Sami Jo Small grew up on the outdoor hockey rinks of Winnipeg, MB. Her passion for the game was honed in the boys minor hockey system. As the only girl she was forced each and every day to prove that she belonged through hard work and determination. She dreamt, like her teammates, of someday playing in the NHL, but also dreamt of someday stepping on to the podium at the Olympic Games.

She accepted a scholarship to Stanford University for track and field to throw the discus and javelin. Her dream of participating in the Olympic Games flourished until injury plagued her career and she consoled her feelings of failure by returning to the game she grew up loving. Hockey became her passion again as she played on the Stanford Men’s team even garnering PAC-10 MVP honours while earning her degree in mechanical engineering.

Her childhood dream became a reality when she accepted a spot on the 1998 Olympic Games team traveling to Nagano, Japan. Women’s hockey was on the rise and Sami Jo was a huge part of its success. She has since won five World Championships and has twice been named Championship MVP. She is a three time Olympian and has been a member of two Olympic Gold Medal Winning teams including just recently in Torino, Italy.

Sami Jo currently works as a motivational speaker as well is an owner of a hockey school that runs throughout four provinces. She also recently helped start the Canadian Women's Hockey League where she continues to play elite hockey for the Toronto Furies.

Profiles of Sami Jo Small

Speakers Spotlight - http://www.speakers.ca/small_samijo.html
Zoom Info - http://www.zoominfo.com/people/Small_Sami_170955544.aspx
Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sami_Jo_Small
Hockey Hall of Fame - http://www.hhof.com/legendsofhockey/htmltimecap/wmspla05.shtml
CWHL – Toronto Furies - toronto.cwhl.ca/player.asp?pid=26

Random Facts About Sami Jo

Hockey
3 time Olympian (2 time member of gold medal winning team)
5 time World Champion (’99. ’00. ’01, ’04, ’07)
2 time World Championship MVP (’99, ’00)
3 time National Champion – Toronto Aeros / Mississauga Chiefs
Co-Founder of the CWHL (Canadian Women’s Hockey League)
Currently plays for Toronto in the CWHL
Stanford University PAC-10 (Conference) MVP (Men’s Hockey)
First Woman to play in the MMJHL (Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League)
First (and only) Female Goaltender to score a goal (NWHL 1999)
Played minor hockey for the St Vital Victorias (AA) and Winnipeg Warriors (AAA)
Assistant Captain on Manitoba’s Canada Games team - defenseman
Played minor hockey at Norberry CC, Windsor CC and Glenwood CC.

Leadership
2010 Coca-Cola Live Positively award
2009 Athletes Can Leadership Award Winner
Current Vice Chairman – CWHL
Current Sponsorship Chairman - CWHL
Current Athlete Ambassador – Right to Play
Current Athlete Ambassador – Save Darfur
Stanford University Graduate (Mechanical Engineering)
Valedictorian – College Jeanne-Sauve
President – student council – College Jeanne-Sauve

Other Sports
4 time member of the National Junior Track and Field Team ’93, ’94, ’95, ‘96
Stanford University Track Scholarship (Discus and Javelin)
Represented Manitoba at the Canada Games 1991 (Hockey) 1993, 1997 (Track and Field)
Canada Games Champion – Javelin; silver – discus ‘97
Manitoba Flag bearer – Canada Games ‘97 – Brandon
Manitoba High School Athlete of the Year ‘94
Manitoba High School Scholar Athlete of the Year ‘94
Volleyball AAA Champion – Manitoba ’94 (MVP)
Badminton Provincial AAA Champion – Manitoba ‘94
Waterpolo Provincial Champion – Manitoba ‘ 92, ‘93
Manitoba Team Handball Provincial Team Member ‘93
North American Roller Hockey Champion ‘ 99, ‘00
Manitoba Games participant - swimming ‘88 – Beausejour/Pinawa
Swimming Manitoba Record Holder 10 and under 50 and 100 free