The Role I Played: Canada's Greatest Olympic Hockey Team

by Sami Jo Small

Overview

“Glimpses of her childhood and life outside of hockey come into view, but the main focus is the roller-coaster ride of striving to compete at the sport’s top level.” — Library Journal
“Sami Jo has an energetic personality that shines through with every story in this book.” — Jennifer Botterill, four-time Olympian

Two-time Olympic gold medalist offers insider access, writing with unflinching honesty about the triumphs of her greatest games and the anguish of difficult times with the Canadian National Women’s Hockey Team
Men’s hockey in Canada may hog the limelight, but interest in women’s hockey has never been higher. The Role I Played is a memoir of Sami Jo Small’s ten years with Canada’s National Women’s Hockey Team. Beginning with her experience as a rookie at the first-ever women’s Olympic hockey tournament in Nagano in 1998 and culminating with Canada’s third straight Olympic gold medal in Vancouver in 2010, the veteran goaltender gives the reader behind-the-scenes insight into one of the most successful teams in sports history.
This book honours the individuals who sacrificed so much of their lives to represent Canada on a world stage and celebrates their individual contributions to the team’s glory. While bringing the personalities of her teammates to life, Small takes the reader into the dressing rooms and onto the ice for an up-close glimpse into the ups and downs of athletes pursuing a sport’s highest achievement.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781770415652
Publisher:	ECW Press
Publication date:	09/29/2020
Pages:	344
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Sami Jo Small is a three-time Canadian Olympic ice hockey goalie (two golds and one silver) and a five-time World Champion. A graduate of Stanford University in mechanical engineering, she now works as a Certified Speaking Professional, delivering messages on how to build successful teams as well as successful teammates. From Winnipeg, Manitoba, she now lives in Mississauga, Ontario.

Read an Excerpt

It’s still February and a call comes into our rented house in Redwood City from Danièle Sauvageau, now Team Canada’s head coach. I think I like her. She’s a former RCMP officer and Montreal cop with a tough exterior, but also seems to engage her players.
“How’s hockey in California?” she asks in her thick French accent.
“We’re in the middle of the pack, probably outside a berth to the Nationals, but for our final weekend we’ll play against the University of California at Berkeley for what’s known as the Big Skate.”
“The big skate? You win a skate?” she asks as if perhaps what I had said was lost in translation.
“Well, kind of. Berkeley is our biggest rival, and in football they play ‘The Big Game,’ so in hockey we play ‘The Big Skate.’” I opt not to explain further. Neither Berkeley nor Stanford are very strong this year; however, my brother, Luke, after being accepted into their optometry school, decided to play for our cross-bay rivals. The Big Skate is for bragging rights, but I don’t explain all this to Danièle — it’s a family thing she’s bound not to understand.
“Well, I guess, good luck in . . . ‘The Big Skate,’” she says with a confused tone.
There’s a pause.
“I am calling to congratulate you on making the World Championship team.”
I realize that this call is not just a catch-up session, but in fact the call I’ve been waiting for since I first watched Susie Yuen and the entire Team Canada in pink jerseys play on television at the 1990 World Championships.
“Welcome to Team Canada.”
Goosebumps run up my spine as a smile floods my face.
“Thank you . . . thank you so much.”
I hang up the phone and scream for Diana, who is in the other room. Corey and Susan come running too.
“Guys, I made it! I made Team Canada.” They rush in for a giant hug, making me squirm while they laugh and congratulate me. None of my roommates have any sort of hockey background, but they’ve watched me play and have been my biggest fans. Diana makes us all a celebratory dinner of empanadas and other Mexican treats, and my Stanford friends help me celebrate a Canadian childhood dream come true.

