I was ecstatic. I would have to train extra hard for the next two weeks. I invited Plouffe over after practices all week and took shots on him in the driveway net. He was happy to help. He would be playing for Team Canada and wanted the practice as well.
There were six Americans including myself; who were playing in the CHL, that got a camp invite. Five of them had gone to the July 30-Aug. 7, in Lake Placid (N.Y.) Olympic Center Camp.
This would be the final camp before the team was announced. There would be nine returning players from the Gold winning USA World Junior Team. If I made the team, I would be in Buffalo, New York, over the Christmas holidays. I would be seen by every single scout and team coach. I couldn’t ask for more coverage. I hoped that I had what it took to make the team.
We won our weekend games. Plouffe hosted two shutouts. He said he owed that to me, forcing him to have all those extra practices. I had a 5 point weekend. I was also happy. I was nervous for the camp. Alex told me to treat it like anything else I had done and just focus on whatever the coach asks me to do.
The two weeks passed rapidly. I was packing my bags to fly to Buffalo, when I received a call. A call that no one wants to get. My father had been in a terrible car accident. He was in a coma. They didn’t know if he would pull through.
I told my mom I would fly home. She insisted that I go to the camp. She convinced me that my father had been so proud. If I didn’t go, he would kick my ass when he came out of it. I argued with her for over an hour. The decision was that I would go to camp. I had reservations, but I knew there was nothing I could do for him and mom was right. Dad wanted this for me.
My teammates were very supportive sending their well wishes for my father and for me at camp. It hit the media that I was going to the World Juniors Camp and that my father had been in a terrible accident. Opinions were torn over the fact that I had gone to camp instead of flying home to be with my family. I refused to speak to the media. My agent had a public statement read for me. I had enough on my mind.
Weirdest birthday ever. I managed to get offered one of the best opportunities and feel the worst I have ever felt all at the same time. I would have to stay positive.
Buffalo, New York
Every one seemed to know each other the first day of camp. I knew five of the guys who played in the OHL. Other than that I had never met the rest of the guys. They did not look happy I was there. I was thankful when I heard Jeremy Turner from Barrie, sticking up for me to a few of the guys. I had over heard part of their conversation.
“No seriously guys, she’s a great player. She’s got talent and she won’t get pushed around. She’s better than half the guys in the league. Give her a chance and she’ll prove it to you.” Jeremy assured them. ”I thought the same things you guys did when I found out she was in the OHL. At first to me it was a big joke but she’s proven me wrong. Hell if you guys don’t want to play on her line, I will. She’s one hell of a playmaker.”
This camp was harder than any other camp I had participated in. The coach worked us hard, and he seemed to work me even harder. I wasn’t the only player who noticed that.
Kennedy skated over to me on the second day “Man, I’m glad I’m not you, he’s really busting your balls out there Chrissy.” He snorted laughing.
I knew Kennedy from the OHL. He played defence for Owen Sound. He and I had butted heads a few times over the last two seasons, but respected each other as players. He asked me if I had gotten any news on my father. I told him, that he was still the same. They still weren’t sure, but there seemed to be no brain damage. He just needed to wake up from the coma, but the doctors were now hopeful.
The coach Terry Smith, called me into his office on day three. The final day of the camp before they announced the final roster. I was nervous. Why was he calling me in and no one else? I knocked on his door and walked through it with caution as he said “Come in!”
“Take a seat Christine.” Terry said motioning to the chair in front of his desk. I sat down and waited for him to talk.
“As you know, I have received a lot of slack for not asking you to the summer training camp.” I just shook my head and he continued on. “It’s not that you weren’t good enough to get the invite, the truth is I don’t feel that there is a place for women in this type of hockey competition. There is a woman’s team and that’s where girls belong.”
I started to interrupt him “Coach, listen. I understand the animosity that many feel regarding women in a man’s sport. Don’t think I haven’t heard it all before. I have proven myself worthy of being here, and you know it. It’s your team and I will respect your decision. If you don’t want me on your team I will have to accept that. However, if the only reason is because I am a woman; than I think that is not only disgusting but disturbing. I will also remind you that you have just openly discriminated against me. I would understand if I didn’t play as well as I do. However, I do play well. I play better than most guys my age in the sport right now.” I said harshly to him.
I wasn’t able to accept a NO because I was a girl. If I didn’t match up to the players I would understand that, but this wasn’t the case.
“Excuse me?” He barked. “You have some nerve to talk to a coach that way. You should just shut up and listen.”
“You’re right it does take nerve to speak to a coach that way. I would never speak to a fair coach in that way or tone. You however, are far from fair.” I growled.
“You were invited here because I didn’t have a choice. I was all set to have you suit up and just sit on the bench. After you talking to me this way.” He shook his head. “You’re off the team immediately. Get your shit and go,” he ordered.
“Alright Coach. I guess I will be calling my agent and he will release a statement about the conversation we just had.” I turned and stormed out of his office slamming the door.
