Two time Olympic gold medalist Vicky Sunohara has been the head coach of the University of Toronto’s women’s hockey team since 2011 where the program has seen great success.

Vicky Sunohara never thought she’d become a head coach after her playing days where she won three Olympic medals and seven World Championships with Team Canada. 

“I didn’t think I could watch without wanting to jump on the ice,” she said. But it was Sunohara’s love of hockey and competitiveness that brought her back to the school where she played two seasons of her collegiate career, the University of Toronto (U of T) to coach the Varsity Blues women’s hockey team. A role she’s excelled in since getting the job in 2011.

Sunohara is always thinking about hockey. 

“You can tell when someone really loves the game and that was something I could see in her,” said Jayna Hefford. 

Hefford and Sunohara were teammates for two Olympic gold medals together with Team Canada in 2002 and 2006 and six World Championships between 1997 and 2007.

Hefford was an assistant coach on Sunohara’s staff at U of T between 2011 and 2017. She said that along with the experience Sunohara brings from her playing career it’s how good she is at working with other people and managing the dynamics of a hockey team.

“What makes Vicky a great coach is her people skills. She has a way of getting the best out of people. There’s so much respect for her around the game,” Hefford told The Hockey News.

Sunohara leans on the rest of the coaching staff. 

“Her experience is what she drives off of the most but it’s never just Vicky,” said Blues defender Maddy Walsh. Walsh described Sunohara as the most humble coach she’s had. “She forgets that she’s one of the greatest players for female hockey ever. We look up to her.”

Sunohara pulls from her experiences to help the girls embrace the opportunity ahead of them.

“The one thing she says every time is ‘what a great opportunity.’ It’s kinda her punch line,” said Blues captain Taylor Trussler. “She’s motivated and inspirational. She brings a lot of stories when she’s trying to coach and always has a reasoning as to why she’s doing things.”

Under Sunohara, the Blues have qualified for the USports championship tournament four times, twice of which came after winning the McCaw Cup - the championship for university women’s hockey in Ontario.

The team’s culture has been a big reason for their success. They play with a blue collar mentality that’s referred to as “Blues hockey.” Sunohara describes Blues hockey as doing whatever it takes to be your best self and playing for the crest on the jersey and everyone in the locker room.

“It’s putting your head down, being there for each other, relentless work ethic,” said Natasha Athanasakos. “It’s the heart that you have for the game and what you put into it.” It’s a mentality that has become a part of the team’s identity.

The Blues won the McCaw Cup in comeback fashion this season scoring two late goals to clinch a 2-1 victory. “Never give up. It was all hard work and that’s what Vicky really tried to push on our program and it paid off,” Walsh said.

While winning games is the end goal on the ice, Sunohara knows there’s more to life than hockey. 

“When you love what you do, you do it 24/7,” she said. “I’m very fortunate because I love my job but I am aware that I’ve got two boys. I have to be their mom number one.”

For Sunohara, balancing being a mom and being a coach can be a challenge. Before coaching U of T, she coached at The Hill Academy, a sports school in Caledon, Ont. 

“I really enjoyed it and it sparked an interest. It’s just (that) it was difficult because they were four months old. It was tough to navigate being a mom of newborn twins and coaching at the same time.” 

When her kids were a little older she returned to coaching, beginning her journey at U of T. Sunohara puts everything she has into being a good mom and a good coach. “It’s challenging managing all of that but what’s great is to bring it all together,” she said.

Sunohara brings her kids around the team. “They love to watch games, they’ll watch practices, and they love coming downtown if they have an opportunity to skate on our rink or hangout in my office.” 

Her twins have become a part of the team and it’s something she’s grateful for. She applies the same balance to helping her players off the ice, something that’s vital when coaching student athletes. Many Blues players felt stressed when they faced adversity during the playoffs this season. 

“It’s a hockey game. If you win great and if you lose, the sun comes up tomorrow.” 

Sunohara said this to Athanasakos. It’s advice that the latter passed down to some of the younger players on the team ahead of the McCaw Cup. Lauren MacDonnell, one of the Blues’ graduating players credits Sunohara for helping her gear up for life after playing. 

“Vicky knew that I wasn’t going to be continuing to play hockey,” MacDonnell said. “She does put it into perspective. Hockey isn’t everything. We’re lucky to be able to come to the rink everyday and do what we love with the people we love, have a great team atmosphere, and have lots of fun doing it.”

MacDonnell plans on coaching and wants to build the same connection with players that Sunohara has. 

“At the end of the day they’re people, they’re not just athletes, they’re not just students, and the more you get to know them the bigger the bond you will build with them. It’s gonna be rewarding for both you and them.”

Sunohara is supportive of everyone around her and the respect that she has for everyone she encounters is mutual. Her dedication to coaching has created a culture at U of T that leads to success both on and off the ice. 

“She’s married to the game. That’s who the statement is based off of,” Athanasakos said.

Her longevity with the program speaks to the work she’s put in and the people she’s touched while finding the balance between her personal and professional life. Coaching wasn’t something Sunohara thought she’d do but it’s something she’s succeeded in.