Finnish women's league got an interesting player for this season as a young Brit, Ellie Wallace came from Great Britain to the city of Turku. The 18-year-old hadn't played abroad before.
During an international event Wallace wondered about her ice hockey future and different scenarios about her next destination.
− I was in U18 World Championships with Great Britain, and I have always wanted to go abroad. I just didn't know where. I had some options to go to New York and also somebody from Canada reached out to me, but it would've come with the education side, and I had just finished my sixth form, which is like college back home.
Wallace decided that she would put studying on hold at least for some time and it would be time to concentrate on ice hockey with full steam.
− Wherever I would have gone, I wanted to focus on hockey, because I just want to get better and I think I reached my peak in Great Britain. I wanted to come to a place, where hockey is everything.
Destination: Turku
Finally the young Brit found her way to the TPS Turku roster. She has enjoyed her time since the time of arrival.
− This team is amazing and hockey in Finland is superb. Coming here was awesome as I can learn so much in here.
Many learning points have something to do with her height. For a woman ice hockey player she is relatively tall, 186 centimeters. Thanks to her height she is able to reach such pucks that many other players can just dream about.
− With my reach and stick length it's a huge strength. Guarding and keeping the puck is one of my big strengths.
As an 18-year old there are still things going on in Wallace's physical development, which enables her to focus especially on working out.
− I have been working with my balance, which is one of the big liabilities. My balance and center gravity is quite high, so I do fall over quite a lot. That's why it was so great to come here as these are the things they improve on. Finnish players are such good skaters and I just try to learn from them.
− I try to use my height and get the benefits out of it so I can stand out in this league.
Wallace has played in many offensive roles in TPS so far. With her long limbs she is a multipurpose player. The Brit notices her own potential.
− This is the whole reason I came here. I know that I can learn so much. My height is a great thing to have, and I have been working with the fitness coach here and at the gym, because lack of strenght has been one of my weaknesses. It's good to be able to utilize my strengths as a tall player.
Resources like from a different planet
Back home Wallace had played in many levels and teams for quite some time. Women's hockey in Great Britain isn't actually even comparable to the circumstances of Finland.
− I got one training a week with a team, so that's why coming here is so different. Back home hockey isn't very big and not very popular. We don't have the facilities and the rinks to play around with. I had to play in two teams to get two (ice training) sessions a week and there you have to travel all across the country to play games, because there are no rinks.
− I'd say that we are trying, but it's very hard, when you don't have the funds.
In Turku Wallace has experienced some sort of enlightenment as an ice hockey player. Her chances of development multiplied.
− When I came here, I was shocked with the facilities, gyms and everything we have. It's so amazing.
Finding the popularity of women's hockey
Ice hockey, especially women's, isn't an ordinary sport back in the kingdom. Football is the one taking the big portion of the sportsfans attention.
− It's a bit crazy for me, because in where I come from, if I told that I play hockey, people go like "what?". It's a shock to them, Wallace gives a laugh.
Wallace has been playing in both the first team and the academy team of TPS. In the top league she has summed up points 3+1=4. She is mostly satisfied with the events of the start of the season.
− I expected a little more spectators. But the game is so much better, especially in the World Championships.
Lastly Wallace sharply points out an important thing about a well-known leisure time activity.
− Everyone is looking up to the NHL. Like now Sarah Nurse was on the cover of the new game. It's so amazing that people start to recognize things and I think women's hockey is on the right track.