From Oakville Jr. Hornets to Ohio State, Olympic Gold, and the PWHL — a candid conversation on leadership, fitness, bioethics, and rewriting the story of women’s professional hockey
Emma Maltais, she is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Toronto Sceptres of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) and member of the Canadian national team. Maltais studied health sciences at Ohio State University and has interned at the Ohio State Neurological Institute.
Growing up in southern Ontario, Maltais began skating at the age of two and began playing hockey at the age of four. During high school, she played for the Oakville Jr. Hornets in the Provincial Women’s Hockey League (Prov. WHL), where she served as team captain in the 2016–17 season, a season in which she was the league’s leading scorer and the Hornets won a ‘triple crown’ of first place finishes in the regular season, league playoffs, and provincial championship. Her career totals of 55 goals and 92 assists are among the most in Prov. WHL history, and her 147 points are the most in Hornets history.
Having committed to Ohio State University as a high school freshman, she played her first season with the Buckeyes in the 2017–18 season. She scored 40 points in 37 games during her rookie NCAA season, leading the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) in points-per-game and breaking the record for most WCHA Rookie of the Month awards, winning four times.
Her production increased to 43 points in 35 games the following season, again leading Ohio State in scoring and being named to the All-WCHA First Team.
In the 2019–20 season, she set an Ohio State record for points with 59 points in 38 games, picking up her 100th collegiate point against Bemidji State University on November 2, 2019. That year, she was a top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award and was named to the All-WCHA First Team for the third consecutive season.
In her senior year, the 2020–21 season, Maltais recorded five goals and 16 points in 20 games, leading the Buckeyes with 11 assists. She recorded her 100th career assist against the University of Minnesota on January 29, 2021. She set a Buckeyes record for career playoff points with 14, and for the second consecutive season she was a top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award. For the 2021–22 season, Maltais was centralized with the Canadian national team.
Returning to Ohio State in the 2022–23 season, Maltais recorded 48 points in 39 games, becoming the first Ohio State player to reach 200 career points.
One of the youngest players entering the inaugural draft of the newly-created Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), Maltais was selected in the second round, 11th overall by Toronto.[12] On January 5, 2024, she scored her first PWHL goal, a shorthanded game-winning goal in a 3–2 victory over New York to secure the first win in franchise history. With the goal, she became the first player to invoke the league’s ‘jailbreak’ rule, where a minor penalty ends after a shorthanded goal is scored.Totaling four goals and nineteen points and playing on Toronto’s power play and penalty kill, Maltais was recognized one of the league’s top first-year professionals, earning All-Rookie team honors and a nomination for Rookie of the Year.
Maltais represented Canada at the 2016 and 2017 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship, scoring a total of nine points in ten games and winning silver twice.
She was named to the senior national team roster for the first time in 2019, suiting up for the 2019-20 Rivalry Series against the United States. In May 2021, she was one of 28 players invited to Hockey Canada’s Centralization Camp, which represents the selection process for the Canadian women’s team that shall compete in Ice hockey at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
On January 11, 2022, Maltais was named to Canada’s 2022 Olympic team. On January 9, 2026, she was named to Canada’s roster to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Emma Maltais has had an incredible journey—from setting scoring records with the Oakville Jr. Hornets and Ohio State Buckeyes to becoming an Olympic gold medalist and a fan favorite with the Toronto Sceptres. What makes her story even more compelling is how she’s balanced elite athletics with pursuing a Master’s in Bioethics, interning at a neurological institute, and becoming a role model for the next generation of players.
Women Fitness President Ms. Namita Nayyar catches up with Emma Maltais, an exceptionally talented she is a Canadian professional ice hockey player, she is two times Olympian and three times member of World Champion Team Canada. Here she talks about her, playing career, fitness regime, and her success story.
Namita Nayyar:
You started skating at two and playing hockey at four. What is your earliest memory on the ice, and what kept you falling in love with the game throughout your childhood in Burlington and Oakville?
