Jason La Rose
Barbie has laced her skates and is ready for game action.
Beginning Nov. 12 at locations across the country, Tim Hortons is selling hockey-themed Barbie dolls.
[FEB. 9 UPDATE: DOLLS ARE SOLD OUT AT ALL TIM HORTONS LOCATIONS]
They include a red Tim Hortons jersey, a helmet, skates and a stick, and all proceeds from the Barbies sold at Tim Hortons will go to the Hockey Canada Foundation and its Hockey is Hers initiative, which helps girls and women get into the game.
The dolls were set to be released in August, but in an effort to recognize the diversity of the game and the movement that has taken place across the country and around the world, the launch was delayed to allow for production of a Black doll.
Marie-Philip Poulin and Sarah Nurse are leading the charge from Canada’s National Women’s Team, working with Tim Hortons and Mattel on the program.
HockeyCanada.ca chatted with Poulin and Nurse to get their reaction to their newest teammates.
What did you think when you first saw Barbie as a hockey player?
MPP: Sarah and I are so honoured. We had a day with Barbie; they showed us the doll and we're so excited for what it means. It's pretty awesome that little girls have the opportunity to see this Barbie and know they can be anything they want to be. It’s something we have been telling the girls, "If you can see it, you can be it," and I think Barbie has been pretty fantastic about that. For them to see us being part of the project, and have a Barbie in hockey equipment, it’s fun to see.
Tim Hortons made the decision in the summer to hold off on selling the dolls until there could be multiple races represented. What did that mean to you?
SN: I think it was so important that Tim Hortons both acknowledged the blind spot they had and admitted to it. They were accountable and took ownership. And so for them to come back and make that commitment and to not sell the dolls until the Black Barbie doll was ready, I think it says a lot to what they're doing and their commitment to this.
How important is it for young girls to be able to connect with a Barbie like this one?
SN: When you think of Barbie, you think of girls having that limitless potential and really believing they can be absolutely anything. And the partnership between Tim Hortons and Barbie is going to be so incredibly important. To have a hockey-playing Barbie, to have a Barbie doll that is any type of athletic, really, is huge for girls. We want them to realize that being athletic and being sporty is cool and fun. And that girls can be athletic and still be little girls.
What are your memories of Barbie as a young girl?
SN: I was a huge Barbie doll girl. There are a lot of pictures of me with my Barbies. I absolutely loved them. It was something I would always get for Christmas. They were always special gifts, the collector Barbies. And so the fact that Barbie is coming out with a hockey player … it's something I wish I had 20 years ago, but better late than never.
All proceeds from the dolls sold at Tim Hortons will go to the Hockey Canada Foundation and its Hockey is Hers initiative. What does that financial commitment mean for the women’s game?
MPP: It’s such an awesome project and knowing that young girls are going to benefit, it's really a big step in the right direction. I hope it's going to open a lot of doors, having this project raise money for Hockey is Hers. I think it's going to be amazing.
To donate to the Hockey Canada Foundation and Hockey is Hers, visit HockeyCanada.ca/HockeyIsHers.