Calgary Dinos, where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in geophysics.
“My minor hockey experience taught me how to be an effective member of a team and how to manage some of the natural conflict that happens in a team environment,” said Emily. “This has allowed me to be a mature and functional member of teams, both in sport and the workplace.”
While Emily is still playing hockey at the U Sports level, she also spends some of her spare time on the ice as an official. It started as a way to earn a little extra money and get on the ice more, it has really become a passion for her, and she just received her Level III certification. Officiating has allowed her to travel across the province working different events (such as the 2020 Alberta Winter Games) and given her the opportunity to meet different kinds of people from a variety of backgrounds. This is something she hopes to continue once her playing career is finished.
As a player and an official, Emily has already created fond memories and learning experiences through the game of hockey. Some of her favourite memories have not even taken place on the ice. For her, she remembers the bus trips, hotel stays, and tournaments. Her advice to younger players is to always continue learning because hockey is full of opportunities.
In 2017-18, Emily was granted the AFHL Officials Scholarship for her continued dedication and performance in the game. The AFHL Scholarship Program rewards one player from U18 AA and U18 AAA each, plus an official and a coach. The application form for the 2020-21 season can be found HERE.