WEEK #21: TATYANA S.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hello, my name is Tatyana Susac I am 20 years old and I just completed my first year in college taking the police foundation program. I’ve always played sports my entire life like hockey, ball hockey, soccer and all of my high school sports teams at Monsignor John Peryma like basketball, volleyball, badminton, ultimate frisbee and softball for a year. But I focused more on hockey. I have been playing hockey for 16 years now and played rep for many of those years. Summer of 2019 I was chosen to represent Ontario at nationals in Vancouver, BC for ball hockey, where I was then scouted and chosen to play for the U20 team Canada team that would have been travelling this year 2020 to Slovakia but due to the pandemic it has been postponed to the following year 2021. I have won the Senior Female Athlete award back to back in high school in grade 11 and 12. I love being around friends and family, staying fit and healthy and making everyone around me smile. 

Who is your favourite female athlete? Why? 

My favourite female athlete would be Hayley Wickenheiser because she was a young female who worked so hard to become the player she always wanted to be. She has created amazing goals for herself and gives her everything every time she steps on the ice. She inspires me to be just like her when I step in for any game or any shift that I’m about to play. 

What inspired you to participate in sport?  

I would have to say my family especially my parents. My dad grew up in Croatia where he played semi-pro soccer for Mladost Vodjinci Spacva Vinkovci and Cibalia vinkovci and my mom who has played ringette and hockey all her life, going to provincials, nationals and this past summer of 2019 she was asked to play in Worlds for team Europe in ball hockey. I am so grateful for my parents who have always given me every opportunity possible to play and do the things I love most. 

What advice do you have for parents, coaches, or sport administrators to encourage or improve sport for females? 

The best advice I have for parents, coaches, or any sport administrator to encourage or improve sports for females is to be open-minded that females can do anything and we should be given more opportunities to play sports that we love without having the fear of not being good enough. I think more sports should have a female-only part, allowing any female of any age to come out and participate. Another good piece of advice I would have is to just have fun as a parent, coach, manager whatever your role is just have fun. 

What is a quote that motivates you? 

“Never say never, because limits, like fears are often just illusions.” – Michael Jordan 

Instagram: @tatyanasusac