Anastasia: Hello, podcast buddies. Weeee're baaaack! We have a blockbuster slate of guests in the studio this season, and our 150th episode is coming up real soon. Time flies when you're hanging with brilliant athletes. On that note, we're thrilled to kick off this season with an honest to goodness history maker:

Olympic champion, world champion, captain of the American team…

I'm not blowing smoke when I say Hillary Knight is the face of women's hockey in the United States.

She was key to winning equity in 2017, and she's a linchpin of the new Professional Women's Hockey League.

And when the puck drops, you can bet she'll make Boston the team to beat.

It's player's own voice.

I'm Anastasia Bucsis.

[music]

Anastasia: Can you please state your full name just for the record? Let's start there.

Hilary Knight: Hilary Atwood Knight.

Anastasia: Okay. Atwood. Your middle name. Margaret Atwood is like the Queen of Canada. What's Atwood stand for? What's that from?

Hilary Knight: Oh, it's a family name. It's just been passed down through generations. Yeah. And actually, my cousins have an interesting take on it. My uncle decided to name a handful of his children of or relating to wood, and so luckily I just got the middle name. But some of my cousins are like, Chip, Niffer, Splinter.

Anastasia: No! what's the? What's the inspiration from Wood?

Hilary Knight: Just old, old nicknames. And I don't know, I really don't know. But I think it's a pretty, pretty cool middle name.

Anastasia: It is. Because I was thinking, I wonder if that's your mom's maiden name, but it's not.

Hilary Knight: No.

Anastasia: Because your mom I've had the privilege of meeting her a few times and she's got a presence. She's cool.

Hilary Knight: She is yeah. And you know, a lot of my team-mates say we look alike, too. Like when I get right out of the shower. And I have slickback hair, they're like: Cynthia? (laughs)

Anastasia: What role has she played in your life aside from obviously giving birth?.

Hilary Knight: It's super cliche, but I would not be where I am today without her. And a lot of that is because she grew up in a time where she didn't have the same opportunities that we have as young girls or women. And even when we grew up, there weren't as many opportunities. Now there's more. So it's just great to see the growth there.

But she really enabled me to think of the world in a different way. I didn't necessarily step on the ice and think I was a girl playing hockey. I was just go out there, you know, she would say, Bust your butt, work hard and have fun. Those were the three things, right? And so she really sheltered me in many ways or shielded me, I should say, from… I understood I was different than all the other boys, but she didn't make it seem like it was a huge barrier for me. And so I think that really set me up for success to realise that if you work hard, if you set goals, and if you go about planning those goals the right way, there's quite a good possibility that you're going to make them. And so whether that was driving me to whatever rink, having the car gassed up at 5 a.m. in the morning, hopping in the pyjamas, you know, she just really did everything from a structure standpoint to create an environment for not only me, but my brothers to succeed in whatever journey we wanted to embark on. So, yeah, I'm very, very fortunate.

Anastasia: So we're both 34. We're getting a little long in the tooth, but 34 years ago, I'm sure a lot of people were like, 'Girls don't play hockey.' And what would your mom's response be?

Hilary Knight: Well, my grandma actually, like, told her she's like "Cynthia," you know, she told her "girls don't play hockey" and she just snapped back, and said "Mom, get with the times. If Hillary wants to play hockey, she's going to play hockey." And so to have that kind of presence in your house, I mean, that's pretty significant.

And to look back and see that, you know, she was just a little bit, I think she was like the first co-ed class at her high school. So she was just on that cusp of being able to play sports more openly. But I really am the first generation for us to have an opportunity to play at a high level. And that's that's pretty significant to me, you know, and understanding that importance and that responsibility.

Anastasia: Well, you've made it to a pretty high level, bud! But you guys are skiers like you grew up in Sun Valley, so why not put on the old skis?

Hilary Knight: I know. And my cousin's like a crazy three or four time Olympic downhill skier. I mean, skiing is like in our blood. I was on skis before skates. It just, we moved to Illinois and there weren't mountains. And so she understood the value and the importance of sport and how that connects people within the community. She was like, okay, I have all these kids now, and what are they going to do? What are the activities like? School is great, obviously, but how are they going to meet other kids? And so just through her sports, because she does a lot of racket sports, she met another family that's like, Oh, get them on skates, get them to learn how to skate, and then they can play hockey. And so that was just the natural path for all of us.

Anastasia: Okay, well, natural segue from that then, is you're strapping on the long blades right now with speed skates. How's that going, buddy?

