Emily Clark: The Dream Gap Has Closed

Emily Clark dreamed of being the first woman in the NHL. Now, she's a PWHL star inspiring others, and realizes that the once prevalent dream gap has closed.

When PWHL Ottawa’s star forward, Emily Clark, was growing up, her heroes were NHLers.

“I loved Joe Sakic,” she says.

But Clark found a new idol at the age of seven after watching the Canadian women’s hockey team win the 2002 Olympics, and then shortly after meeting one of Canada's stars, Dana Antal.

“I just know I have the team’s photo and signature from her still in my room somewhere,” says Clark, who is among the world’s best hockey players and a stalwart on Team Canada. Now, Clark is playing the role for girls growing up that Antal did for her.

“Having someone look up to you or be a fan of yours is one of the most special feelings in the world.”

Emily Clark has been one of the best players in the world for almost a decade now. Off the ice, she is personable, funny, and energetic.

On the ice Clark is a tenacious player who backchecks and grinds you out while flashing her skill. On Tuesday night against Toronto, Clark drove around two defenders, then quickly wristed a shot from the goal line that surprised Toronto’s goalie Erica Howe to open the scoring for Ottawa. Later, Clark surprised again, when she took a cross check in front of the Toronto net; as the play continued she absolutely demolished a Toronto player into the boards with a check.

She’s gritty, and skilled. She’s a hockey player.

Clark has a special relationship with her PWHL coach Carla MacLeod. She says they are “a dynamic duo, we’ll finish each other’s sentences.”

MacLeod first coached Clark on the U-18 Canadian women’s team in 2012. Later MacLeod helped Clark decide to go to Wisconsin for college hockey, where MacLeod was also coaching.

Recalling that time, Clark can't help by flash a grin.

“[MacLeod] claims she didn't have any bias but she did help me through that process,” said Clark. “I just happened to land at Wisconsin, and I think that she was extra happy that I ended up there and not Minnesota.”

Macleod is one of the many mentors who have helped Clark along the way.

“I was really lucky with the teammates that I had and the coaches I had growing up that just saw me as a player and encouraged me.”

Clark started into the hockey life playing with her four brothers and on boys’ teams until she was 13.

“I just wanted to be like them. I wanted to be one of the boys,” says Clark.

“So, to play boys hockey that was just me playing hockey. I didn't really think about boys versus girls. And obviously there's a lot more girls playing now, and the minor hockey associations and the female zones are way more developed, which is really amazing.”

Clark realizes that there are opportunities for girls playing hockey that there weren’t before, and she knows she is an idol for many girls.

“I mean like growing up with the boys. We all just wanted to make it to the NHL. So that was my goal. I wanted to be the first [female] skater in the NHL when I was playing boys hockey with them. And I remember my teammates used to say like, you’ll be the first girl in the NHL.”

“Anytime you have a chance to take a few moments with a fan you want to be all in and want it to be a good experience because you know the impact that it can have whether it's a little kid like I had with Dana Antal. It fueled a dream for my whole childhood.”

When Clark scored for her first PWHL goal in front of the Ottawa fans at TD Place,  hundreds of little girls screamed. In that moment, and many others, Clark knows she is making memories for a new generation of women's hockey players.

“Even if they are playing boys hockey, they can dream to play pro. Their teammates can dream to play pro. That dream gap is closed."