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26 // AUGUST 2017 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM who have made it there, so to speak," she said. "It's a nice balance. I guess you could say I'm kind of passionate about what I do. I love working with players and helping them develop." The Best Person For The Job: As long as [women] are good at it and they're qualified, I don't see why they shouldn't [be in training]. If you're a woman or a man and you're qualified and you're good, players will respond to you. There shouldn't be any stig- mas or closed doors based on gender." —Carrie Keil The Player Rep Maria Dennis, National Hockey League Players' Association, Associate Counsel Maria Dennis's love for the game started on the rinks of Connecticut. Her dad, Tony, signed her and her brother up to play hockey, having a love for the game himself. But in the 1970s, a girl playing hockey wasn't a common sight. Still, her dad thought nothing of it. "I asked him once why he thought it was a good idea to toss me in there as the only girl," she recalled. "His response was, 'Well, I didn't think anything of you being a girl.' "I developed a lot of passion for hockey because of him and that decision." Dennis went on to play at Yale University and helped the U.S. Women's National team capture silver at the first IIHF Women's World Championships in 1990. When she began looking for a career off the ice, she used her law degree and experience with Team USA to earn a place on USA Hockey's board of directors and the U.S. Olympic Committee, where she served as an athlete representative. From there she transitioned to the NHLPA where she currently works on the legal team addressing health and safety issues. Every day she draws upon her own experiences as a player. "Playing sports benefited me in my career, not just as a woman in a male-dominated industry, but in a more general way," Dennis said. "I think kids who play sports are more successful in life because they know how to work toward a common goal, work as part of a team, how to communicate with others and how to battle through challenge. They know how to never give up, and that hard work and dedication pay off. "All these lessons I learned as an athlete translate to life in general." Breaking Down Barriers: "It's still very much a male- dominated world as far as the career part, but I'm so happy to see girls participating in hockey and making the great strides that they've made… You've got to keep working to break down the barriers and if it keeps progressing at the pace it has been, it can only get better." —Maria Dennis The Developer Molly Schaus, Anaheim Ducks Fan Development Coordinator When Molly Schaus retired from the U.S. Women's National Team in 2015, she knew she wasn't ready to give up hockey just yet. After 20 years of goaltending and seven IIHF medals to her name—including backstopping Team USA to silver-medal finishes in both the 2010 and 2014 Olympic Winter Games—it's not easy to skate away. "I wasn't sure what I wanted to do exactly, but I knew I wanted to stay involved in the game," said the Voorhees, N.J., native. Upon learning of an opening with the Anaheim Ducks' fan devel- opment team, Schaus packed her bags for the west coast—a drastic change in climate for a girl who grew up in hockey-centric places like Minnesota, Chicago and Boston. "I had to buy sunscreen when I moved out here, so that was a first," she joked. "But it's been fun to see the passion of the fan base and community out here in Anaheim. They really do love their hockey." Working with a small team of six, Schaus's main responsibility is encouraging more youth to experience hockey both on the streets and ice. "By far the favorite part of my job is getting out and playing hockey with the kids," said Schaus, who admits she rarely gets in net to avoid the instinct to stop too many shots. "We're using hockey as a vehicle to deliver other important infor- mation, whether it's physical fitness or academic excellence. Our hope is to capture kids' attention in unique ways. Some might love street hockey, some might love science, some might love reading. It can all tie back to the Ducks, which is really neat." Following Your Passion: "I think it's a pretty unique experience that we've had, and a lot of great life lessons through the Olympic team. Hard work, dedication, teamwork. You name it, we have those intangibles to bring to a real-world experience. I was grateful to use those to help grow the game. I hope more females follow wherever their passions lead them." —Molly Shaus The Administrator Hayley Moore, General Manager of NWHL's Boston Pride/East Coast Wizards Hockey Director After playing professionally in Switzerland, Hayley Moore decided it was time to "join the real world." Unaware of what opportunities were available to stay involved in hockey, the Wakefield, Mass., native served as a volunteer coach to keep her hand in the game. "Our whole lives we kind of identify ourselves as a hockey player and it's hard to see yourself enjoying the game as anything else," she said. "But now I've found it so rewarding to help other players find their passion and love for the game for the first time." Eventually Moore turned a part-time coaching position into a full-