Growing up in Stavanger, Norway, Emma Bergesen’s connection to hockey began early, with the rink quickly becoming a second home where she felt at ease and surrounded by others who shared her love for the game.
That love started with her mother, Janne Mette Bergesen, who played for the Norwegian national team and had her in skates before she was old enough to remember.
“She brought us to the rink when we were very young, and I think even at two years old, she put the skates on us. I don't really remember a life without hockey,” Bergesen said. “And her playing on Team Norway was huge. I was able to create female role models from traveling with my dad and my siblings to watch her play, which was amazing for me.”
Bergesen’s mother taught her early, and often reminds her, that confidence grows by learning through mistakes.
“She would always tell me that it's okay to make mistakes, and as long as I do nine things right and have one mistake, then you can't really ask for more,” Bergesen recalled. “She taught me to play in a way to not to be scared and to dare to play your game, which I think gave me a lot of confidence.”
That confidence became even more important as people in her hometown questioned her future in hockey. In Norway, hockey is a smaller sport compared to soccer, with fewer teams and limited opportunities to develop. Despite that, Bergesen stayed committed to the sport she loved and used those doubts as motivation to prove them wrong.
“Growing up, I was actually really unsure if I wanted to go for soccer or hockey because I really could see myself being a soccer star. I always wanted to play soccer,” said Bergesen. “And then I had someone tell me that they thought I should go for soccer instead of hockey and that I wouldn't really reach far in hockey. And I think that pushed me more to choose hockey and prove them wrong.”
Bergesen’s love for hockey grew stronger when she followed in her mother’s footsteps, wearing the Team Norway jersey for the first time at the U18 World Championships.
“I think when I played my first Worlds with the U18 national team, that’s when I realized it’s bigger than just hockey or even bigger than hockey in Norway,” she said. “And I think that’s when I fell in love with everything about it. The atmosphere and the tournaments and putting on a jersey that means a lot. I think that’s when I really loved the game and just the competitiveness of it.”
That experience on the international stage helped Bergesen see hockey as more than just a game and became a chance to carry forward her mother’s legacy while carving her own path.
To pursue those bigger goals, Bergesen left home at a young age, like many athletes do, moving to Canada to join the Ontario Hockey Academy and later attend Mount Royal University. During her time there, Bergesen grew both on and off the ice, earning recognition for her strong two-way play and leadership while putting into practice the lessons from her family about confidence, resilience, and staying true to herself.
As she prepares for her debut season in the PWHL, Bergesen is mindful of the impact she can have on the next generation. “I think being a role model comes with a lot of responsibilities,” she said. “But I think it's so cool for those younger players to see that there's a future within hockey. I get young Norwegian girls following me on Instagram, and sometimes I click on them and it says ‘My dream is to play in PW.’ Growing up, I never had that opportunity, so it's cool to see that I put Norway on the map in a way that maybe all these other girls can also achieve that.”
Those early lessons from her mother, Janne Mette, have stayed with Bergesen throughout her journey, and they shaped not only how she plays the game but how she faces every challenge with confidence and resilience. As she begins this new chapter with the Ottawa Charge, she carries a mindset rooted in determination and belief in herself. For Bergesen, success isn’t just about skill, but about embracing the journey, learning from every moment, and always finding a way forward no matter what comes her way.
