Ladies Lineup - Sarah Nurse
Meira Waldstreicher
In anticipation of the kickoff for the PWHL launch on January 1st, each day I will highlight a PWHL personality.
Sarah Nurse was born into the sports world in Hamilton, Ontario. Her father, Roger, was a lacrosse legend for Canada, while her uncle, Donovan McNabb, made waves as a quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles in the early 2000s. Keeping the family tradition alive, her cousin Darnell Nurse plays for the Edmonton Oilers, and his sister Kia is shining in the WNBA.
Sarah’s journey on ice began with skating, evolving into hockey a couple of years later. She played boys’ hockey until the age of eleven. At fourteen, she transitioned to girls’ hockey, joining the Stoney Creek Sabres in the Provincial WHL. In her senior year she participated in her first of many international competitions, securing gold in the WJC-18s.
Sarah aspired to go to a top college in hockey and ultimately chose the University of Wisconsin. During her four seasons there, she showcased her talent, scoring fifty-three points in thirty-nine games in her senior year.
She played in the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, bringing home silver. The following year, she played for the Toronto Furies in the final season of the CWHL and also competed in the Women’s Worlds, winning bronze. After the league’s folding, she joined the PWHPA for Toronto. That year, a Barbie doll inspired by Sarah Nurse was launched in collaboration with Tim Horton’s, creating an athletic black Barbie to inspire young black girls. Also, Nurse was featured on the front of a Cheerios cereal box in support of a Team Canada effort backing Olympic athletes via a digital cheer initiative.
In 2022, Nursey etched her name in history as the first black woman to win an Olympic gold in women’s hockey during the Beijing Games. Her record-breaking performance saw her amass an astonishing eighteen points in seven games, setting an Olympic single tournament record. Upon returning to Canada, she added another gold medal to her cabinet from the World Championships. Following these triumphs, Nurse ascended to superstar status, even making a guest appearance on Season 3 Episode 9 of Canada’s Drag Race.
2023 was a memorable year for Nurse in championing women’s hockey. She made history, becoming the first women’s hockey player to be featured on NHL video game (NHL 23) with Anaheim Duck’s Trevor Zegras. Furthermore, she joined the NHL’s best during the All-Star Weekend in Sunrise, Florida, taking part in the skills competition alongside her fellow women’s hockey peers. Sarah showcased her skills in the Breakaway Challenge, executing ‘The Forsberg’ move on Rangers netminder Igor Sheshterkin with finesse.
Last season, she embarked on a new adventure, working as an analyst for TNT and Sportsnet. Her addition brought vibrant energy and incredible hockey knowledge to their broadcasting teams.
Can’t wait to watch Nursey bring her glamour and scoring pizzaz to Toronto!