Emma Maltais:
My earliest memory of hockey whether it is because I actually remember or because I’ve seen pictures/ my parents have talked about it is when I played Tim Hortons hockey in Burlington. Many of the girls I played with are still my friends now which are crazy to think about. I had pretty advanced skating for being only 4 years old and I remember them telling me to play defense which I thought meant I wasn’t allowed to go past the offensive blue line. So I remember having breakaways and stopping at the blue line and trying to score from there.
Namita Nayyar:
Your time with the Oakville Jr. Hornets was legendary, especially the “triple crown” season in 2016-17. As a captain and the league’s leading scorer, what was the mindset of that team, and what did it teach you about leadership at such a young age?
Emma Maltais:
That is actually funny, one of my strength coaches for the Sceptres asked me if thats ever been done again (triple crown) because it was back in a time where they didn’t keep track/post about it but now he works for Etobicoke (the powerhouse organization) and was explaining how they haven’t been able to!
So I am curious to see if that is the only team, and when you look at it, it was a crazy roster!! I honestly don’t remember much about that time aside from how hard working our team was and how great our coach was. Bradi Cochrane is still someone who I look up to with the way she handles her relationships and she was a hockey mind that introduced me into so much. I think the way she was able to motivate me and teach me, allowed me to perform my best at that level.
Full Interview is Continued on Next Page
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar, President of womenfitness.net, and should not be reproduced, copied, or hosted in part or in full anywhere without express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2026 Women Fitness
Namita Nayyar:
You committed to Ohio State as a high school freshman. That’s a big decision to make so early. What was it about the Buckeyes program that gave you the confidence to lock in your future so soon?
Emma Maltais:
This is a great question! Honestly, I feel like my parents and I just had a feeling that that is where I belonged. It was truly odd, that there was this force that was so compelling to me about that place. The hockey program was one where I knew I would play, not necessarily win but play and develop (little did I know!). Healthcare was my classroom interest and they had some of the best teaching and internship opportunities with the hospital on campus. And also just the culture, everyone who is a Buckeye loves to be a Buckeye.
Namita Nayyar:
Your freshman year at Ohio State was nothing short of spectacular, breaking records for WCHA Rookie of the Month awards. Did you feel any pressure to live up to the hype, or did the transition feel natural to you?
Emma Maltais:
I didn’t feel much pressure at all! My class was amazing, I had an amazing group of confident women around me and we were all looking to make a difference in the program. Many of my class and the class below me currently play in the PWHL! The older girls were so supportive too so I think the culture of that team was just so natural and a year of hockey I will always cherish.
Namita Nayyar:
You consistently point-produced and were a three-time All-WCHA First Team selection. Looking back, which teammate or coach at Ohio State pushed you the hardest to become the player you are today?
Emma Maltais:
My coach Nadine Muzerall pushed me to every limit I had and same with my strength coach Chris Friend. I was training in ways I never thought I would in the summers and then in season I was the fittest, and mentally toughest I think I will ever be from them. Coach Muz taught me how to push to go get what you want and how commitment to the team and everyday grind can make a difference. They both instilled this underdog mentality in me that has forever impacted my career.
Namita Nayyar:
You interned at the Ohio State Neurological Institute while pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences. How did that experience in a clinical setting shape your perspective on health, the human body, and perhaps even how you approach recovery and training?
Emma Maltais:
Yes but I think the biggest thing I learned from this experience was that I can apply the skills I learned from hockey in an everyday life setting. At the same time as this internship, I was working as a hostess at a restaurant in the nights and I really put my time management and work ethic to good use.
I also think the passion I felt for helping people in that moment was not something I had touched on academically yet, the feeling of making a difference, and one that we always chase. I think that feeling of security and balance in life allowed me to experience and enjoy hockey rather than have tons of pressure in it. I think this really helped my career.
Namita Nayyar:
You later returned to earn your Master’s in Bioethics online. Your thesis focused on the ethics of women athletes returning to play after a break. What inspired that specific topic, and how has studying bioethics changed the way you view dilemmas both in sports and in life?