Hilary Knight: It's wild. Okay. Not that I ever think any sport is easy, but being on you guy's blades is, like, terrifying to me, but thrilling at the same time. I got to rip around for 5 minutes, and I know that was not enough. I really want to get back out there. But when I step like Britt had to help me get onto the ice because I felt like I was going to slide off the ice because it was so slippery until I got on either side. So I didn't understand how slippery it was. It's crazy.

Anastasia: Yeah, it is. Okay, so you mentioned Brit. Brittany Bowe is one of the greatest speed skaters of all time, of course, for Team USA. I mean, so you're a bender, then, a little bit on the old long track!

Hilary Knight: Yeah. (sigh) And, you know, a couple of her friends are chirping me Joey is out there being like, 'Oh, you're an inner skater' and all this stuff. And I don't even know what that means, but… this is fun. I'm just ripping around as fast as I can.

Anastasia: It means that you're like, you're only on your inside edge. So he's. Yeah, it's it's a polite way of saying, strengthen your ankles, buddy.

Hilary Knight: Yeah. Oh, they're just, like, totally bending and Britt's been awesome. Whenever I'm out in Salt Lake, I get to, you know, train at the Oval and, if there's ever a time I was able to go around with my hockey skates before the clean cut for the ice? The ice is just so much faster than ours. It's like it's just like that little kid feeling of the wind coming in and freezing through your hair. It's just so epic. And that's what got me hooked into hockey. Just like that feeling of flying and crossing over. And then I go on speed skates. I'm like, Oh my gosh, here it is again.

Anastasia: It's never too late to start.

Hilary Knight: Listen, I've seen your training and I don't want any part of that!

Anastasia: Okay Clip that!

Hilary Knight: Okay. I love to watch. I will be your biggest fan, but I will not be training for that. It is just like it's so gruelling. I think I'm just better geared for team sports. It's like, Oh, the defence got it. Oh, the goalies got it!

Anastasia: Well, you never know. There's like a master's world championships. We can…I'll come out of retirement if, if you want to make this a dream.

[music]

Anastasia: I was talking to a little birdie the other day. Julie Chu, of course, dear friend, old teammate of yours. I said "Chuey: What should I ask Knighter?" And she immediately gave so many compliments about just how good of a prankster you are.

Hilary Knight: oh boy…

Anastasia: So what's the greatest prank you've ever pulled on someone?

Hilary Knight: Well, I will say I have stepped back a little bit from my prankster ways.

Anastasia: Oh, you're maturing!

Hilary Knight: Well, here's the thing. I think people are absolute terrified when they first come into the program now. So I can't just be, like, pranking them and then AHA! Gotcha!

Anastasia: Yeah.

Hilary Knight: But it was such a fun way to kind of, you know, kill time, I guess, when we're travelling. So I think the one that I got the most people on was when we were travelling in Finland, and that's where they have individual toilets, like water closets and they have handheld bidets that are next to the sink.

Anastasia: Okay, I've never been to Finland. No one has described Finland that way!

Hilary Knight: So I'm just trying to paint this picture. So you've got the toilet and then you've got the sink and handheld bidet and you have to click the bidet down to use it, but you have to turn the sink faucet on. And so I figured out if you tie a rubber band around the bidet handle and you position it at the sink when someone uses the toilet and then goes to wash their hands, they're going to get sprayed by the bidet.

And so everyone is jet lagged. I was like, oh, this is great. And so each person goes in and, you know, the music's going in the locker room, so nobody is really like cuing in or patterning out that like everyone's getting sprayed by this bidet. I must have got like five people. And the shrieks that were coming out of this room were just amazing! Like, I was just waiting, just sitting in my stall like.HAH! we're going to get another one.

Hilary Knight: So that was a pretty good one.

Anastasia: I've got to go to Finland, I guess. And I love how you just said you 'just found out' with the handle, like you weren't blatantly trying to cause chaos.

Hilary Knight: Yeah. I don't know. You're in the middle of the woods, I think we were in Savvonlina or something. I mean, it's just. You got to find ways to entertain yourself.

Anastasia: 100% You've gone to four Olympics. Unbelievable. Even when you were, you know, 20 years old, back in 2010, you were a leader. You've always been able to set your yourself apart, really have a unique presence. Where does that come from?