I took out my cell phone, turned it on and called my agent before I was even out of the building.
It was on the 6 o’clock news.
Eighteen year old female hockey player, Christine Matthews was cut from the USA World Juniors team this afternoon. This happened when she argued with Terry Smith, after he told her that she was only invited to the camp because he was strong armed into having her attend.
According to Matthew’s agent Frank Hart. Smith pulled her into his office this afternoon, and told her that the only reason she was being cut was because he didn’t feel a girl should be playing a man’s sport. Smith told Matthew’s “there is a girls team go play for them”.
According to Matthew’s agent she replied back to Smith “I would accept any other reason for being cut from the team, but not just because I am a girl. That is ridiculous, I think I have proven myself over the last two years”.
Miss Matthews who’s father is currently in a coma from a terrible car accident, went to camp at the urging of her family. Hoping that when her father woke up from the coma he would be able to watch her play for her country.
Miss Matthews currently plays in the Canadian Hockey League for the Toronto Gophers, under the guidance of hockey legend Ben Killerman. She is presently, 4th in the Ontario hockey league in points. She has been invited to play in the top NHL prospects game in January. We have been informed that many NHL teams have been watching her closely this season.
Sport Center has obtained a copy of that scouting report and it’s all positives.
We tried to reach Coach Smith for a comment, but were unable to. In the past we have heard Terry Smith speak out about women in hockey, and how he was unsupportive of the idea.
We did manage to reach a member of USA Hockey. They said that they were looking into the allegations. They also said that they did not discriminate against women. If the allegations turned out to be verified, then they would be replacing Terry Smith as coach for Team USA.
We would like your opinions on this subject please email your responses to TSNsportscenter.com.
It seemed to be on every news station. My cellphone
was ringing off the hook. My agent moved me into a different hotel and instructed me to stay put. He had spoken to USA Hockey and they were going to come to a decision on whether or not they would fire Smith for his comments.
I felt guilty. I didn’t want anyone fired. I just wanted a shot at something I deserved. I knew life wasn’t fair, but this was something that I had worked hard for. I truly deserved to be out there playing for my country. I wasn’t about to let some chauvinistic coach sideline me.
Technically it is always the coach’s final decision. Now that it was out in the media it not only reflected bad on him; but I wondered if the NHL teams would want the hassle of taking a chance on me. They might think that I would run to the press about everything.
I wasn’t answering any calls. Only from Ben and my agent. Moose had called several times. My friends and most of my teammates were also ringing my cell off the hook.
Alex didn’t call me until near midnight. He helped me to calm down. He had two days off. He said he was on his way to Buffalo, that’s why it took him so long to call me. He told me that he was thirty minutes outside the city. He needed to know which hotel I was at. I told him the hotel and room number. I was grateful that Alex was going out of his way to be here with me. That meant so much. I still loved him, and I knew he still loved me. He was what I needed right now.
When he got to my door he was banging hard. I opened it and he rushed in.
“What the hell?” I questioned him.
“Sorry, the media was following me. I lost them in the stairwell.” He choked out a laugh. He was out of breath.
He reached out and pulled me into his arms. I started to cry. I had been holding back the tears the entire time. Now they flowed, like a river. I wasn’t able to stop. He just held me and rocked me in his arms. He didn’t say anything to me. He just let me cry.
After an hour of crying my eyes were dry. Nothing more would fall from them. They were now as dry as a desert after a drought. They were red and starting to sting. I put some drops into them to stop them from being irritated.
Finally there was a statement released from USA Hockey.
We at USA Hockey do not agree with statements said to Miss Matthews by Terry Smith. Smith has been replaced by Norman Youville. He will have the deciding say on whether or not Christine Matthews is a good enough player to be on this years team.
A girl can play if she makes the cut. We have not seen anything to tell us Miss Matthew’s is not good enough. Her track record speaks for itself. Youville is a fair coach. If he feels Matthews is a fit, then she’ll play. If not, she will be cut as any other player would be.
Well at least I would now get a fair chance. I was told to meet Norman Youville and the team at the rink at 9:00 a.m. the next morning. That night I curled up in Alex’s arms. He held me all night. He told me that he would stay until after the decision and then he had to head back to Rhode Island.
In the morning I was a nervous wreck. I was so frustrated with everything. When the elastic I was using to try and put my hair up broke, I screamed. I threw my hair brush at the wall and then kicked the wall cursing.
“Chill over there, Bruce Lee. Are you going to kick through the wall to the other room?” Alex chimed from the bed.
“I’m just so frustrated Alex. This is such a big mess. It’s all the same bullshit I have been dealing with my entire life. A girl shouldn’t play a guy’s sport. It’s bullshit.” I whined.
There was nothing anyone could do for me at the moment. Everything had to play out in it’s own time. We both knew that. Alex offered to drive me over to the rink. We tried to hide from the media, but a few of them caught us as we were trying to sneak out the back of the hotel. They wanted a statement from me and not my agent. I was put on the spot. I had to say something.