Emma Maltais:
My masters in bioethics was a way to add to my academic portfolio while continuing to play hockey (or that’s how it started) and I enjoyed the topics a lot more than I had anticipated. I think being a Canadian in classes with discusses ethical matters and matters of perspective and factors of opinion taught me so much, not only medically but in everyday situations. Allowing a space for everyone to share their opinions and hear people out, agreeing to disagree, and explaining why your point of view is yours versus assuming its right is something that is very important in communication and something I didn’t realize how much I needed. My thesis focus came about because I wanted to apply my works to sport and I had had some teammates that has undergone ethical dilemmas in their careers. I though compiling different cases into a paper would be something that would interest me and also look at if I ever came across a returning from injury dilemma one day.
Namita Nayyar:
In 2020, you were a top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award. How do you reflect on that recognition, and how did it fuel your drive for your senior season?
Emma Maltais:
The Patty Kazmaier Award is an extremely difficult award to win and I was honoured to be nominated. I think that it was always a goal of mine to be nominated for this deep down but I never thought it was possible with my style of play. I think it proved to me how I can do both!
Namita Nayyar:
You were drafted 11th overall by Toronto in the inaugural PWHL draft. What was that moment like, knowing you’d be playing for your home province in a historic new league?
Emma Maltais:
Initially, I would never have guessed I would have ended up in Toronto and I think thats what makes this experience I’ve been on even cooler. I thought that I wanted a change, to experience a different city away from home. But it made me realize how much I had really experienced Toronto and how amazing it is to be in the city alongside friends that feel like home, and family. I’ve gotten to share my home with teammates and I have once again felt that balance in times of need which has been so good for me.
Namita Nayyar:
You scored the first franchise win for Toronto with a shorthanded goal and also became the first player to ever invoke the PWHL’s “jailbreak” rule. Take us through that moment—did you realize the historical significance of it immediately, or only after the game?
Emma Maltais:
It’s actually something I don’t think about often but it is pretty cool to realize I was the first! I think it is very telling for my style of play and it is really cool considering such a unique rule to have this moment! I guess I won’t realize the historical significance until I’m done playing!
Namita Nayyar:
You earned All-Rookie team honors and a Rookie of the Year nomination in the league’s first season. How has the reality of being a professional athlete in the PWHL compared to the dream you had as a kid?
Emma Maltais:
It is crazy because I never even dreamed of having this experience as a child because it simply was never an option. So my ‘dreams’ are almost voided! It was a blank piece of paper where we got to write our story about what being a female professional means, and hopefully how it can get even better which is pretty cool.
Namita Nayyar:
You’re known for your “scrappy style” and energy on the ice, and fans adore your personality on social media . How important is it for you to let your personality shine both on the ice and on platforms like TikTok?
Emma Maltais:
It is really important. I think the way I can show my personality allows me to build connections with fans and young girls. Having role models of different kinds is so important for young girls. I am a short and strong woman that is fierce on the ice, but not as fierce off the ice and I think this contrast has been really exciting for people to see. I love being this person and I think that is a way that I can express myself authentically but also allow people to relate to.
Namita Nayyar:
You’ve worn the Team Canada jersey at almost every level. What is the single biggest difference you’ve noticed in the team culture between the U18 level and the senior national team?
Emma Maltais:
WOW! Great question! I think culture is established over many years and implemented by your leaders. I think being 16/17 it can be difficult to think of others in this environment, so I think when you reach the senior national team you realize how team first the leaders are and how important it is to be a valuable TEAM member.
Namita Nayyar:
Winning gold in Beijing in 2022 was a massive achievement. Can you describe the feeling of stepping onto the ice for that gold medal game, and what it meant to hear the national anthem afterward?
Emma Maltais:
It was so incredibly cool to win the gold medal in Beijing. I think the year that we went through COVID was so unique and we became so incredibly close as a team that it was such a sweet moment to put the medals on each other (unique) and then listen to the national anthem together. There were so many nerves pre game but I had all the belief in our group.
