For 14-year-old Léa Borno, hockey is more than a sport. For her, it teaches life lessons. The Association de hockey féminin de Laval skater is proud to share her minor hockey experience and the lessons she learned along the way, as everyone can benefit from them during the pandemic.

How did you get into hockey?
My brother played hockey for quite a while. When it came to picking a sport, I told my dad that I wanted to play hockey. I was 10 when I started, so it’s been four years already. I was in Atom B (U11), and now I’ve reached Bantam AA (U15).

What lessons have you learned from playing hockey?
Never give up. There are several times when we were losing, but were able to get the momentum back and put together a comeback. I also learned about teamwork. You can’t play hockey by yourself, it’s a team sport. And people can help you reach your goals, too.

For a lot of people, hockey is a bit of a struggle when getting started. You have to try it out, give it your best and never give up. And even then, sometimes your best effort won’t be enough. You always have to keep on persevering.

What important message would you like to share about hockey and life in general?
Respect matters. People should try to understand that everyone is different. Everyone brings something different to the table and has their own preferences. Even if you don’t like someone, you should keep that to yourself. Don’t say that you don’t like their music or what they look like.

What are you looking forward to the most when hockey returns?
Seeing my hockey friends, for sure. Also, getting back to playing hockey and feeling the thrill that comes with winning a game.

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Until we can return to hockey safely, hopefully soon, the teamwork and perseverance we learn from the game can help us navigate the challenges we are facing during the pandemic. Many thanks to Léa Borno for sharing these lessons.