Saroya Tinker may not be lacing up her skates on the regular anymore, but her life still revolves around hockey.
Since announcing her retirement from playing just prior to the start of PWHL training camps in November, the 26-year-old has been busier than ever. In addition to her ongoing work as executive director of Black Girl Hockey Club Canada, a non-profit organization advocating for Black women in hockey, and as a mentor to young girls across the GTA, Tinker took on a pair of new challenges as the new league launched. The former defender, who spent the past two seasons on the blue line for her hometown Toronto Six of the now-defunct PHF, traded in her hockey stick for a microphone as part of CBC’s PWHL broadcast team, and in January was named the PWHL’s first ever manager of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and community engagement.
“I think my love for hockey has kind of come back since being on the business side of things,” says Tinker, who turned pro after graduating from Yale in 2020. “I get to do what I’m passionate about — and that’s not necessarily just stepping on the ice anymore.”
Tinker spoke with Sportsnet last month about her new chapter as a broadcaster, her role with the PWHL, and her evolving relationship with the game.
SPORTSNET: Looking back at your decision to retire as a player last fall, what was that transition like for you?
TINKER: I knew I wanted to pivot, in some sense. I had said for a while that I didn’t play hockey just because I love stepping on the ice every day and training and all that stuff — I played because I wanted to be a piece of representation. So, when the opportunity arose for me to potentially be on [a broadcast] panel for the league, I was still in the heat of training, was ready to go to camp with Ottawa. … And honestly, that was enough for me, at that point, to realize that I should probably take it and pivot. It’s been nothing short of amazing. I think I am a thoroughly happier person not having to be on a hockey schedule.
How has your experience been with the broadcasts?
I had never done any broadcasts before. I’ve been on camera for interviews, and I’m in the movie Black Ice [a 2022 Canadian documentary that examines anti-black racism in hockey]. So, I was kind of getting used to the production space. … But I’d never called a game on colour; I’d never sat at the desk live until Jan. 1. It’s been amazing. I love it. As energy-sucking as it can be, being in front of the camera and being ‘on’ and being live, and all that stuff, it’s almost easy work because I get to talk about my friends, my former teammates. I’ve physically played with 80 per cent of the league. So, it makes my job easier, for sure.
And then you also had the opportunity to take on your DEI role. Can you walk me through how that that came about?
I had signed my contract to be on the broadcast team and had just announced my retirement … that’s when [PWHL senior VP of hockey operations Jayna Hefford] was made aware that I wasn’t actually going to play. And so, Jayna reached out and asked me to still be involved, as they really wanted my voice to be heard — whether I was playing or not.
They knew the importance that I had on the sport, and realized that if I was going to go a different direction, that they wanted it to be with them.
There’s obviously so much that goes into your role. What are some of the bigger-picture things you’ve learned in terms of how you’d like to move forward?
I think the most exciting piece for me is that we’re getting to build this how we want it to be built, right from the ground up. So, a lot of what we’re doing and a lot of what I see being implemented are things that will be implemented in Season 2 and 3 and 4 and 5. But at the same time, I think just providing that level of accessibility right off the bat to everyone that wants to play. Partnering with the obvious organizations, like Sport A Rainbow, Black Girl Hockey Club, Hockey Equality — all of these organizations that have access to these low-income communities and these girls and women that want access to the sport and haven’t necessarily had that before. Get them in the arena, get them out to games, and make sure that they’re being seen.
Can you tell me more about some of the [American Sign Language] initiatives you’ve been focused on?
I think it’ll definitely be something that will be fully rolled out next season. But we did provide it at the Scotiabank Arena game [on Feb. 16]. It’s very important to have that level of accessibility, especially when you have an in-game arena host. You see them pop up on the jumbotron, but if you don’t have those subtitles up, or an interpreter, people don’t know what is being said. And I think a lot more goes along with it than just subtitles. ASL is a language in itself — they have their own slang, their own way of wording things. So, when they are signing, I think it’s important that they are connected to that community — it’s not just reading off of a board, because that’s not necessarily how they go about expressing their language. So, I think we’re going to be able to implement it in so many different areas — in-game arena hosts to anthem singing, making sure our activations in arenas are accessible. So, it’s exciting and it’s something that hasn’t necessarily been done consistently throughout hockey.
