Erica Howe took a leave of absence from her job as a firefighter to take a shot with the PWHL. She signed with Toronto, and is ready to prove she still has what it takes.

Erica Howe is trading smothering fires as a firefighter, for smothering pucks as a goaltender for Toronto in the PWHL.

Howe took a leave of absence from her job as a firefighter to take a chance to become a full-time professional hockey player. 

"When the league came out I didn't know if I was going to play, I was like, I don't know, maybe we just leave it for the next generation, I don't know if it was even possible," Howe explained.

It was a conversation at the breakfast table with her fellow firefighters however that motivated her to take a chance on making the leap of faith to the PWHL.

"They were like, 'why don't you try? Give it a go, let doors close themselves', fortunately I had their support," Howe said.

Following that day, Howe used the six weeks remaining before training camp to get herself game ready. As a former NCAA national champion with Clarkson, a Clarkson Cup with the CWHL's Markham Thunder, and former member of Canada's national program, everyone knew Howe has the experience needed, it was just about the opportunity. After signing a one-year deal with Toronto, that opportunity has arrived.

Watch Howe's full comments in the video above.