Danielle Bandong | Ice and Ball Hockey
MEET DANIELLE BANDONG!
Ball Hockey - Played for 1.5 years
Ice Hockey - Played for 1 year
26 years old
Edmonton, Alberta
What do you love most about being involved in sports as an adult?
I love how its given me an opportunity to network with people I normally wouldn't meet outside of work!
Why do you think it's important for women to play sports in adulthood? What motivates you to play sports as an adult?
It's an incredible form of self-care, it pushes you to get out of your comfort zone, and it shows the younger generation of girls that team sports/physical activity isn't just for kids and can be a lifelong pursuit.
What motivates me to play sports as an adult is seeing what I am capable of accomplishing physically and mentally just by showing up and playing as well as setting personal goals for myself that I can work towards.
What’S the biggest benefit sport gives you?
It's given me a community. Going through post-secondary during COVID I don't think anything could've prepped me for how difficult it is to make friends as a young adult when you just spent the past 3 years in front of a computer screen. I still remember my first time going to play a ladies ball hockey drop in asking if I needed to buy a hockey helmet with a cage - fast forward a year and a half later and that group gave me connections to some of the most amazing people I have met and am lucky to now call my friends.
What's the best advice you have for other women who want to play sports?
Comparison is killer. Don't be intimidated to try a new sport as an adult because "Oh they've probably all been playing for years". If you want to try a sport, there is always a community that is ready to welcome you, regardless of skill level.