There’s so much momentum in women’s sports right now, and also such a movement in, not just watching women’s sports but listening to women in sports. Can you speak to the significance of that momentum, from your perspective?
Yeah, I think there’s no doubt that women lead when we step into these spaces, when we’re given the opportunity to. Specifically in women’s hockey, I think that it’s so important to realize that we’re actually providing these hopes and dreams for these young girls — they can dream to be professional hockey players and actually make a living wage. And hopefully we get to a point where these girls don’t even necessarily need to think about college — they can enter a draft pool like the NHL guys do and hop on into the league and make some big bucks.
I think that having women in this space, we have been marginalized for so long and not necessarily had our rights and everything along those lines. So, I think it’s so much easier for us, as women, to fight for that level of inclusivity.
When you look at the league, the reception it’s had since launching, what has that been like for you to see?
There’s no doubt that professional women’s hockey has been around — there’s been so many different leagues. We’ve been making these efforts to try and get to where the PWHL is at.
My first year playing professionally, getting drafted to the [NWHL’s Metropolitan Riveters in 2020], I signed my first contract for $5,000. Like, we’ve come so, so far. I mean, playing in front of 20,000 people at Scotiabank Arena — you’ve got companies buying out boxes and partnerships like Barbie and just huge monetary partnerships that we haven’t necessarily had before. So, it’s so exciting to see, as a host or broadcaster and whatever else I may be, and as a fan. I think it’s so cool to see because I know that my mentees are going to get to play in a sustainable league. And that’s what we’ve been fighting for, for so long.
What kind of response to the league have you heard from some of the girls you mentor?
They think it’s so cool. I mean, they love going to the games anytime they get the opportunity to. Specifically, here in the GTA, Mattamy’s sold out every time, so when we announced that we were going to run our Nursey Night program, a lot of parents were like, ‘This is so awesome because we weren’t able to get tickets!’ So, these girls are able to see their role models, their mentors, play. I think the representation piece has been the most exciting, seeing the smiling faces in the arena. It’s a different atmosphere than going to a men’s game, and I think these little girls are so excited. It’s awesome to see.
Do you still hit the ice from time to time?
I have been on the ice here and there, still train like I would usually train — I don’t know, I think it’s kind of hard to snap out of that mindset. So, still trying to stay in shape, be ready. I mean, my girls still kind of need me on the ice, so I got to make sure that they’re not being better than me out there [laughs].
You’ve got to teach them something, still, right?
My dad’s currently begging me to make a comeback. I don’t think that’s going to happen, by any means — I’m enjoying not having to be stuck on a hockey schedule. And it was nice to be able to retire on my own terms, not risk injury and whatnot. Like, I know that I stepped away when I felt the time was right, and if I really wanted to step out there and be on the ice, I would be. But that’s just not the case.
And, of course, you retired on top — a PHF Isobel Cup champion with the Toronto Six. How often do you wear your championship ring? Is it in your rotation of accessories?
Oh, geez, it depends on where I’m going. Sometimes I’ll throw it on a chain. I’m a big streetwear — I mean, I love fashion and my outfits and all that good stuff. So, it definitely makes an appearance here and there.
Looking ahead, what are you most excited about right now?
I’m excited for playoffs! I think that’s going to be really exciting for us as broadcasters, having that first playoff run.
I’m honestly excited to just build out the accessibility plan and all of the little things that need to be done over the summer, for the next season. Not that I’m hoping and wishing that this season is over, but at the same time, I’m honestly just excited to sit down, plan, and make sure we have all of our ducks in a row for our upcoming seasons. And, making sure that we are implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion right from the start.
I think if young girls and women see that implemented right from the start, they’re not going to know anything different other than just an inclusive PWHL league.