Hilary Knight: I think part of it probably just growing up, I'm the oldest of all my siblings and maybe, maybe that's part of it. Independence, going away from school when I was like 13 or 14. But really too, I think I had a really unique opportunity because we didn't have under 18s when I was coming up through the program. And so I really got, you know, sistered or mothered by a lot of my older team-mates and you just kind of through osmosis, you just become a sponge and you pick up different things.

And getting to see, you know, Julie Chu or Angie Ruggiero, you know, many of the greats just do these little things that amount to like greatness on a daily basis. It's just something that you have to soak in. So I don't know if it's just a combination of all those things and just absolutely loving the game and understanding a greater role within the game. I mean, it all just kind of combines into one.

It's been a wild ride. I mean, if you told me, playing a sport. I could receive an education and travel around the world and do it with really cool people. I'd be like, Yeah, okay, whatever. But that's what we've been able to do. And now we have a pro league and it just feels like everything's finally clicking all together and it's really cool to be a part of and see.

Anastasia: So I want to get to the PWHL, but first Natalie Darwitz was captain of 2010. Megan Duggan 2014 and 2018. Kendall Coyne Schofield of course, 2022. what are some of the lessons that they taught you?

Hilary Knight: Oh my goodness. Dar taught me a lot about structure and that's when I was like super new when I first joined. Obviously. I was eating like McDonald's and stuff. And not that I don't still sometimes, you know eat different things. I will get chirped about my food selections for sure. But, you know, I just learn kind of the whole picture of what it takes to be at that level and to how to continue to consistently push the envelope for yourself to be relevant and stay at that level. And then she also had sort of this uncanny ability of just like putting people on her shoulders and going out there and performing. So I thought that was pretty cool.

And then Megs is like super charismatic, one of the hardest workers, I will say all three of these individuals are super hard workers. They would be on that crazy scale of hard work. They're like, further. But Megs is just this awesome communicator, wonderful, natural, charismatic leader and, you know, someone that you'd go to, you'd go anywhere with because you just know you can trust her and any situation, she's going to either be there to help you or guide you. And I thought that was just super important.

And I obviously grew up playing against her in high school and then was one of her team-mates at Wisconsin and sort of, I got to know her a lot better than a lot of other people. And so, you know, what you see is actually what you get. She is 100% genuine and in every way. So that was awesome. And someone I still lean on today.

Anastasia: So Meghan Duggan, she always has played with so much passion that I always thought, Oh my gosh, that's someone you don't want to play against, but you always want her on your team.

Hilary Knight: Her, the Lamoureux twins. It's just like there's a certain breed of competitor. She might be going against the best in the entire universe, but she thinks she's the best in that specific moment. And you can trust her any time that she's going to come out with a 50/50 battle. And I think that's you know, that's what our sport's about, right? Is trusting your team-mate to do her utmost to win any situation. So that's what made her a lethal competitor. And, you know, if you get in a scrum, you know, she's going to be the first one in. So that's always great.

And then Kendall is just, she is a phenomenal human being and obviously the fastest skater in the world. And women's hockey would not be where it is today without Kendall, whether that was, you know, putting her entire sport on her back at the All-Star Game and doing one hot lap just to show, you know, all those haters that we're here to play. Yeah.

Or, you know, whatever it looks like on the professional landscape, whether it's our support battles for the national teams. I mean, she is really in the thick of everything, So I don't know how she finds enough time in the day to do everything she does. I think just being able to take different pieces from all those leaders that I've been able to play with and learn from, and I can't think of a better learning experience than that.

Anastasia: I want to flip the script a little bit. What has Pou taught you?

Hilary Knight: (Marie-Phillipe Poulin)? Well, it's funny because people were saying, why are you going up to Montreal? And I was like, Well, you know, why not? I mean, it's sort of this opportunity to go up there and learn from another great. Right? I mean, why wouldn't I do that? That's pretty cool. Obviously, it came with a lot more challenges than I expected.

I mean, she's from that same class of competitor, you know, And there's just something so special... Being able to train with someone like that day in and day out and learn from them. If you're like the hockey theorist out there to to be able to sit at ice level and figure out positioning or structure the way that she sees the game, to be able to be on the ice and figure out, you know, the passing cadence or all the little details. I mean, they're just so special. And I don't think anyone has really realised, like, how special they are.

Obviously, you'll see her for the big goals and the big, you know, plays and whatnot, but all the little things that she does are just incredible. And that's what makes her great. So that was, a pretty unique opportunity.

Anastasia: Yeah. And I mean, when you say like, oh, there was other issues, of course the CWHL folded and then we went through a pandemic.

