Returning to the Game: Cherie Stewart on Playing Ice Hockey as a Professional with the New York Rive

When Cherie was about 12, her older brother came back from the mall with hockey equipment. Not wanting to be left out, she pleaded with her father to get her some equipment of her own, although she wasn’t sure what it was for.

Flash forward and now Cherie Stewart is one of over 80 players in the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL). The Orange County native lives and plays hockey in Brooklyn as a member of the New York Riveters. But, before there was the NWHL and the Riveters, Cherie played at Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York. As a member of the Valiants, Cherie posted records in points, goals and game winning goals; all of which remain in tact. Stewart is also fourth overall in assists.

The prolific scorer for Manhattanville has also played for the United States Women’s Ball Hockey team, “I was just playing ball hockey because it was great training, and it was fun social networking in New York City, and then I went to one of the tournaments and the [General Manager] from the Women’s National Team said, ‘Hey, wanna go to Boston and tryout for the team?’ I went to a couple of the tryouts and got on the team.”

The 2015 US National Team made it to the bronze medal match, where they fell to Slovakia.

On Being a Professional

Stewart is a player that has essentially come out of retirement to play in the NWHL. Although she has stayed active through recreational leagues and ball hockey competition, she is returning to elite ice hockey after a ten year absence.

“For the Riveters especially … I’m thinking about the game on a Monday; the game’s on a Saturday … it’s not just a normal beer league game that I would usually play with men just to get a game in throughout the week. There’s definitely a lot of preparation … because you’re playing with some of the best women hockey players, you don’t wanna look bad in a highlight reel.”

Stewart finished her college career before both the NWHL and the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL), were founded, “The reality is that for women’s hockey, people just want to go and get a good education. And yeah, if you can, play with your friends with the Women’s National [Team], but that’s that.”

Today, female athletes can remain in North America and play in either the Canadian-based CWHL or the Northeastern-based NWHL. Although the NWHL is the only league that currently pays its players, the CWHL plans to do so by in the future. Despite the difference in pay, the level of talent in both leagues is stellar. US National players Hilary Knight and Emily Pfalzer play in the NWHL, while Canadian National team players like Natalie Spooner and Geneviève Lacasse play in the CWHL.

Preparing for Each Game

Cherie Stewart is a practice player in the NWHL, so a spot on the game roster is not guaranteed. However, with injuries and visa challenges for International players, every practice player on the New York Riveters has suited up. Stewart discussed her role on the team, “It’s hard; emotionally and mentally. You just wanna play hockey … in the beginning there was an emotional attachment, I just wanna play. I just wanna get out there.”

However, Stewart knows that the NWHL is a business, “these girls were brought in to be here and you respect them and you cheer for them, you make sure that they’re okay and make sure that you give all of yourself to the practice so they’re prepared for the games.”

Stewart also shared that practice player or paid player, the Riveters are a family. Each player must do whatever it takes to get the Riveters to win, “whether it’s being a good teammate in the locker room or taking shots on the goalie after practice, those things help the team.”

Growing Opportunities for Women in Hockey

Stewart sees the NWHL as a wonderful opportunity for college players to continue to play hockey after graduation. Just as important are the women’s hockey fans that now get to see their favorite players play in a domestic league,

“The NWHL coming out; I was just amazed! And knowing (NWHL Commissioner) Dani Rylan and playing hockey with her … what she’s done for this league, and to have this happen, touching a lot of different people. There’s so many different fans now, for this women’s hockey league, it’s just amazing!”

Opportunity for Growth

Although the founding of the NWHL is something to celebrate, there are still growing pains for the history-making league. As is the case with many women’s domestic leagues, a job with the NWHL is seasonal and falls short of what is needed to survive, especially in New York City.

Like several other players in the league, Stewart has a full-time job, “It’s an emotional whirlwind, you know. You’re going to work all day and then you have no time to really prepare and you just get to the rink and you start doing a double; lifting, video, and then practice. It’s just a lot.”

Salaries in the new league range from a minimum of $10,000, to the league maximum of $25,000. As a comparison, the 2015-2016 NHL minimum salary is $575,000, which is $305,000 more than an NWHL team salary cap.

The Color of the Game

“I hope that there is more diversity going forward. I want more blended faces in women’s hockey”

Stewart, who is of African-American and Filipino descent, shared her thoughts on diversity in hockey, “I’m super excited and proud. I feel like I have to do a lot more sometimes.”

Stewart recalls growing up and often being the only player of color in the league.

While speaking about diversity in hockey, Stewart and I discussed Angela James, former Team Canada player. In 2010, James was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

“Definitely Angela James, I really respect her as a player.” Stewart recalls her brother talking about the sometimes controversial but dynamic player, encouraging his sister, “It was cool hearing a black hockey player in Canada was tearing it up and representing, and leading [the way] for a future of young black hockey players to come in the ranks”

However, at the end of the day, she is just another hockey player, “I don’t like to bring that stuff to the ice, but you do notice when you’re the only one.”

Leaving a Legacy

As the regular season for the Riveters comes to a close, success of the new league will be measured in attendance, merchandise sales and quite frankly, the willingness of current players to return, and new players to join.

As for Stewart, she sees the league as an important step,“I think it will hit me a bit later after the season, but it is really amazing that there is a future. What it was before, no one really thought about it … but I think it’s awesome that the girls have an opportunity. For girls in college to now to have the opportunity to play hockey professionally, it’s super important.”

When asked what she hopes a professional player naming her as his or her all-time favorite player would say about her, Stewart remarked, “I just wanna be an overall complete player and I hope they see that, and that’s why they look up to me … that I was a good person walking around the rink; smiling. You always wanna smile, hockey is supposed to be fun.”

Stewart and the Riveters will end the regular season Sunday with a matchup against the second place Connecticut Whale. New York will then take on the first place Boston Pride in the NWHL 2016 Isobel Cup playoffs.