Women’s hockey has had an impact on young girls playing the sport in Canada and, for one local player, hockey is turning into an important opportunity.
Sault Ste. Marie’s Skylar Ruschpler has modelled her game after some of Canada’s hockey greats and the youngster will soon take her talents south of the border.
Playing this season in southern Ontario, the Grade 11 student has committed to play Division I hockey at Boston University.
The Sault product has looked up to many of Canada’s women’s hockey greats after picking up the sport as a girl while watching her older brothers play.
“There’s so many great women's hockey players,” Ruschpler said. “You could look up to any of them because they're all showing you the reality that women can play hockey.
“I’d say I try to model my game after Marie-Philip Poulin,” she added. “She’s hard on the puck. She causes turnovers. She’s that clutch player. I’d love to be like her some day.”
While the recruiting process wasn’t an easy time, Ruschpler said a lot of things made Boston University the obvious choice for her.
“They were one of my top schools going into the recruiting process,” Ruschpler said.
Ruschpler said she came away from a phone call with the coach impressed with what she heard.
“I really liked everything she was saying and I just knew I was passionate about the school before I committed,” Ruschpler said.
“It was one of my best calls (during the recruiting process). I had so much to talk about. I knew so much about the school. There were so many questions I was asking, and so many things I was curious about.”
Attending a camp at BU, Ruschpler said she came away even more impressed by the campus.
“It was amazing,” the Sault product said. “The facilities were so nice and the coaching staff, I loved them. I loved the way they coached, the way they interacted with the players.”
The camp also gave Ruschpler a chance to meet some of the current BU players.
“They were so welcoming,” she said.
“We got to go inside the dressing room, inside the gyms, the rink. It was all so nice, and I love that area of Boston.”
Getting a chance to have a “big city” experience is something Ruschpler’s looking forward to as well.
“Because I’ve been in the Sault my whole life, I was like ‘OK, this is awesome,’” Ruschpler said of spending time in Boston.
“There are people walking around everywhere. It was busy. The campus is right beside the water and I just kind of knew right away, ‘Yeah, I want to be here.’”
Ruschpler is playing this season in Etobicoke with the U22 Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins and is slated to make the jump to BU in the fall of 2027 after she finishes high school.
Playing in Etobicoke, Ruschpler said the opportunity is giving her a chance to learn about playing away from home.
“It’s been really good for me,” she said.
“I’ve grown to be more independent, managing my time better. And moving down here was a big part of my development and it really made me a better player.”