Our Girls Play Hockey: Hayley Scamurra on Leadership, Confidence, and Finding Your People in Hockey

🏒 What do you do when you don’t get along with a teammate? How do you make friends on a new team? And what separates a good captain from a truly great leader? Olympic gold medalist and PWHL forward Hayley Scamurra is back for Part 2 of our Our Girls Play Hockey Q&A, answering real questions from young players about some of the hardest—and most relatable—parts of being an athlete. From navigating difficult teammates and coaches to joining a new locker room, managing pre-game nerves, and learning what elite leadership actually looks like, Hayley shares lessons built from youth hockey, Team USA, the Olympics, and the professional game. She also takes us inside what makes leaders like Hilary Knight and Marie-Philip Poulin so impactful—not just because of what they do in big moments, but because of how they show up for teammates when nobody is watching. 🎧 In this episode: 🤝 How to handle teammates you don’t naturally connect with   ⚡ Why protecting your energy matters in a team environment   👋 How shy players can make friends on a new hockey team   🏒 Why small locker-room conversations can build big connections   ⭐ What Hayley looks for in a great captain and leader   🇺🇸 What Hilary Knight’s intensity brought to Team USA’s gold-medal run   🍁 How Marie-Philip Poulin leads through consistency, sacrifice, and genuine care   🧠 How elite athletes separate nervous thoughts from real confidence   🥇 Why Hayley believed she would make Team USA—and win Olympic gold   🌎 Her favorite memories from competing at the Olympics   🥦 And, in perhaps the most important question of all… does Hayley eat her vegetables? One of the biggest messages in this episode is simple: you do not have to be best friends with everyone on your team to be a great teammate. Find your people. Make an effort. Be respectful. Support the players beside you. And remember that the way you respond to difficult situations is one of the few things you can always control. For every girl navigating a new team, dealing with locker-room dynamics, learning to lead, or wondering whether nerves mean she isn’t ready—this episode is for you. Keep showing up, keep connecting, and keep believing that you belong in the room. 📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Finding Your People, Leading with Confidence, and Handling Pressure in Hockey (https://www.ourkidsplayhockey.com/blog/) #OurGirlsPlayHockey #HayleyScamurra #GirlsHockey #WomensHockey #YouthHockey #HockeyLeadership #TeamUSA #HilaryKnight #MariePhilipPoulin #PWHL #HockeyConfidence #HockeyTeamwork #OlympicHockey Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.