I still love hockey. It’s just I’m at a different stage of my life and I think I’m just ready to grow in other ways outside of just being a hockey player.

I’m in the perfect position. It’s a sports position and a political position where I can help better the lives of athletes around the world.

I look at myself, and how much I’ve gotten just because I play a sport well.

The more I’ve done work with the IOC the more I’ve come to realize I’m really excited about this, the work that I’m doing and the impact that I can have if I’m fully committed to it.

I’m able to give a voice to the athletes around the world – use my degree for something other than the power play.

I find that I’ve tried to become a better hockey player every year and not just hold on. At the same time, I’ve also made it a point to increase or grow in some other area of my life. If I were just playing hockey, I would probably be done with the sport.

As a veteran, you’re a little more poised on that mental side. But athletically, I didn’t really think I could get better.

There were no women’s players I knew of. I didn’t even know women’s hockey existed.

It’s not about, ‘Let me play as long as I can so I don’t have to grow up.’ It’s about, ‘Let me play as long as I enjoy it,’ and when it’s time to step away, I can step away gracefully even if I’m still good enough to keep playing, because I’m ready for that next phase.

In a way, by being fully committed to the Olympic movement globally, I’m better able to promote women’s hockey and talk about women’s hockey and put a face to women’s hockey, to all the IOC members.