Shannon Coulter
With a busy hockey schedule, it’s sometimes hard to balance other activities. That’s why Fraser Valley Rush defender Jade Lore was extra excited to be able to play in a high school basketball tournament in December 2021.
“I hadn’t been able to go to many games because of hockey,” Lore says. “I got dressed, I didn’t actually think my basketball coach would put me in, but she did, so I played.”
Unfortunately, as the then-16-year-old was running down the court, she tore her ACL and meniscus in her right knee—an injury that would ultimately sideline her for over 10 months.
“It was really hard,” Lore says. “I took it pretty rough because I went from playing hockey every day, practicing it, to all of a sudden not doing it at all.”
What made matters harder for Lore was her team was having a fantastic season in the British Columbia Elite Hockey League (BCEHL), eventually winning the Pacific Region title to qualify for the Esso Cup, Canada’s Women’s U18 National Club Championship, for the first time in eight years.
Although it could have been easy to stay at home and be withdrawn during the season, the Richmond, B.C., native stayed with the Rush every step of the way. She watched each practice, joined the team at games and even travelled for tournaments, like the 2022 Esso Cup in Okotoks, Alta.
“The whole experience for me was both an amazing opportunity that I’m super grateful for, but also a very tough one at the same time,” Lore explains. “It was always hard having to watch my team play on such a big stage. I would always want to be out there with them, but obviously I couldn’t. I just tried to be on the sidelines helping them in any way that I could, cheering them on.”
While Lore was supporting the Rush while they were on the ice, her teammates were there for her off the ice.
“My team is less like a team and more like a family. They are all my sisters,” Lore says. “They were always checking in on me, […] they always reminded me that I was still a part of the team even though I was off the ice. That really helped me. I think that they helped me in a bigger way than I helped them.”
That support was shown to Lore in a variety of ways. Her teammates would help her navigate when Lore was on crutches. If Lore was doing homework on the bench, her team would assist her in getting caught up.
“If they saw that I was down, they would make a joke or dance for me, do whatever they could to make me laugh, which was really helpful,” she says. “If I didn’t have them, I would be a lot more shut down and not really want to talk about it. My mental health wouldn’t be as good because they really did help me through that whole process.”
Throughout last season while Lore watched the Rush from the stands, head coach Tony Lindsay had a reminder for her: “This will be you next year.” After returning in the middle of November with a welcome back “rookie lap” on the ice, Lore finally had a chance to help the Rush on their road to the Esso Cup.
“Tony did bring up how he wanted to get us back so that I could play, which was very meaningful to me to see how badly he wanted me to play in the Esso Cup,” Lore says. “I’m super excited we’re going back.”
Although her return to the ice is complete, her experience recovering from her knee injury helped her be there for her teammate, Emily Chan, when she tore her ACL last October.
“Jade was injured and still recovering when I tore mine, so I had her to watch games with me and guide me through the first part,” the 15-year-old Chan says. “It was really nice to hear from her and see how she dealt with this struggle.”
“I was in her shoes,” Lore adds. “It’s very hard for somebody to encourage, but also help and talk deeply about the injury if you haven’t had it.
“I’m glad I could be there for her.”
Recovering from any injury is not just physical—every athlete also has to recover mentally. As Lore and Chan discovered, having a dedicated support system of family, friends and teammates can make all the difference.
“It’s nice having someone you can relate to, because the thing a lot of people don’t understand about this injury is that it’s a really tough mental game more than it is physical,” Chan says. “[My teammates] have helped me a lot, and I don’t think I’d be where I am without their support.”
“Like Tony was saying to me last year, this is going to be [Emily] next year,” Lore says. “She’s young, so she’s still got a lot ahead of her. I’m proud of her progress. She’s doing good.”
Going through adversity like injuries proves the bonds made on the ice in hockey are not limited to the rink. Those connections extend into every aspect of a player’s life, and players like Chan and Lore are grateful for that support from their second family.
“Without a doubt, hockey has helped me so much,” Chan says. “I think the best part about hockey is obviously the sport, but also the people that come along with it. That just means so much.”
“It just meant a lot how my team was there for me,” Lore adds. “I think that’s the most important part because our team is a family. We’re always there for each other.”