Szabados makes history as first female WHL player

Originally published in Prospects Hockey in 2002

By Lucas Aykroyd

When Shannon Szabados was born in 1986, seeing a female goalie play in a WHL game seemed about as likely as watching the Berlin Wall come down.

But times have changed and doors have opened up both in society and hockey. Thanks to her skill and desire, Szabados was invited to the Tri-City Americans training camp this fall. The Edmonton native competed so well for the backup job behind incumbent Tyler Weiman that she made history by appearing in goal against the Vancouver Giants in a September 4 exhibition game in Ladner, BC.

Tri-City GM Bob Tory told reporters about Szabados: “This is not a joke.” It’s clear opposing forwards have nothing to laugh about. After making her debut halfway through that exhibition, the butterfly-style goalie logged 16 saves, several of the dazzling variety. She helped her team battle back from a 4-2 deficit before losing 6-5 in overtime. Szabados boasts excellent lateral movement, a lightning glove and solid positioning.

“Growing up, Bill Ranford was always my idol,” said Szabados. “He taught me in camps in the summer.” Today, her summer training program emphasizes running and weight lifting. At 5-8 and 145 pounds, Szabados is bigger than her two female predecessors in major junior, Quebec goalies Manon Rheaume (Trois-Rivières Draveurs, 1991) and Charline Labonte (Acadie-Bathurst Titan, 1999). She knows size is a key area: “Being a girl, strength is the main difference, so I’m working on my core and stuff like that.”

One big advantage for Szabados is her experience competing against males. She started at age five and hasn’t looked back. Racing up the ranks, she played with the United Cycle Mapleleafs of the Alberta Midget Hockey League in Edmonton last season, earning a 2.45 GAA in 17 games. Tory discovered her at the Mac’s Midget Tournament in Calgary in December 2001.

Szabados couldn’t ask for a more supportive environment than Tri-City has provided. She’s played with and against several other Americans in peewee and bantam. Bench boss Shaun Clouston previously coached Manon Rheaume in roller hockey, so this situation is not foreign to him.

“The Americans have done a good job by stepping up and not being afraid to invite a girl,” said Szabados. She wasn’t afraid to waive her U.S. college eligibility by pursuing her WHL dream: “I want to go as far as I can.” The NHL and the Olympics both feature on her ambitious agenda. Whatever happens, you can bet this girl will keep breaking down walls.