One to Watch

shared Commonwealth Avenue. I bought every BC sweatshirt I could find, wore them everywhere, and achieved my dream in 2009.

What did you major in there? I double majored in human development and psychology. I had NO idea what I really wanted to do, but I knew that anything I DID do, would be with and in service of people. I thought if I could understand people, what made them tick, and maybe unpack some of my own personal truths, I could use that knowledge and be successful in life.

Between your pro career, your work with the non-profit Black Girl Club Hockey, and your role as an NHL scout, you have carved out a great career in hockey. Do you see a life-long commitment to the sport? What

future do you aspire to? I am so fortunate to have used hockey as a vessel to bolster my career. Hockey was a gift given to me at a young age, and it changed my life. The game will ALWAYS hold a place in my heart. To me, it’s important to share a gift with the world. I have never had a five-year-plan; I always knew that if I stayed close to the sport and followed my passion, everything would fall into place. Now I’m ready to make a real impact, drive change, not only in hockey, but as a woman in sport. I take pride in all that I do, whether playing, scouting or reporting with ESPN. I can only hope the game continues to share with me all it has to offer.

What is your advice for young women who are thinking of a career in sports?

If it scares you, do it! I almost quit playing hockey in 2013 when I graduated because I was feeling sorry for myself after I got cut from the national team. I sometimes think back and wonder where I would be now if I had. I wouldn’t be the first woman of color to play professional women’s hockey or the second woman to scout in the NHL or a mentor to young girls and boys in hockey. If I had quit out of fear of failure, I wouldn’t be here. So keep going. Get more comfortable being uncomfortable. Only good comes out of it. You learn how much you can take, who are, what you stand for. That’s empowering.

Sarah Bennett ’19 Named to Canadian Alpine Ski Team

Recently named to the Canadian Alpine Ski team, Sarah Bennett ’19 has successfully juggled several responsibilities while excelling on the slopes. She has taken a reduced course load and with the flexibility to take classes asynchronously, she has managed to excel on and off the hill. She has also recently signed on as social media manager with Thrival, a company whose product allows athletes to access and release numerous muscle groups using their manual therapy tools. The company was founded by former skiers at Burke Mountain Academy, and Sarah has used their product successfully. She is much enjoying her work with the company.

When asked what she misses most about Northwood, she responded, “Spring and fall, a time to make connections with people who weren’t part of my team. Going to the beach or into town, even just hanging out in front of the School was always a lot of fun. I miss my ski coach and advisor, Katie Haggerty ’09 (now Gilligan), who was always there for me in the highs and lows of my academic, athletic and personal life. I also learned a lot from my peer Magnus Sheffield ’20, now a professional cyclist. We shared similar goals and development paths.”

Her favorite Northwood memory was making the senior video as a senior project (with Michael Aldridge as advisor) for graduation: “Interviewing the seniors gave me a chance to get to know my classmates better. People were touched and took the time to tell me how much it meant to them.”

WATCH FOR SARAH IN THE TECH DISCIPLINES OF

THE WORLD CUP (giantslalom and slalom) in this new Olympic cycle as she works for the chance to compete in Milan-Cortina in 2026.