“I told my agent what was said to me by Terry Smith in his office. I did not go to the media. I am unsure of who did. I didn’t feel that being a girl was justification for cutting a player.”
I took a deep breath and continued to explain myself to the media. “If he had told me that I had been cut because of my playing; or because I didn’t fit well with the rest of the team, then I would have kept my mouth shut and let it go. That wasn’t the case here though.”
I took a deep breath and continued my statement to the press.
“I know of Norman Youville, although I have never met him. USA Hockey have assured me that he is a fair man. If he decides I shouldn’t be on the team for the right reasons I will walk away. It would be an honor to play for my country. I would do my best to make my country proud. Now we will wait on what Mr. Youville decides. Thank you, that’s all I have to say.” I told the media, as I was trying to duck into Alex’s car that he had idling.
After my statement, a reporter shoved his microphone into my face while I was trying to close the car door. He asked “Christine, what about your father?”
I froze for a second. Then I shoved the microphone out of my face and the reporter leaned over me to get to Alex. “ Alex are you a couple? The fans what to know?”
“Please have some respect, and move your microphone away from my car. Christine just gave her statement.” Alex demanded. He leaned over me and pulled the car door shut. He almost broke the microphone.
He wasn’t about to make a comment right now. The media could be so rude at times. They just wanted their story; they didn’t care about anything else.
On the way to the rink Alex spoke. “You know that the media is going to question me on whether or not we are together. What do you want me to tell them.” He asked with a smirk.
“Alex, we are not back together. Tell them the truth. We have not been together for almost a year however, we have remained close friends. You came to visit me and be here to support me.” I demanded.
“Alright,” his smile faded. I didn’t have time for that right at this moment. My career was on the line. I needed to be professional and have my head on straight.
Besides I knew he was just going to say “no comment,” and let them speculate. This way he wouldn’t have to admit it to himself.
Security was waiting for me at the rink and they escorted me into the building as we pushed passed all the media. I told Alex to meet me back at the hotel and gave him the room key. All this drama and stress is a lot for any eighteen year old to handle. I needed to shake it all off.
When I got to the office Norman Youville, the new coach was there. He told me that he had spoken to the guys on the team. They wanted me on the team. He said, they all felt that I deserved to be there. They were more than comfortable playing with me. He was relieved, because unlike Terry Smith; he felt I also deserved to be on the team. Youville felt bad for how this all had played out.
He warned me that the public would put more pressure on me now because opinions would be very split on whether I had earned the spot, or had strong armed them into giving me a spot. I told him that I understood speculations like that all to well. I would do my best to prove I belonged there.
He walked with me to meet with the team. We discussed strategy and game play for the World Juniors. We were told to forget the media attention. We all knew that would be rather difficult, because it was now worse with the ongoing drama created by my situation.
I was paired up with Jeremy Turner and Maxime Oulette, two guys I already knew from the OHL and the Quebec League. I had met Maxime before he went to play for the Sea Dogs in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He was playing with Plymouth at the time. I was happy with that pairing. I knew how they played and vice versa. The three of us seemed to have pretty good chemistry. I would also be playing center, my native position. I liked that idea although, to me at this point I was good with either position.
In two days we were playing the Czech Republic. I got a drive back to the hotel with one of my teammates. I had to transfer back to the hotel the team was staying at.
I went into my room and told Alex the good news. He was happy for me. I thanked him for coming when I nee
ded him. He had to leave and get back to Rhode Island right away. He was playing the next day, then right after that game they were sending him back to Boston. The team was doing this to make best use of his just under a million dollar salary.
He told me that he was still in love with me. He added that he would give me space, but that he intended to wait for me. I told him not to hold his breath and laughed. Then I kissed him on the cheek and we said goodbye.
Once I had relocated back to the other hotel, I got comfortable in my room. I was given my own room. They didn’t have to do that now. I was so used to being on the road with guys, and they were all very respectful of me that it wouldn’t have bothered me to share.
The guys on this team were all very welcoming now. It was nice, I was expecting there to be problems. Aside from the first morning comments I had proven to the guys that I deserved to be there with them. I was glad there wasn’t. We were all there for the same reasons. To play for our country proudly. We all were professional about our careers and knew what was important.
I began studying game footage of the various teams from online clips. There were so many teams in this tournament: Austria, Belarus, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States. There were lots of clips online from past years but not really enough to give me much information about the way each player played. I researched as much as I could.
I was reading the IIHF U20 rules, because the tournament rules are a little confusing. I needed to understand them better. When coach explained them they kind of went in one ear and out the other. So first we would play a round-robin. The top three teams from each group advance to the Qualification Round while the fourth-placed team in each group moves to the Relegation Round.
Blah, blah, blah! I just wanted to know the finals because I knew the rest wouldn’t be a problem for our team this year. We had a good solid team. The winning teams of the semi-final games advance to the gold medal game while the semi-final losing teams play for the Bronze medal.