Hilary Knight: Bye!

Anastasia: Right. Bye!, So yeah, there was a lot going on. But you've had just such a formidable career. Four Olympic Games. You're nine time world champion. Is there a moment that taught you the most or was there a moment or an Olympics that taught you more than others?

Hilary Knight: Goodness. This is a hard question. I think the biggest thing for me is being on both sides of the coin. Right? Winning, losing. And losing for the first two. And finding that success in the third. You know, the first two, you don't. You're like, oh, I'm missing I'm missing that success. You want to win because then the growth of the sport's going to be bigger in the United States and all these other things are going to come through and more companies are going to want to be involved. There's going to be more money in the game. People are going to care. More eyess more consistency for programming and whatnot.

And really understanding that, yes, I'm not taking anything away from winning at all because I love winning. I hate losing. Yeah, but. It doesn't change. The end result doesn't necessarily change the preparation or the I guess, like the sweat equity that goes into it all. And I thought that was really important for me to go through that process and have those those heartbreaks and understand that you can put everything into this game and you can still come up short and you can be okay with that.

It's damning and frustrating right away. But yeah, I think that was a very big, I'd say growth moment for me as a human to to really be able to have like a healthy reflection after both both of those experiences, for sure.

Outside of that, our 2017 equity support battle was something that taught me the most. We were successful with that, which is great, and that storybook win at world championships and whatnot. But I've never felt more empowered in my entire life, and I'll never forget that feeling of sheer natural confidence of: we're going to go get this thing and we're going to get this thing done and to come out victorious and obviously change the game for the US national teams for many years to come. I mean, that's just, you know, I don't know what you compare that to. So from a learning experience that would that would definitely be pretty high up there.

[music]

Anastasia: Okay. So 2017. Yes, the U.S. women's hockey team is going to world championships. They say, no, we're not going to play until X, Y, Zed, sorry, X, Y, Zee. I should say that you are American. We love Americans. Even if we're talking women's hockey buddy.

You know, we need these certain demands met for us to play. And then, of course, as you said, go on to win. And it was just historic. I think even people up here went: this was the ending that everyone needed. You have so much pressure on your shoulders and I hope you don't feel it, but you are one of the biggest faces in the game. Have you leaned on other really significant female athletes like a Rapinoe or a Sue Bird? Folks that have actually gone through a very similar experience and used their voices in times of justice?

Hilary Knight: So we lean on a lot of the 99ers for the our first initial battle off the ice. You know, there's there's always so much work that needs to be done. So it's like one thing at a time. But no, in terms of on ice stuff, I mean, I was really, really struggling in Beijing and just like the makeup of the games and how like isolated everything felt and just you just felt like the terror of if you come down with COVID, does it affect the team? What happens to you? You get whisked off away, like, what does this look like?

So it just felt really challenging. And I don't know how it came about, but, I had a quick conversation with like Sue just through messaging and I was like, I don't like I don't know what to do. Help me figure out how to feel my way through this problem?

Anastasia: Did you just?... That's a pretty lovely level of success though. If Sue Bird just replies to your DM right away.

Hilary Knight: Yeah, I don't know. I don't like to namedrop, but just to have someone of that stature to bounce something off of and be like, like 'you're going to be okay', you know, and sort of have that reassuring confidence. I mean, everyone needs that at different points in time.

I can't remember which which game it was after. We weren't cracking the middle. We didn't have enough great scoring opportunities. We weren't having enough like offensive bids. And it just became a little frightening of where we were with our preparation and stuff and just working, working our way through that and understanding that she's a shooter, you know, like what advice does she have?

So that was pretty special. And, you know, for for anything, I think it's super important to have a sounding board, you know, regardless of whatever sport at any time, just bounce something off because you never know what other people are going through, whether it's serious or funny or, you know, on ice off ice. I mean, there's all sorts of things that you need help, problem solving, and sometimes you just can't get out of your own head.

Anastasia: When you say 99ers or so, tell me if I'm being silly.

Hilary Knight: oooh the 99ers! .

Anastasia: Okay, are we talking about the real 99ers? Have you met Brandi Chastain?

Hilary Knight: I have met Brandi. Yeah, I'd say, you know, like Foudy is just the goat. Foudy is the one who connected us with, you know, the Ballard and Spahr team to help us navigate what this looks like. Because obviously everybody saw us holding out from world championships. But what they didn't see is we had been working with Ballard for over a year, like those conversations had happened many, many times and really trying to navigate the future because at the time it's like you say, you're not going to a world championships, like Boom, that's your opportunity of going Olympics. That's that's your big shot of playing for the national team. Like it's just gone.