Namita Nayyar:
You were named to the 2026 Olympic roster, heading to Milano-Cortina for your second Games. How has your mindset shifted from being a young player just happy to be there in 2022, to being a veteran presence in 2026?
Emma Maltais:
It’s funny because I actually don’t feel like a veteran at all! But I definitely have had a shift in my mentality. The last four years I have been training to go to the Olympics again, to play in front of my parents and to make an impact as much as I can. I am happy to say that I feel like I accomplished that goal.
Namita Nayyar:
After the heartbreak of the silver medal in 2026, you spoke about the challenge of processing the loss while jumping right back into the PWHL playoff push . How do you mentally compartmentalize the highs and lows of international competition when the club season is still ongoing?
Emma Maltais:
Honestly, It has been very challenging. I am someone who struggles with compartmentalizing different events and I think returning to the PWHL for the playoff push has been really difficult but overall positive. We are now in a positon where we are very close to making the playoffs and I will be ecstatic if we accomplish this goal.
Namita Nayyar:
You’re known for your speed and relentless work ethic. As a shorter player at 5’3″, how do you tailor your strength and conditioning routine to hold your own against bigger opponents?
Emma Maltais:
I think my whole life I have been aware of my size but I have never allowed it to get the best of me. Sure, there are times where I think “only if I was a little bigger” but then I remember the pros to my size. 1- lower centre of gravity and difficult to push off the puck 2- typically smaller players are quicker and more explosive and 3- well its just so me! Strength and conditioning wise, I have always loved being in the gym and from a young age it was always, how can I be the fittest I can be to give me that edge. I think now I am realizing how beneficial it has been where my size is concerned.
Namita Nayyar:
Take us through a typical in-season week of training. How do you balance ice time, gym workouts, and recovery to maintain peak performance?
Emma Maltais:
The PWHL has a bit of a sporadic schedule compared to other leagues so that has been a bit of an adjustment. Some weeks we will have 3 games + 2 practices + travel and others we will have 10 days with no games so 5-6 practices, off days and a lot of recovery. I think listening to my body and my nervous system is really something I have had to learn especially the last few years. Everyone is so unique where their body and nervous system are concerned and I have learned what I need to feel my best and I am still learning especially with our added travel/Olympics this year!
Namita Nayyar:
Nutrition is key for elite athletes. Do you follow a specific diet plan during the season, and do you allow yourself any “cheat day” favorites when you’re back home in Toronto?
Emma Maltais:
I have never been one to follow an insane diet plan but I have definitely spent some time figuring out what works for me because I noticed I was having some sensitivities to certain things like garlic. I think that balance is once again important but I’d say I go through phases with how much balance I give myself. In season, we require so much food for the energy needed for our schedule that it is definitely less of strict time.
Namita Nayyar:
You’ve been open about the importance of a good sports bra, partnering with Bravado Designs . For young athletes, why is it important to talk about things like proper fitting gear and comfort, rather than just performance?
Emma Maltais:
The importance of WOMEN talking about WOMEN specific things I believe is astronomical. We have spent so long avoided topics that are uncomfortable to talk about like bras, periods and other women specific things that we have had a lack of knowledge sharing/research on things that are optimal for performance. The women body is SO different than a man’s and since women in sport is only starting to get more and more normalized now, it is important that the talk is out there about what works for certain women to allow for trial and error for all women to discover their best selves.
Namita Nayyar:
With a hectic travel schedule flying across North America, what does your skincare routine look like? Are there any products you swear by to keep your skin healthy in dry arena air and on the road?
Emma Maltais:
I have recently started using the shark ninja red light therapy mask and that has been an awesome nighttime routine.
Emma Maltais Social Media Presence
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmamaltais17/
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar, President of womenfitness.net, and should not be reproduced, copied, or hosted in part or in full anywhere without express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2026 Women Fitness