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Zoe Haley hits the ice with such drive and passion to be the best. PHOTO/JESSIE HALEY
There is no doubt sports has cultural and gender misrepresentation.
In our community, Zoe Haley is shining light on the issue during Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month.
Haley, 14, an Osceola County athlete, is shaking up the stigma in the youth hockey world. Haley is Asian-American with both Asian and Canadian roots is taking not only Osceola, but Florida by storm.
Haley plays in Lakeland for youth club teams, the Lakeland Royals and Florida Moccasins — but she didn’t always have her mom Jessie’s blessing.
“My mom didn’t really want me to play hockey at first, so she put me in everything to get me out of it, dance, singing, acting, anything to a different path,” she said. “My dad is Canadian, so it was a given. My mom also didn’t want me to be afraid of boys. She wanted me to know that boys were not better than me and that I could do anything they could.”
Coming from both Asian and Canadian heritage, Zoe has the best of both worlds, as it were. Jessie is from Taiwan and comes from an academic back ground. Dad Trevor comes from a sports based background from Canada.
“I come from primarily academics, that is what the Asian culture focuses on. To participate in sports is one thing, but to be a female within the culture and plays sports is a completely different issue altogether,” said Jessie. “It is just not custom in the Asian culture, especially for a female to be deeply involved in sports.”
Trevor’s love of hockey from his native Canada made it easy for Zoe to get involved, he said, and by playing the sport she was able to relate to her father and brother.
With having been homeschooled and accelerating past a full grade in high school to a sophomore this year, She holds dedication to anything she does to the upmost importance. Ever since indulging in to the hockey she keeps he prior endeavors, piano, cello and playing highlevel chess, near. Showing that she can play just like anyone else has made this self-driven young lady an asset to her teams.
“Discipline has always been apart of my life, piano, cello, hockey and now chess,” said Zoe. “Much like defense in hockey chess requires that level of intellect for a successful match.”
On playing defense on the rink, Zoe has brought many questions to her family learning the game. With a game driven by the appearance of scoring and a daughter honing in on the defense stance, Zoe’s mother was unsure on the concept until Zoe demonstrated her ability in the position. Much like chess, defense in hockey is concise and strategic.
“Not many people understand defense in hockey,” said Zoe. “A lot of the boys don’t know that I’m calculating my next move in the back, they just want to score. I’m all about the strategy.”
With Zoe wanting to make the Olympics in the future, her preparations require a lot of attention. She has several coaches that focus on her talents and critique her habits, thus making her a star moving forward.
“Some of my coaches tone it down for me with being a girl,” said Zoe. “I have two coaches that treat me like one or the guys, rather, a person.”
This is what drives Zoe within hockey — not to be ‘one of the guys’, but to start a movement were anybody feels comfortable enough to play hockey in our area. While Osceola offers limited ice time, Zoe makes the best of any ice time she can get.
As for as giving it all for Zoe, she dedicates her extra time to play and coach chess at Kingdom Kids Christian School.
“I am immensely grateful to be coaching chess.” Said Zoe. “(Some of) the children have autism, seeing them participate and succeed makes the experience so beautiful.”