And so to have their guidance was just so important. And Ballard, you know, was with US soccer players way, way back in the day and helped them establish that like a long time ago the 99ers. But yeah I mean to to have the support and the guidance from a Foudy is just like what do you do with that? I mean you go forward with it, you know what I mean? Yeah, it's just pretty cool to have that touchpoint.

Anastasia: Julie Foudy is, as you said, she's the goat and I wish she was like my aunt. That's my secret. I want to be in her family. I hope. Talking about those conversations, though, I mean, with the PWHL, of course, brand new league. You guys are going into the season with the collective bargaining agreement already signed. What was that experience like? That's historic.

Hilary Knight: Oh, my gosh. It was. I think we're the first sport to ever do that. I could get fact checked on that, but I'm pretty sure that's how significant it is. Honestly, the negotiations were terrifying because it's like what? You got to find your leverage points. What leverage do you have? And our leverage has always been we have the best players in North America. We want to have the best players in all of the world globally playing in this thing. We can deliver these players to you. Let's get this done.

And to have an ownership group or an investor group that has the same interest of facilitating a level of professionalism and creating a structure that we can actually form a league under... It's just having both parties come to the table to be able to have something substantial like that is is pretty incredible. And obviously the association then turning into a union and being formally recognised is a huge step and getting all the nitty gritty sorted out and now you've got a Collecitve Bargaining Agreement and whatnot. But yeah, it was quite interesting process because you have to put on a number of different hats. You have to talk to different specialists, figure out what's important, and then also you're representing a large player group of some of the best players in the world, if not the best. And you're like, okay, you know, does this represent them well? And making sure that you have, you know, integrity through that process and trying to squeeze out as much as we can with zero leverage as well. So I think we did a great job for a great starting point and I'm really excited for the future of the game. (25;30)

Anastasia: So that's what excites me so much. Though It's not like you were just, you know, trying to leverage dollars and cents. It's a whole big picture Like what are you most proud of?

Hilary Knight: Oh, boy. I mean, we have employment, right? And so that comes with health insurance. And I know it's a little bit different up in Canada. Right. But for in the US, health insurance is a significant cost. And so to be able to provide players that, to have workers comp, to provide benefits, we have housing stipends. You know, we have different things for maternity. I mean, there's just like all sorts of stuff that rolls into this one.

And then that's not even talking about the specifics of, what do game day operations look like and what that environment looks like. So there's all these benefits and and things that we've been able to grab with the CBA and create a union and all that stuff. But really the whole ecosphere developing, you know, the game from the ground all the way up at this level is something that we've all done. And so that's what's really exciting is to have a consistent level of professionalism and to have the players, you know, represented the right way off the ice as well.

It's just so important and it's never been done before. And so there's going to be growing pains, right? I mean, would I love to have bigger salaries? 100%, But, you know, we're going to get there. And it just takes time. To put it in perspective to launch what we're launching in comparison to other leagues out there, we are very competitive, especially in our infancy. So I think that's pretty significant to take into consideration as well.

Anastasia: Well, and it's so cool because I mean, you played in the CWHL, you played in the NWHL. You're part of the PWHPA, of course, now PWHL baby. Like, let's go.

Hilary Knight: here we go!.

Anastasia: You have seen all the progress! Like you would know, and you can speak to it better than almost anyone because you've seen all the different leagues.

Hilary Knight: My first year out of college and coming from the bright lights of Wisconsin and the chartering and, you know, that's where it's all cushy and nice. And then to think 'I'm going to go pro' and then it's just like totally different.

I have this picture on my phone where, you know, Boston's playing on a community rink back in the old days and there not enough seats. And so us two rookies, I can remember who the other individual was, but we had those plastic like crates where you keep the pucks in, like the milk cartons or whatever? and stacking two on top of each other and my bags right there and I'm getting dressed in the bathroom of a community rink and so to come from there to now, where we're going to be, where we have professional buildings and ice and just the quality of the experience, I mean, it's it's crazy. It's taken a long time, but I'm really happy with the progress.

Anastasia: And you're going back to Boston, going back. You're going to be a franchise player or what, buddy? Like, that's your home, basically.

