UBC’s Joelle Fiala returns home to complete collegiate hockey career

Clavet’s Joelle Fiala couldn’t have asked for a better way to end her collegiate hockey career.

The 22-year-old fifth-year plays for the No. 2-ranked UBC Thunderbirds, who are in Saskatoon this weekend at the U Sports women’s hockey championship tournament.

“It’s pretty cool,” she said when asked what it felt like to be back home for such a major event in her hockey career. “It’s come full circle for me. This is where I grew up playing, so it’s pretty cool for sure.

“I grew up playing boys hockey in Clavet for most of my life and then I switched over to the Saskatoon Comets for one year in bantam. Then I played five years with the Saskatoon Stars and I was actually part of the first team to play at Merlis Belsher Place; this was our home rink for the Stars.”

With the Stars, Fiala mostly averaged more than a point per game. Her success helped her earn a scholarship at Robert Morris University (RMU) in Pittsburgh in 2019.

Things were going smoothly for her at RMU, but then the COVID-19 pandemic happened and her hockey career changed.

“After my second year, our program at RMU was shut down,” she said. “I was actually thinking about quitting hockey. Graham (Thomas) and Mike (Sommer), the coaches of UBC, convinced me otherwise and that’s how I ended up at UBC.

“I want to go back to school once I graduate (and) go to med school. I thought I should just take care of school and forget about hockey. It seemed like that’s what the message was at that time in my life. I’m glad I didn’t do that,” she laughed.

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Since her arrival in Vancouver in 2021, Fiala has helped lead the Thunderbirds to three consecutive Canada West titles.

She couldn’t be happier with how things have worked out.

“It’s been amazing — life-changing for sure,” she said. “I feel like being a part of this group is so special. Anyone that gets a chance to be a part of UBC women’s hockey, you’re in for a treat. The university is just extraordinary.

“Everyone works so hard and is supportive and positive and everyone just wants to be better and push each other and grow in every way as a person and on the ice. It’s really special.”

For Fiala, playing hockey at a high level runs in her family.

Her brother Evan played five seasons in the WHL, with stops with the Spokane Chiefs and Saskatoon Blades.

He was named the Blades’ captain for the 2017-18 season and later went on to play four seasons with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. He’s currently going to school to become a chiropractor.

Fiala’s sister Jocelyn followed in her footsteps and played for the Stars before continuing her hockey career in the United States. She committed to Syracuse University and just finished her freshman season with the Orange.

Joelle said she and her siblings are very tight and credits Evan for making her tougher. During his WHL career, he picked up 500 penalty minutes in 266 games.

“He definitely made me tougher, but he’s also a softy,” Fiala said with a chuckle. “Off the ice he’s so supportive and amazing. He just has a heart of gold. He’s just the best brother.”

With a slate of games in her backyard this weekend, Fiala can’t wait to play in front of family and friends.

“Both my brother and younger sister are coming out and my parents, so it will be awesome to see them,” she added.

Sadly, Fiala won’t be playing for a national championship. Her Thunderbirds lost 4-2 to the seventh-ranked Montreal Carabins in a quarterfinal on Friday afternoon.

UBC is to play the loser of the quarterfinal between the Toronto Varsity Blues and New Brunswick Reds in a consolation game Saturday.