Table of Contents

Introduction ix

Part 1

1 Becoming a Hockey Player 3

2 Improbable Circumstance 15

3 A Lifetime of Anticipation 25

4 Stars All Around Me 34

5 The First Ever Women's Olympic Hocky Gold 42

Part 2

6 Hockey's My Future 55

7 What a Feeling 65

8 Hard Work Pays Off 76

9 New Environment 81

10 Stay Focused 89

11 Transitions 100

12 A New Role 109

13 The Beginnings of a Team 118

14 Becoming Olympians 127

15 Final Preparations 137

16 In Perfect Position 149

17 Olympic Debut 158

18 So Close 167

19 Olympic Final - Salt Lake City 179

20 Rewards of the Hardest Day 187

Part 3

21 A Summer to Move On 201

22 Rededication 210

23 Two Seasons of Hockey 221

24 Olympic Preparations 234

25 Support Network 247

26 The Final Push 256

27 Final Team Selection 263

28 Accepting My Role 273

29 Gold Medal Day 284

Part 4

30 Finding the Love 295

31 My Legacy 304

32 Finally, a Medal 317

Epilogue 323

Editorial Reviews

Men’s hockey in Canada may hog the limelight, but interest in women’s hockey has never been higher. The Role I Played is a memoir of Sami Jo Small’s ten years with Canada’s National Women’s Hockey Team. Beginning with her experience as a rookie at the first-ever women’s Olympic hockey tournament in Nagano in 1998 and culminating with Canada’s third straight Olympic gold medal in Vancouver in 2010, the veteran goaltender gives the reader behind-the-scenes insight into one of the most successful teams in sports history.
Small offers insider access, writing with unflinching honesty about the triumphs of her greatest games and the anguish of difficult times. This book honours the individuals who sacrificed so much of their lives to represent Canada on a world stage and celebrates their individual contributions to the team’s glory. While bringing the personalities of her teammates to life, Small takes the reader into the dressing rooms and onto the ice for an up-close glimpse into the ups and downs of athletes pursuing a sport’s highest achievement.
Praise for Sami Jo Small:
“Sami Jo’s story is incredibly compelling as she’s excelled at every level of the game! A track star, a goalie, an Olympian, and a professional GM: Sami has done and seen it all. She was not only an amazing athlete but a selfless teammate and an amazing friend. I looked up to her as a young hockey player and truly appreciate everything she has accomplished in her career. She has inspired countless young athletes and continues to influence the next generation through her positive attitude, her story of mental resiliency, and her ability to tackle hardships head-on. Sami Jo’s story is a must-read for any young athlete or business professional.” — Natalie Spooner, two-time Olympian
“The story of this team is an important story in Canadian history. Sami Jo plays an integral role in the success of not only the National Team but growing female hockey around the globe. She has left an indelible mark on the game and those that play and has always represented her home province of Manitoba and her adopted city of Mississauga with enthusiasm and pride.” — Hazel McCallion, former long-time mayor of Mississauga
“I’ve watched Sami Jo play goal for my wife Cari’s hockey team. Witnessed her outside on Donald Street in Winnipeg as she and her husband, Billy Bridges, cheered on the Jets, without a ticket, just a dream. Stood with the crowd as Sami Jo introduced the Tragically Hip at a party following the Salt Lake Olympics. No matter the setting, Sami Jo owns her space and shares it. I see her role as Magic Ally Hip.” — Ron MacLean, Hockey Night in Canada
“Sami Jo has an energetic personality that shines through with every story in this book. Her genuine charisma makes each chapter entertaining and engaging. Sami’s vivid memory and thoughtful description bring you along with her for every step of the journey. As I read the book, I laughed, I cried, and I sincerely enjoyed the adventure of the role she played. I had the privilege to live some of these moments with Sami Jo, and as I read through the chapters, I was always intrigued to discover what would happen next!” — Jennifer Botterill, four-time Olympian
Sami Jo Small is a three-time Canadian Olympic ice hockey goalie (two golds and one silver) and a five-time World Champion. A graduate of Stanford University in mechanical engineering, she now works as a certified speaking professional, delivering messages on how to build successful teams as well as successful teammates. From Winnipeg, Manitoba, she now lives in Mississauga, Ontario.

“The Role I Played is a bold and deeply personal testament to the game’s importance, giving fans the good, the bad, and the ugly of competition, while also providing a thorough document of women’s hockey in this country. But more than anything, it highlights the intense emotion, uncertainty, and self-sacrifice inherent to a life of athletic pursuit.” — Quill & Quire

“Glimpses of her childhood and life outside of hockey come into view, but the main focus is the roller-coaster ride of striving to compete at the sport’s top level.” — Library Journal

“While many hockey fans will recognize the contributions to the women’s game by American and Canadian stars such as Cammi Granato, Katie King, Haley Wickenheiser and Danielle Goyette, the contributions of players like Sami Jo Small should be recognized as well and this book will bring a lot of information and enjoyment to hockey fans everywhere.” — The Guy Who Reviews Sports Books blog

“The Role I Played is worth it to two kinds of people — hockey buffs and those who yearn for inspiration.” — Winnipeg Free Press

“The Role I Played is important as both a history book and an autobiography, but more than this Small’s book is simply a great book and a great read. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in hockey, women's hockey, the Olympics, women athletes, or just a good autobiography.” — Hockey in Society blog

From the Publisher

09/01/2020

Though much less recognized than the men's teams, the Canadian and American women's Olympic hockey teams are powerhouses, consistently making it to every final and battling each other for the gold. Here, Canadian goalie Small provides a look at some of those battles. While not uncommon for top women players to land hockey scholarships to highly competitive universities, Small was in her third year as an engineering major at Stanford on a track and field scholarship when she received the invitation to tryouts for the Canadian women's national team. The narrative starts from that point, and continues through the years she played with the team, including the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics. Glimpses of her childhood and life outside of hockey come into view, but the main focus is the roller-coaster ride of striving to compete at the sport's top level. VERDICT Small's drive to be part of the competition—preferably on the winning side—comes through loud and clear, making her story all the more compelling. Her account will appeal to hockey fans and readers interested in athletes' attempts to earn (and keep) a spot on an Olympic team.—Sara Holder, Univ. of Illinois Libs., Champaign

Library Journal