Hilary Knight: Yeah. I mean, I was fortunate enough to live there for a handful of years. My mom's from the east and a lot of family out there, so I'm just really excited to get back out east. One of the things that was important about my decision was, you know, I live in Minnesota, I have a house here, but it just felt a little too comfortable. I wanted a challenge. I wanted to go back. I want to do something significant. And I understand the landscape of pro sports in Boston and how hard it is.

And I love the fans out there. Obviously want to be a little bit closer to some some of my relatives and stuff. It's it's Titletown, right? And, you know, the stakes are high and that gets your blood pumping. And it's the inaugural year. I mean, there's a lot on the line right now. So I'm really excited about that decision.

Anastasia: You've done so much. Canada, USA, Some European players, they all come together, they form the PWHPA. You fought for all that. It's good. We're now here with the PWHL, but what is it like having to really chat and collaborate with folks that you perhaps haven't really humanised in the past? I don't know. I've never played team sports. I don't think I would want to be too friendly with some of these people. Now you are. Now you're back and you have to face off again. Well, what's that feeling like?

Hilary Knight: I will say, if you if you don't know anybody on the other side and you talk about like humanising like. Yeah, the last thing I do when I play Canada, like I don't even look at the other team as friends or I don't know them, right? I just put them into this other category because I have to. Because the stakes are so high and the level of competition, there's no room for error out there, so you can't ever second guess your split second decision.

And that was what was a little bit more interesting this past year because we combined rosters and so we had a handful of, you know, American, Canadian sort of mix ups between the teams and, you know, you go into that experience, you're like, oh, I don't like this person. And then you get to know them a little bit more. You're like, This person isn't that bad. There is just like this whole preconceived thing in my head because, you know, we've had to go to battle against each other for years and years.

And so what I'm excited about is now the fans have an opportunity to rally around these clubs and around players. And what was interesting about going up to Montreal for me was I was always seen in that rivalry. The fans like obviously love me from like Les Canadiennes perspective, but they're like, oh, but you play for the United States, right? And so that was always the biggest rivalry.

And so I'm not saying that it won't be, but there's different storylines and there's more skill that you can attach to this fandom of the game and that also comes with the territory of learning from different people and being able to to adapt to different styles. And I think that's what's just so exciting. But I mean, don't get me wrong, when it's US-Canada, it's going to go back to Frenemies again. I'm going to put someone through the glass, you know, as I would if I was competing against them on any other ice sheet, but it's so unique. I mean, the level of the game, it's just going to be outstanding. I think that's what I'm most looking forward to, is, you know, we are the destination for the best in the world, globally, and the international game is just going to soar to new heights.

Anastasia: Yeah, I'm so excited to see what happens. This is your crystal ball moment. Who's going to come out swinging?

Hilary Knight: Boston.

Anastasia: Boston. Boston all the way? Right to the ship?

Hilary Knight: You know, you got to bet on yourself, right? I didn't expect the draft to shake out that way. Free agency was also interesting as well. So I think we have a really healthy balance of teams and competition. You know, what's going to be interesting is year two. Okay year one, we all played it out, but now the new talent that's rising in and where do you slot people in? And it's going to be extremely competitive. So I'm excited for that. I mean the fans are in for a treat and now you're going to find somewhere to watch us consistently, which is never been there before. So there's only good things to come.

Anastasia: I already have my ear to the ground about expansion as well. I'm so, so pumped up and I'm so excited to watch you play.

Hilary Knight: Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. I can't wait to lace up. I mean, obviously we've got rivalry series before then, but yeah, it's going to be a wild year for sure.

Anastasia: It's going to be a historic year. And what's good for women's hockey is good for every single female athlete. So thank you, buddy. I appreciate you doing this podcast too. It's always so nice to see your face. And I'm not even kidding -we should strap on the long blades and go for a rip

Hilary Knight: Let's go.

Anastasia: Not even kidding. Like, let's do it for charity. I haven't worn a skin suit in like six years. Let's do it.

Hilary Knight: If it makes you faster, you know. I'll do it.

Anastasia: Awesome. Peace!

[]MUSIC]

Hillary Knight was at her place in Minnesota.

Brad Middleton recorded our conversation from the CBC Sports Digital Hub in Toronto. There's a video version of this at our YouTube channel.

Join the conversation. #Playersownvoice.

My handle is Anastasure on all things social.

Our producer is David Giddens and Olivia Pasquarelli -she's no bender, I'll tell you- edits this podcast.

Thanks for listening.