During Black History Month/African Heritage Month, Brock Sports and Recreation is publishing open letters from Black student-athletes, sharing their stories, experiences and perspectives in their own words.

Growing up in a small-town playing hockey I did not always feel like I fit the expected standard.  

Playing the game I love the most came with early mornings, ice-cold rinks and the continuous sacrifices that had to be made. It became very difficult at times when I found myself questioning my belonging to something that brought me so much happiness. As a young girl, it was challenging growing up when I never saw people who looked like me in the places that I'd always dreamed to reach. But then I found you.  

Sarah Nurse, from the first time I watched you play, something in my life shifted. You were not only an elite player on the ice, but you brought confidence and realism to the game. You embraced the sport like it was your own and seized the idea that you can dominate in this game as a Black female athlete. It gave hope to young Black girls around the world who were looking to pursue hockey, including me.  

You have helped me realize that I do not need to change anything about myself to prove I am a great hockey player. You taught me that the game is not only about skill but also about showing how confident you can be and believing that you are deserving enough to take up that space. The feeling of needing to blend in with the mold of the game quickly began to vanish every time I would watch you compete, lead and speak.  

As a Black female hockey player, there are times where I feel like I am carrying more than just a stick onto the ice. There is a pressure that I need to represent and prove myself 100% of the time with no room for error. You have proven that I do not need to rely on other validations to feel like I am succeeding.  

Your game has helped me change my approach to the way I play. Your grit and presence on the ice have helped me introduce those aspects into my own game and the way I carry myself. The way you have represented yourself is not only refreshing to see, but it shows what is possible for girls around the world and what they can achieve. 

Sarah, thank you for being my main inspiration and someone I can look up to, not just as a hockey player, but as a person. Thanks to you, I play strong and confident with a new sense of belonging in the game we both love.  

- Avery Diljee