Saskatoon’s Sophie Shirley drawing attention of Team Canada, PWHL

When you think of women’s hockey and Saskatoon, the name Emily Clark typically comes to mind.

But now there’s a second member of the Canadian women’s team for whom people from the Bridge City can cheer.

On Wednesday, Sophie Shirley made her debut for the national team against the United States in the fifth game of the teams’ Rivalry Series.

“It was super-cool for me,” the 24-year-old Shirley said after making her Canadian debut in her hometown and helping secure her country’s 4-2 win. “With that atmosphere and being at home with my family here it was super-exciting. To have this be my debut is super-cool for me and just really excited and proud to wear the jersey.”

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Shirley’s road to the Canadian team has been a lengthy one.

After spending her Grade 10 year living at home and playing for the AAA Saskatoon Stars, she moved away in Grade 11 to attend the Notre Dame hockey school in Willcox.

A successful season at Notre Dame led her to transferring to the Okanagan Hockey Academy (OHA) in Kelowna for her Grade 12 year and getting invites to represent Canada at the U18 level.

She then committed to the University of Wisconsin, where she helped lead the Badgers to three national championships in five seasons. Her success at Wisconsin helped her get selected 63rd overall by Boston in the Professional Women’s Hockey League draft.

In the PWHL this season, Shirley has three points in seven games.

Canadian head coach Troy Ryan said Shirley was someone the program has been interested in for a while and credits the PWHL for the positive attention she’s put on herself.

“Sophie has been someone on our radar for a number of years – (she) played U18, played development (and) had some time with the senior team,” Ryan said. “The PWHL has been huge for her. She’s had a good start and showed she has the ability to play in that physical game. We’re excited to see what she can do.”

For Shirley, the last year has been unique, as she’s one of the first North American female players ever to go from college straight to an established professional North American league.

There have been other leagues in the past, but none of them has been as consistent as the PWHL has in its first month.

“I keep saying the word ‘exciting,’ because that’s exactly what it is,” said Shirley. “To be able to play a regular season like we have – I know a lot of girls haven’t had that in a while – and for me to be able to roll into an actual professional league straight out of college is really cool too. It’s been really exciting and I’m super-happy to be here right now.”

Shirley said the biggest thing she’s noticed about playing in the PWHL is the pace of play.

“I know after my first game I had a few bumps and bruises,” she laughed when asked about the level of hockey and physicality she’s seen in the early days of the new league. “I woke up the next day and I was super-sore – I wasn’t expecting that. But now being in my sixth or seventh game now, I’ve been able to figure out my way on the ice.”

Shirley comes from a hockey family who has had varying degrees of success over the years.

Her brother Connor spent five seasons (2012-17) in the WHL with the Kootenay Ice and Kamloops Blazers. He then played three years at the University of Saskatchewan before moving to Europe to play professionally. He currently plays in Scotland.

Shirley’s sister Grace spent the last four seasons (2019-23) playing at Wisconsin with Sophie and recently transferred to Providence College for her senior year.

Shirley’s grandfather, who also lived in Saskatoon, grew up playing hockey and baseball with Gordie Howe.

It was a massive day for Shirley on Wednesday, when she made her debut with the national team. It was also extra-special as she got to play with Clark, who was someone she had always looked up to growing up.

“Emily has been a huge role model for me since I can’t even remember,” she explained.

“I think I’ve always kind of looked up to her and tried to emulate everything she’s done and follow in her footsteps. It was super-cool to share the ice with her at this level.”

“It’s great another Saskatoon player got this chance,” Clark said. “Sophie has been playing amazing in the PWHL this season and she just keeps getting better and better. She’s such a special player with so much skill and speed. She’s still so young, so there’s nothing but better things coming for her.”

“It’s kind of like a proud big-sister moment. I got to watch her grow up and be on this journey together. It was a really special day for us.”

Shirley, Clark and the rest of Team Canada will play Game 6 of their Rivalry Series against the United States on Friday at the Brandt Centre at 7 p.m. A win will tie the series at three and make Sunday’s contest in St. Paul, Minn., a winner-take-all Game 7.