#minorities in hockey

[annieqattheperipheral]

HER STORY IS INCREDIBLE EVERYONE SIT DOWN AND LEARN FROM THIS QUEEN ⤵️

Kiana Scott, who played minor hockey system for 11 seasons, including four seasons on boys teams, gravitated to scouting from watching her brother’s games and critiquing his strengths and weaknesses.

Unaware of jobs available in hockey, she enrolled in makeup artistry college after high school, but knew her heart was in the sport.

She eventually enrolled in an online hockey general manager scouting course.

Scott joined the International Scouting Service Hockey mentorship program in 2018 and scouted for the service for two years while holding down two jobs.

“I love scouting future prospects, and the evaluation process,” she said. “I think that's kind of where my passion lies. It's just the evaluation process. And it's exciting, building a team.”

Scott spent two seasons as a full-time scout for Erie before she took a bold step and left the organization to move to Calgary and became an independent scout in June 2022.

“I just kept practicing my craft and kind of paid my own way, like, throughout the whole year,” she said. “All of the tickets to every game, all of my travel expenses, everything. I just put all my money into scouting and trying to evolve and then I ended up getting my (Avalanche) internship the next year.”

Scott had some financial help from her family for the move and she supplemented her income by working as a bartender at a Calgary casino, a job with hours that allowed her to scout games.

If all that wasn’t enough, she also enrolled in the University of Florida’s online sports management program.

“I've always had the mindset to just keep betting on myself and working hard and evolving,” she said. “I think I've taken a lot of risks to get to where I am, but I wouldn't try to change the journey for anything.”

Scott said she hopes women, women of color and people who don’t come from a so-called “traditional” hockey background will follow her on the journey.

“I grew up playing hockey, but I didn’t play professional hockey, I didn’t go to college or university for hockey,” she said. “I just had a passion for it. I love scouting. I worked at it, and I continue working at my craft.

“People that don’t necessarily come from the traditional background, I hope they see themselves in me and believe that they can put their minds to it and get it done.”

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The 2024 NHL Draft was as eventful for Kiana Scott as it was for the players who were selected in the seven-round event at Sphere in Las Vegas last month.

The 25-year-old Barrie, Ontario, native signed with the Colorado Avalanche at the draft to become a full-time amateur scout, fulfilling a goal she has had since she was a teenager.

“This is something that I've worked really hard for my whole career to be able to sign my first NHL contract,” Scott said. “I was elated. The Avs have been really good for me the past year, and I’m excited to keep building with them.”

Scott joined the Avalanche after working as an intern for the organization.

Colorado general manager Chris MacFarland said he and executive director of hockey operations Suzanne Borchert “were impressed with her work ethic and her passion."

MacFarland said: “Kiana was on our radar when she was scouting in major junior circuits ... and it worked that a few years ago we had an internship opportunity for her.

“She did a good job in that role and was an integral part of our amateur scouting department. We’re excited to see her contributions moving forward in her full-time role as an amateur scout.”

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Scott made history when she became the first woman scout in the Ontario Hockey League with Erie in March 2020.

She was among the initial of a wave of women who were hired in recent years as scouts at all levels of hockey, including Cammi Granato (Seattle Kraken), Blake Bolden (Los Angeles Kings), Krissy Wendell-Pohl (Pittsburgh Penguins), Meghan Hunter (Chicago Blackhawks), Gabriella Switaj (Anaheim Ducks) and Brigette Lacquette (Chicago Blackhawks).

Granato moved on from Seattle to become an assistant general manager for the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 10, 2022, and Hunter was promoted to assistant GM by the Blackhawks on June 22, 2022.

“When I first started scouting, I didn’t know of any women in the industry already,” she said. “Cammi Granato got her job with the NHL a year after I started scouting. That’s when I kind of knew it was possible. But I never had anyone to look up to. I just had this dream and the passion for hockey. I knew that I had to the talent and skill to do it, and to try to keep building on them.

"That’s what I’ve always gone off on -- keep evolving, never give up on what you love.”

[starscelly]

aren’t you tired of being nice?? don’t you wanna go crazy???

or, jason robertson set to “all-american bitch”

[kitnita]

ty dellandrea gets five minutes for fighting — SJS vs STL — 12.12.24

[pokemonwearingsportsmerch]

[councilestatebarbie]

cant score. cant shoot. cant pass. cant get out the zone. cant defend. cant forecheck. cant not get penalties.

[atwhughesversion]

WE ARE SO BACK!!!!

[genx3791]

[coffee-at-annies]

We really haven’t had a “can’t trust these boys with sugar” line on the ice in a while and it shows. (Specifically in my heart rate). PO and Picks may not be forwards but the unaccompanied minors energy is unmatched

[rinksrats]

i'm trying to put a playlist together of the best hockey bars because I'm gonna do... something. so if anyone is a bit of a hiphop head or just has a favourite track please hit me up

[rqsser]

the strong urge to write the most random au’s ever

[one-little-nerd-stayed-home]

So I went to a hockey game tonight... Mayhaps I will expand Kilde Hockey AU to include Cyra and Callie cause this rules actually

[blusical]

happy pride month. don't be fooled by the nhl's posts on hyping up pride tape. it's not going to change the fact that they banned it earlier this year (and only unbanned it due to backlash+travis dermott being a king), and keep in mind specialty jerseys are still banned. if you're thinking of buying hockey pride merch... instead of buying directly from the nhl, maybe consider buying from a fan instead!

[newhampshireofficial]

New Hampshire minor league sports team appreciation post!

[pokemonwearingsportsmerch]

[sbbarnes]

Brief break from the hockey romance mental breakdown to point out that my already published novel Heart First is available for half-price on Smashwords through January First! Which is perfect timing because the ARC of the sequel, Second Chance, will be ready any day!

(And at the end of the sequel...you get a sneak peek at the hockey romance...)

[pierrelucdisaster]

Hey, in pretty cool hockey news the Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL signed Mariah Fujimagari to a professional try-out today!

credit

She's played in the PHF for the Connecticut Whale and in Sweden for AIK.

If this wasn't reason enough to support the K-Wings they also host a hockey is for everyone game where they paint their ice in a rainbow color scheme. They've done it the past few years!

Support your minor league and professional women's hockey teams!

Check them out and all the other ECHL teams here.

Congratulations, Mariah!!!